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
You would be forgiven for thinking this is simply a well-trodden run-of-the-mill loop in the Tararuas – the usual open tops, goblin bush and cute huts. This loop is fantastic and has a bit of everything, but this weekend it was spectacular. There was a dusting of snow on the tops, which made going over … Read more
We decided on a day trip to Snowy Hut, after a changing weather forecast swept away our plans for a 6-day expedition. Starting out from Otaki Forks just after 8am, we walked for about an hour on the road until we reached the start of the Waiotauru Hut track. In the first few kms of … Read more
The forecast for the weekend was pretty uninviting – gale force winds on Saturday with increasing rain throughout Sunday. The low on Saturday night was forecast to be -3°C at Kime Hut. I figured there was no way we would be going ahead with our planned route along the tops. In fact I was so … Read more
Friday 10 February The Southern Crossing in the Tararuas has been on my to-do list for the last few years and when I saw it on the trip schedule for February, I did not hesitate to sign up for the walk. The plan was to have two groups of trampers do the Southern Crossing, with … Read more
After a busy work day and a mission to find dinner at Paraparaumu, our tramp began at the Ōtaki Forks carpark. Being a hot summer weekend, there were plenty of cars parked. We zoomed along the road and over the slip track, making it to Parawai Lodge in about 45 minutes. It was very full … Read more
Day 1: Poads Rd to Te Matawai Hut (31st Dec) Poads rd to Waiopehu: 5hWaiopehu to Te Matawai: 4h We met at 8am at Ōtaki Forks, left a car there and drove up to Poads Road. It was 9am and already pretty hot when we started heading up Waiopehu track, which was suspiciously dry. After … Read more
Friday 18 March – The night walk in We had a stunning Southern Crossing adventure, enjoying one of the classic Tararua tramps! On the Friday, seven of us met up at the Wellington Railway station at 3pm, ready for an early departure to Otaki Forks. Arriving at the “new” Otaki Forks carpark at 4.30pm, we … Read more
The trip was originally scheduled for October 2019 but postponed due to poor weather. Tash was no longer able to lead the trip so I took over and set a new date, inheriting a group of people who had been wanting to do this trip for a long time. The week before I had been … Read more
5.45am. Platform 9. A large bus load of passengers disembarks their Auckland bus, presumably arriving for that evening’s Eminem concert. It was a little earlier than usual to be meeting for an overnight tramp. We were expecting a hot day and decided to tackle the uphill section in the cool of morning. At 7.35am we … Read more