A Baldy – South King – Mitre Flats Hut adventure – Tararua Forest Park

The original plan for this trip was to head into Atiwhakatu Hut on Friday night, climb Baldy Peak and then go on to the Broken Axe Pinnacles and McGregor Biv on Saturday and then back to Holdsworth Lodge via Angle Knob and Jumbo on Sunday. While Saturday’s weather looked pretty good, Sunday’s forecast was for … Read more

A tale of two Aorangi Crossings – Aorangi Forest Park

We had an extraordinary number of sign-ups for the Aorangi Crossing trip, originally graded Medium, which was very encouraging to see. We were keen to accommodate as many trampers as possible, as the club had signed up to support the Federated Mountain Clubs (FMC) ‘Love our Huts’ campaign (unbeknown to those who had signed up). … Read more

Penn Creek Hut – Tararua Forest Park

The group assembled at Platform 10 (basically 9 ¾ for WTMC) for what would end up being a wet, but enjoyable, weekend in the Tararuas. The plan originally was to head to Winchcombe Biv. However, the weather forecast was not in our favour, with winds from 35-40km/h and gusts up to 100km/h predicted for Saturday … Read more

Minimum effort, maximum gain: Sentry Box, Parks Peak and Upper Makaroro Huts – Ruahine Forest Park

Unfortunately, our original plan to do a return trip to Triangle Hut from the western side of the Ruahine Range was not to be, owing to the high winds and soggy weather forecast for the weekend. However, it looked like the Eastern side of the Range would have a better weather profile, so we opted … Read more

Devils Creek Hut – Mt Richmond Forest Park

The trip began with us all meeting at Wellington Train Station to catch a 4pm ferry sailing to the South Island. Our original plan was to camp at Butchers Flat campsite, but as the forecast was looking rather awful, we made a decision while waiting for the ferry to book accommodation in Picton for the … Read more

Not Alpha Hut – changing plans in the changeable Tararuas

Plan A was an overnight loop to Alpha Hut – starting at Kaitoke road end: taking Marchant Ridge to Alpha Hut and then returning via the Omega Track (with the return involving fording the Tauwharenikau River [formerly called the “Tauherenikau” River] and taking the track on the true left of the River back to the … Read more

Ruahine Corner – Ruahine Forest Park

As the sun rose over Wellington on ANZAC Day morning, four trampers hurtled through Transmission Gully, bound for Mangleton Road and Ruahine Forest Park. Google was telling us that the difference in travel time between the SH1 or SH2 from Wellington and Woodville was negligible. The closure of Kereru Road, near Kereru itself, due to … Read more

Tarn Ridge Hut Loop – Tararua Forest Park

The forecast was for a weekend of light winds and sun as we left Welly Railway Station at 4pm Friday. Following a dinner stop in Masterton, it was a further 15 minute drive to The Pines carpark on Upper Waingawa Road. Arriving at 6 pm, the waning crescent moon provided no light as we followed … Read more

Mt Taranaki Summit (Khyber Pass route) – Egmont National Park

This trip required strength and experience. What some members of the group lacked in experience, they made up for in strength and will. We were met with weather challenges, difficult terrain and chilling cold that could have ripped your pants right off your legs, but the group persevered through it all on route to the … Read more

Hiking the Holdsworth-Jumbo circuit in the Tararua Range before breakfast

Mount Holdsworth Summit

Hiking the Holdsworth-Jumbo circuit in the Tararua Range before breakfast A guide to hiking the iconic Holdsworth to Jumbo circuit in the Tararua Range at night time. It seems to be a shame to waste nice fine days by going tramping when instead you could get your tramping out of the way during the night. … Read more