Easy Medium Tramp
Pelorus River over ANZAC weekend
After a classic Friday afternoon departure from the Wellington Railway Station, our group of 12 made the most of some sunshine from the club van before boarding the ferry to Picton, where a spirited game of Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza attracted a fair bit of attention from our nearby Bluebridge passengers. From Picton, it … Read more
Managamate Loop over Easter
The secret society of Central Whirinaki Hut left no evidence behind of their esoteric full moon ritual. While the Waikato vegan tramping club did catch a glimpse of our trip leader yodelling a particular song, no suspicion was raised as that group was busy fishing – catch and release, of course – or were they … Read more
Waipakihi Hut via the Umukarikari Track
Two groups were heading to Waipakihi Hut in the Kaimanawa Forest this weekend: the EM group (seven members) travelling via the Umukarikari Track, and the M trip (five members) going in along the Waipakihi River. We all met at the railway station and were on the road shortly after 4:30pm on Friday. With light traffic, … Read more
Nina Valley
The trip was scheduled as going to Nina Hut and Manson Nicholls Hut in Lewis Pass. However the huts were booked by early December so we considered alternative trips and camping rather than overnighting in huts. We met Thursday afternoon at the railway station and then caught the ferry, driving on to Murchison for the … Read more
Field Hut and Otaki Forks
We assembled at the station at 9am on Saturday and divided into two cars before regrouping at Otaki Forks. A group of seven trampers: two seasoned club veterans, four newer members on their first club adventure, and one non-member suspicious of whether the club dues represented value for money. Before beginning our climb, we scouted … Read more
Ozzies Track
Thinking of a loop daytrip in the Tararua Range that is a bit different? Well, why not try Ozzie’s Track? Ozzie’s Track is one of those mostly-forgotten routes in the Tararua Forest Park that doesn’t appear on today’s topomaps but lives on in trampers’ conversations—particularly those of the members of the Manawatu Tramping and Skiing … Read more
Lake Chalice Hut – Mt Richmond Forest Park (and aborted Mt Owen trip)
Prelude: We had all been really looking forward to our planned Mt Owen trip in Kahurangi National Park. However, it turned out that when we arrived on site, the water level flowing over the Dart River ford (which you need to cross to access the track to Mt Owen from the North) was too high, and … Read more
Blyth Hut – Tongariro National Park
FridayThe weather leading up to the weekend had been sketchy, with persistent rain and more forecast. Our original plan was to head into the Kaimanawa Forest Park – camping at the road end on Friday and making the 7-hr trip to Waipakihi Hut on Saturday. However, with heavy rainfall in the area leading up to … Read more
Washpool Hut – Aorangi Forest Park
Day 1 It was a still and overcast morning when we arrived at the Putangirua Pinnacles car park at 9.30am. We had the option of walking up the river or heading up the track to a high view point. There were ominous red flood warning signs and significant signs of flooding where trees had been … Read more