Check out the latest news and trips reports below or view the archives using the menu on the left. If you want to know more about the newsletter including submitting stories, see Newsletter>Publication Details. To learn more about the club, check the top menu. Some links will take you to the old website, but content will eventually move to this site.

‘Take Action for Nature’ – Conservation Week 2023

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Date: 19-20 Aug 2023.
Trip type: Volunteer.
Location: Catlins - Te Rere Reserve & Otanomomo Reserve.
Author: Sarah Fisher.
Trampers: Sarah F.

You’ve planted a ‘Penguin Forest.’ This was a comment from one of my work colleagues after she heard about the volunteer work I had done over the weekend in the Catlins. Every year DoC, in partnership with Forest & Bird, organise a tree planting weekend in the Catlins and I saw this advertised on the … Read more

Eastern Hills (Hutt Valley) to Days Bay

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Date: 5 August 2023.
Trip type: Day(EM).
Location: Hutt Valley.
Author: Tony S.
Trampers: Tony (leader), Clinton, Maci.

We met at Woburn Station and set off on a clear, but chilly, morning for Te Whiti Park and the Te Whiti Riser track – with our ultimate destination being Days Bay.  The conditions were ideal for a day walk. The Te Whiti Riser track climbs at a gentle incline up to the Electricity Corporation … Read more

Paratetaitonga…. nearly! Mt Ruapehu – Tongariro National Park

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Date: 11-13 Aug 2023.
Trip type: Alp1(MF).
Location: Mt Ruapehu - Tongariro National Park.
Author: Lynsey.
Trampers: Leaders: Anne (WTMC) and Tom (NZAC). Trampers: Anne and Lynsey (from WTMC) and Aly, Gracie, Meisha, Matt, Tom, Jen (from NZAC).

*Editor’s note: Paratetaitonga (2535m) is a mountain peak located on the edge of Mt Ruapehu’s Crater Lake. It’s always nice when you are lucky enough to have a Friday off work for early travel to your weekend’s destination! It’s even better when you know there’ll be no soggy camping at the road end on a … Read more

From the President – August 2023

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Kia ora, This article provides a brief update on club activities, including: WTMC August recap: Committee, trips and lodge updates Tech officer vacancy: we need you! Coming up in September If you have any questions, comments or ideas please get in touch. Ngā mihi Anne de Ferron  WTMC August recap EM trip to Zekes Hut … Read more

Westies Hut – with chocolate streams and marshmallows

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Date: January 2023.
Trip type: Private tramp - easy.
Location: Fiordland National Park.
Author: Sarah Fisher.
Trampers: Jamie, Sarah, Tony.

Westies Hut Fiordland National Park

Westies Hut (with chocolate streams and marshmallows) It started with Tony, Jamie and I jumping into a helicopter to fly to Westies Hut as a bit of a treat. We had decided to make it a bit more epic by flying in and then just walking out since the track was an out and back … Read more

Alpine training courses with NZAC

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Date: Winter 2023.
Trip type: WTMC scholarship: Alpine training.
Location: Mt Ruapehu.
Author: All.
Trampers: Jon, Mathew, Anne.

Thanks to WTMC scholarships that helped to cover some of the cost, Mathew and Anne signed up for a backcountry avalanche course and an intermediate snowcraft course with the New Zealand Alpine Club (NZAC). Jon had already utilised a WTMC scholarship to attend a summer rock course earlier in the year, but signed up anyway … Read more

Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River packrafting

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Date: 13 Aug 2023.
Trip type: Packraft Grade 2.
Location: Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River (Confluence to Totara Park).
Author: Claire.
Trampers: Paddlers: Claire, James, Megan, Mark and Katherine.

We had a great group of five for a Sunday morning beginners packraft paddle. The river had a great flow at 17 cubic metres, but the water was pretty cold! After a fairly smooth car shuttle ride, we had a briefing at the confluence of the Akatarawa and Upper Hutt Rivers and then jumped in.  … Read more

Zekes Hut – Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary

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Date: 12-13 Aug 2023.
Trip type: Tramp(EM).
Location: Hihitahi Forest Sanctuary.
Author: Mandy S.
Trampers: Jacqui B (leader), David B, Mandy S, Karen F.

This was my first overnight trip with the club, and first overnight trip in general since 2014, so I was excited to re-acquaint myself with hut life! Saturday We met at Wellington train station on Saturday morning and, after a lunch stop at the Brown Sugar cafe in Taihape, parked up as close to the … Read more

Arete Forks Hut – Tararua Forest Park

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Date: 26-28 May 2023.
Trip type: Tramp(MF).
Location: Tararua Forest Park.
Author: Leo.
Trampers: Tash (leader) Leo, Richard, Nate.

Day 1: Friday Tash, Nate, Richard, and I met at Wellington Train Station and started driving north, stopping in Masterton for sneaky kebabs. With our stomachs (very) satisfied, we continued to the trailhead at Kiriwhakapapa Campsite. As darkness settled in, we donned our tramping gear and headlamps and set off towards Blue Range Hut. The … Read more