Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club
enjoying the great outdoors since 1947
This was my second time on the Pouakai Circuit. The last time I went, just over a year ago, the track was underwater and there was no mountain to be seen – the pictures in that trip report say it all. While I absolutely enjoyed that trip, I was hoping for much better weather. This … Read more
INTRODUCTION Over Easter weekend I took a trip through and around the Forgotten World Highway, between Taumarunui and New Plymouth. This area is surprisingly beautiful for how little I have heard about it before going, and still relatively quiet in terms of traffic. As you pass through, there are stunning views of the Ruapehu massif, … Read more
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 Kahui Hut.” When I answered with the second ‘yes’ he scowled. A few weeks previously Emily President had led a club trip to … Read more
16 plus hours of plodding, scrambling, crunching, kicking and (bum) sliding, half of it in the dark, with no sleep, up one of the most serious and steepest mountains we know? Tony, Matt, Byron, Emily, Marie and Aimee all said “yes please!” (well, maybe not yes please, but at least they didn’t say no…) A … Read more
Platform 9, 5.15pm, we know the drill. Two groups heading up to Taranaki, 6 to do the Pouakai Circuit and 5 for a tramp to Lake Dive Hut. The formalities continued with kebabs in Bulls, par de course for many trips to the western side of the North Island. We arrived at Konini Lodge and … Read more
Staying the night at the Konini lodge we woke at 7am to crystal blue skies and glimpses of the mountain. After cooking up our breakfast at the lodge (facilities include stoves, plates, cups, glasses) we had a team photo outside the tourist centre. With time working in our favour we took a quick detour and … Read more
Not so long ago many mountain gods lived happily together on the central plateau of the North Island. All the warrior mountains longed after Pihanga, the lovely bush cloaked maiden volcano— but particularly Tongariro and Taranaki. Eventually they fought ferociously, the sky darkened, there was thunder and lightning, and lava spumed from their summits. Tongariro … Read more
Ten of us drove to Taranaki/ Mt Egmont on Friday evening and camped at a picnic spot along the North Egmont Road. Saturday was forecast to have a strong southerly wind with a minus 10 degrees C wind chill on the summit, while Sunday was forecast to be an absolutely stunning day. Needless to say, … Read more
In the days building up to this weekend weather-watching became something of an obsession, and a welcome surprise. I say ‘surprise’ because the forecast was good and, well, it’s Mount Taranaki. Everyone knows that Mount Taranaki lures you in with that promise of a beautiful day, only to change his mind right at the last … Read more
When does a tramp become a wade? 6 of us set out on Friday evening from the train station with some trepidation given the forecast for howling gales and torrential downpours to attempt the Pouakai Circuit on Mount Taranaki, leaving from and returning to the North Egmont visitors centre. Frances, our intrepid leader, was (tactically?) … Read more