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.
I have been determinedly Tararua hut-bagging for a couple of years now, having realised I’d haphazardly visited about three quarters of them. Carkeek Hut is one of the most difficult to get to being right in the middle of the range with no DoC-maintained tracks to it. I was waiting for a good weather weekend … Read more
This was essentially a day trip cleverly disguised as a weekend trip, leaving Friday night and returning later than expected Sunday arvo, yet only tramping during the day on Saturday. As such we had nearly as many adventures off the trail as on! Most of us were belatedly “getting back into it” post lockdown. I … Read more
The Mahu Whenua covenants were established by Robert Lange of Soho Property Limited in partnership with Queen Elizabeth II National Trust in September 2015 to ensure the protection of around 53,000 hectares of iconic New Zealand high country between Queenstown and Wanaka (1). Approximately 70% of the 60km Mahu Whenua Turk Traverse is on Coronet … Read more
Recently, the lodge sub-committee held a special meeting to discuss the future of the lodge and to reaffirm the purpose and usefulness of this club facility. More details of our thinking will follow in a month or two. Now more than ever the importance of the lodge to the club is becoming evident with RAL … Read more
A big welcome to all our new members and a huge welcome back to our many continuing members! Covid-19 continues to present challenges but in the bigger picture we remain very fortunate and as a club we’re more prepared. If we return to level 2, it’s likely we’ll continue to run most trips and the … Read more
Red Hills Ridge – Richmond Range A 4 day loop trip hiking through spectacular mountain scenery along the Red Hills Ridge in the Mt Richmond Forest Park. It had been two years since my first experience of the Richmond Ranges, my first overnight WTMC trip, a medium grade where I bit off more than I … Read more
As many WTMC holiday weekend trips do, this trip started with the Interislander ferry to Picton and a drive to a DoC campsite. This time Kawatiri just beyond St Arnaud and handily situated right next to the both SH6 and SH63 (handy for access that is, less handy for sound sleeping). Queueing for the loo … Read more
“You will never get there – it’s a really long way.” Hmmm. This warning was delivered by a man pushing a bike along the Pelorus Track. I wasn’t sure how seriously I should take it given he was pushing a bike along a tramping track but decided to thank him for his advice and continue … Read more
Taranaki Maunga (Mt Taranaki) East Ridge Climbing the East Ridge of Mt Taranaki on good solid lava flows directly from the East Egmont Road to the Sharks Tooth and then the summit What do WTMC trampers do after they have declared they are ‘all tramped-out’ after many trips over the previous six weeks of fine … Read more
Makara Beach to Red Rocks A video taken on a day tramp around the seldom visited coast west of Wellington. PS. Permission required from Terawhiti Station to cross private coastal land. PPS. Read Harry’s trip story which gives a lot of good tips about the route.