Dodging lazy trees on Waiau Pass

Summary Day 1: Boyle Village – Magdalen Hut Day 2: To Waiau Hut via Boyle Flat, Rokeby, Anne and Lake Guyon Huts (side trip) Day 3: To Blue Lake Hut Day 4: To Upper Travers Hut via West Sabine Hut Day 5: To Cupola Hut Day 6: To Coldwater Hut via John Tait & Hopeless … Read more

Maungahuka Hut – a tramp with a different purpose

Maungahuka Hut – a tramp to fix a long-broken water supply tap A hike to Mungahuka Hut to replace a broken tap and deliver a new log book and enjoy one of the favourite Tararua huts. Maungahuka Hut is my favourite Tararua hut, and the hut that inspired my tramping journey. So when Tony and … Read more

Shattered Peak & the Kōwhai Circuit  – where escaped rebel dinosaurs go to hide

“I  think they’re looking for escaped rebel dinosaurs who are on the run from work…….” “I bet they were surprised to see all our tents in the middle of nowhere!” This was our conversation the next morning after an Airforce helicopter circled over our campsite the night before with search lights on, presumably doing a … Read more

Matariki weekend trip to Kawekas

Our delightful bunch of 8 bubbly people departed from Platform 9 on Thursday night and made our way to the Makahu road end carpark. A stop was made to scoff burgers in Sanson. All this seemed promising until our headlights beamed on 4 other cars at the road end and realised we’ll have to set … Read more

Searching for a Needle in a Haystack – Matiri Range to 1,000 acre plateau

Camping by a tarn on the 1000 Acre Plateau

The Matiri Range and 1000 Acre Plateau Searching for a Needle in a Haystack A 5 day tramp from the Wangapeka River, along the Matiri Range to the 1,000 Acre Plateau and the Matiri River. Tony assured me that I would be able to find The Needle in The Haystack easily. Well, he wasn’t wrong but … Read more

The First Mahu Whenua Turk Traverse Tramp

Turk Traverse map

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

A classic northern with a twist (Tararua Ranges)

Overlooking a ridge while standing at Bannister

The plan: a two day traverse via an interesting looking spur from Bannister to the Ruamahanga.  4.30am Saturday – the cell phone buzzes. Mike has dragged himself out of bed and is heading my way. It’s pleasant to have company for the trip to Poads Road and good to be walking by 7am under lights. … Read more

Taranaki West Side Story – the missing chapter

Taranaki west side

Taranaki West Side Story – the missing chapter An attempt to climb Mt Taranaki via the seldom visited western side of the mountain. The policeman standing at the end of the track asked me, “did you see any pink ribbons?”  And then immediately said, “I hope you didn’t try to climb to the summit from … Read more

West Side Story…the recce mission

Kahui

This trip was inspired by a crazy overnight ascent of the south side of Taranaki back in November when I realised I had now climbed Taranaki from the North, East and South sides which left only the western aspect to complete the compass points. A lot of googling and asking around revealed very little information … Read more

SK Main Range Traverse in sub-48 hours

I first heard about this challenge a year or so ago when I found out about the book full of all the previous trip reports, most recently updated and published by Tony and Megan from our club. The challenge itself started out with the simple rule that you need to work until closing time Friday, … Read more