In November 2010 I did a great trip to Elder Hut in fine sunny weather (yes, this was the Tararuas). The views from the hut were brilliant, and it got the sun until late in the evening. So when the trip was put on the proposed WTMC summer schedule for March 2012, begging for a … Read more
Out tramping again with WTMC for my second weekend in a row, we met at the station on a sunny Saturday morning for the 2.5 hour drive up to Mangahao Dam road end. The trip along the gravel road to the Upper Mangahao Dam is a long, bumpy ride in, taking about 50 minutes. We … Read more
The tramp started really well for me: I hadn’t been tramping in a number of years but thought I had all my gear together in one place since I had recently done a trip to cycle and camp the Otago Rail trail. So, I decided that I could leave packing my bag until 11pm on … Read more
On the weekend of March 10/11th, I went for my first overnight tramp with Dad. We were in a large party of 5 families. The youngest was only 6 months old! We set off on Saturday from Holdsworth carpark for Atiwhakatu hut – a distance of 5 kilometres. It was a beautiful sunny day, but … Read more
So what is it that children like most about tramping? A sense of adventure? Staying in a cool hut? Enjoying nature? Nah – it seems it is the one time in their lives that their parents let them eat whatever yummy food they like. Our trip to Totara Flats was no different. Our group kept … Read more
My second tramp with the WTMC lead us into the beautiful Tararua Range. I wasn’t really sure about my experience nor my fitness level, but it sounded like a nice achievement to climb a mountain, so I gave it a try. Looking back I am a bit embarrassed about my naivity, and will tell you … Read more
The southern crossing is a trip that most trampers in Wellington have either done or want to do. One reason is that most of the southern crossing can be seen from various vantage points in Wellington. This means past trips there or the desire to do it are called to mind by its presence as … Read more
I grew up happily located between Kahurangi and Abel Tasman National Parks. As a youngster tramping for me was an enviable choice between silver beech in the hills or golden beach on the coast. So naturally, when I first moved to Wellington I looked down my nose at the Tararuas. A fellow Mainlander, John Pascoe, … Read more
I had one of those days where serious lapse in judgment overtook me. This coming Sunday weather was going to be a stunner. So, what do I do? I decide to enquire with Shirley (Queen of the Tararuas) if she’d like to do a day walk on the Sunday. Left it entirely up to Shirley … Read more
With an appalling weather forecast it was decided that a weekend trip to the lodge wasn’t a goer; chances are the Bruce Road would be closed and we wouldn’t even get there. Spencer was keen to lead a local day walk instead and I for one really needed to stretch my legs, so did Tracey, … Read more