Waiopehu Hut via Waiopehu track and Gable End Ridge

The tramp started really well for me: I hadn’t been tramping in a number of years but thought I had all my gear together in one place since I had recently done a trip to cycle and camp the Otago Rail trail.  So, I decided that I could leave packing my bag until 11pm on … Read more

Amelia’s first tramp                          

On the weekend of March 10/11th, I went for my first overnight tramp with Dad. We were in a large party of 5 families. The youngest was only 6 months old! We set off on Saturday from Holdsworth carpark for Atiwhakatu hut – a distance of 5 kilometres. It was a beautiful sunny day, but … Read more

A Sawtooth Sunday

We just can’t pass up the chance to walk Sawtooth Ridge on such a fine day Awfully long way back to the car at Rangiwhahia but! It will be ok says Mike So decision made, we turned and  headed North along Sawtooth Ridge on Sunday morning. It wasn’t supposed to work out this way, but … Read more

To Peel or not to Peel

After many years of vigorously peeling any carrot that came within a co-eee of my cooking pot, I have recently found there is a strong movement of people who believe in a skin-on approach to culinary carrots. I therefore now feel more confident in writing this newsletter article about the lack of peel in our … Read more

Herepai Hut

Twelve eager punters gathered early at the usual meeting place on platform 9 at Wellington station on Saturday 17th February to head out on the weekend tramps to Herepai and Roaring Stag huts located in the Tararua Forest Park. Experienced driver Illona drove the flash club van both ways.  There was a welcome pit stop … Read more

Down memory lane and the Upper Otaki

The phone rang. A voice from the past. Ruth Parnell, ex-Chief Guide. I hadn’t seen her for years. “Can I come on your trip down the UpperOtakiRiver?”, she asked. “Sure”, I said. “Who else is on it?” she asked, worried; “I hope they’re not too fit!” “Well, actually you’re the only one so far,” I … Read more

Roaring Stag. Flora and fauna appreciation

Illona’s memories I thought a flora and fauna appreciation trip would be a good first easy-medium trip to lead: I could take books and slow down to explain things to people.  It would be a different type of trip to my usual medium fit tramp, but one that would keep my pace at a more … Read more

Taihape-Fernhill Cycle / Kuripapango Day Walk / Magatutu Hot Pools Mohaka Tubing Adventure

Friday 3rd February Fish and chips, pizza and Subway at Paraparaumu gave the group a foundation of reserves for the start of the long Waitangi day Weekend on Friday eve. We reached Mangaweka international airport around 9pm in time to check in for a flight to la la land, pitching our tents at the departure … Read more

South Ohau Hut

A few weeks ago, in the process of hut bagging, I did one of my mind-shattering solo “well, that was exciting, how can we make it less so?” trips.  This is not that story.   This story is how, after having done that full-on trip recently, I was MORE than happy to sign up for … Read more

Alice Nash Heritage Lodge – Tunupo – Iron Gate Hut – Heritage Lodge

Ten of us left platform 9 soon after 5:30pm. We dined at Levin where the vast array of takeaway options were fully taken advantage of with all trampers conjuring up different kai, much to the envy of myself having purchased a couple of stale buns from countdown. Light rain on and off on the journey … Read more