Ruahines

It’s a bit like the Tararuas

Date: 29 April – 1 May 2011.
Trip type: Medium Fit Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Mike Pheathean.
Trampers: Morag McConville, Siobhan Murray, Bernie Smithyman (leader) and Mike Phethean.

As usual we met at the train station on Friday night for our trip to the Ruahines. We stopped for kebabs on the way and then in what seemed like no time at all were at the road end. We had a few hours to walk on the first night to get to Parks Peak … Read more

Ruahines Easter Egg Hunt

Date: Easter (April 21-25) 2011.
Trip type: Private Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Marie Henderson.
Trampers: Allen and Sue Higgins, Marie Henderson .

I have never spent much time in the Ruahines. Too far from home.  Too difficult to get to. You have to read a map just to work out where the road end is. Too similar to the Tararuas. Why would anyone go that far just to get away from a bit of wind? But after … Read more

Waterfall Hut

Date: April 2011 .
Trip type: Fit Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Stephen Healey.
Trampers: Sharron, Dave, Steve, Ian, Gareth and Stephen.

I left the car just after 5:00pm Friday night & headed off to Purity Hut, the first half an hour or so up the farmland is a steep haul but once you get into the bush this is a another good route on to the tops. Daylight saving had just finished, so once in the … Read more

Ruahine – Sunrise Hut

Date: 18-20 March 2011.
Trip type: Easy Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Annie Van Herck.
Trampers: Helen Law (Leader), Marie Jessup, Penny Kerr-Hislop, Danniel Bourke, Chris Davies, Bryce Stapleton and Annie Van Herck..

This was my third overnight trip with the WTMC and I must say also the best because of the great scenery, the nice track and the time we had for exploring and relaxing. We left on Friday evening from the station with another group (medium) led by Kate Cushing. Jo Boyle was driving the van, … Read more

Heritage to Tunupo

Date: 3-4 September 2010.
Trip type: Medium Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Mike McGavin.
Trampers: Bernie Smithyman, Richard Lardner, Michael Lightbourne and Mike McGavin.

Around the 3rd to 5th of September Bernie, Richard, Mike and I had plans to do some exploring around the southern Ruahines. We bailed out a day early with too much snow for the gear we’d brought, not to mention an extended mountain forecast of 120km/h galeforce nor-westerlies in exposed mountain areas on Sunday. Okay, … Read more

Punter gets Lift Off in the Ruahines

Date: 12-14 February 2010.
Trip type: Medium Tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Kate Cushing and Gareth Morton.
Trampers: Gareth M (Leader), Steve A, Jo P, Rita Q, Vlad D, John H and Kate C (aka MJ).

The Route: Mangakukeke Road End to Purity Hut then on to the tops of Wooden Peg and Iron Peg, across and down the ridge heading south east past Pinnacle Creek to Pourangaki Hut. Sunday was down the Pourangaki River to Kelly Knight but then along the trail back to the Mangakukeke Road End. The Stats: … Read more

Purity Hut

Date: 20-22 November 2009.
Trip type: Easy tramp.
Location: Ruahines.
Author: Margaret Craigie.
Trampers: John Hickey, Daniel Bourke, Karl Stapleton, Margaret Craigie.

I’d softened. After basking in the Australian sun for the last two years and next to no opportunity to climb hills, I was a tad anxious about my ability to cope with a fashion statement involving boots, let alone for a whole weekend. As part of my easing back into the back-country life, I had … Read more