Tararuas
Blanketed in gray on top of the Tararuas
With a red warning storm on the doorstep, we barrelled out to the Tararuas early on Saturday to go for a wander. Heeding the forecast, we adjusted plans slightly to avoid getting drenched and battered, opting for a day mish, inevitably followed by a warm shower and cozy bed at home. We arrived at Holdsworth … Read more
A Perfectly Sensible Bannister Crossing
A Bannister crossing had been on the to-do list for both Anne and I for a while. The Bannister Ridge, with its dramatic and imposing profile, had captured our imaginations on previous trips. Anne had planned a Cattle Ridge-Bannister-Dundas loop in autumn last year, however we didn’t get the weather window to do that trip. … 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
Attempted Southern Crossing and visit to Tutuwai Hut
In late-2025, the Club put out its summer trip list and for this trip there was a ‘leader required’ note on it. Being keen as ever, I suggested doing it over 3 days which would make it a medium trip, and volunteered to lead! Within a few weeks we had 13 in total wanting to … 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
Mitre Flats Hut and Mitre Peak – Tararua Forest Park
Friday After a quick drive over the Remutakas and some of Carterton’s finest fried chicken, we drove to The Pines carpark and were at the head of the Barra Track at 7.30 pm. Ethan, sporting the elite tramping look of gaiters and shorts, was leading 9 of us to the mighty Mitre Peak in the … Read more
Roaring Stag Hut – Tararua Forest Park
After a wet and rather dreary couple of weeks, our group of 7 Easy Medium (EM) walkers were very happy to see the sun coming out as we drove out of Wellington Train Station with a Medium Fit (MF) group from the club at 8am on Saturday morning. Day 1 – Saturday We dropped the … Read more
Kaiparoro Plane Wreck – Tararua Forest Park
I was originally inspired to start bagging plane wrecks in the Tararuas at a club talk back in 2021, so I am happy to report that four years later I have now ticked off two plane wrecks. The first was near Mick, on the western side of the range, so it is appropriate that this … Read more
Tutuwai Hut – Tararua Forest Park
This trip was organised a bit late in the piece, after we were unable to secure enough bunks at Jumbo Hut (where we had originally planned to go). SaturdayWe travelled in the club van with another group from the tramping club who were heading to Jumbo Hut – departing from Wellington Train Station at 7am. … Read more