Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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A shoot down to Shutes

March 14, 2018 by Bruce Hodgson Leave a Comment

Shutes Hut (Historic),Kaweka FP, Wednesday 14 March, 2018
Map: BK37

A van and carload of us headed up the Taihape Road. Murray took his car and three other trampers to The Blowhard bush for an easier walk. The rest of us continued to Comet Road and the start of the track to the Taruarau River and Shutes Hut.

Comet Road was, well, um, more of a track than a road. With some upgrading, I am sure it could be improved to a 4-wheel-drive only. Anyway, with a very skilful driver, we avoided the washout canyons and vertical drop-offs. (After the tramp, one of our party chose to walk the road back down the several kilometres rather than face the trauma of a return van trip.)

The track climbs a short distance to Komata trig. The trig station is still there but it’s completely obscured by wilding pines, a forgotten and rotting monument to pre-GPS days on a hill abandoned to pinus contorta. The path through the pine weeds was lined with Alice in Wonderland-type magic mushrooms, shiny red with white spots.

The track continued down, down, down to the river. Only four people continued across to Shutes Hut. The remainder sat beside the river in the sun, eating lunch and watching a trout quietly contemplating its surroundings.

Shutes is an historic hut built in 1920, using stone. In later years, it was occupied by Alex Shute, a reclusive rabbiter.

The walk back was up and up, and then we went up some more. In between the puffing, I heard mutterings of: “When I did this last time, I swore I’d never do it again…”.

The drive back was uneventful, after a very satisfying day’s exercise.

Trampers: Murray White, Paul Exeter, John Marshall, Tony Plymers, Rosemary Jeffery, John Burrell, Keith James, Mandy Cunningham, Vic Bullock, John Holschier, Dorothy Sole, Colin Jones and reporter Bruce Hodgson

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About us

About us

We are a group of like-minded people who love the great outdoors. We tramp mostly in the Hawke’s Bay province, in remote areas such as the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges; but we also travel longer distances to new places, for longer walks.

The Napier Tramping Club was established in 1974 and has about 70 members. We belong to the Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ Inc (FMC) and run Saturday, full-weekend and Wednesday tramps, every fortnight.

Interested in joining us?

Enjoy the great outdoors, keep fit and get to know others with similar interests.

More information

Latest news

April 2018 News

Contents: NZ Walking Access Commission (NZWAC); Molesworth Consultation; Sunrise and Rangiwahia … Read More

March 2018 News

Contents: Ruahine User Group Minutes of Feb 18th Meeting Manawatu Walking Festival; Sunrise and … Read More

Latest trip

We had everything but snow…

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Useful links

  • Dept of Conservation
  • DoC Huts Use, Kaweka Forest Park
  • Federated Mountain Clubs of NZ (FMC)
  • Heretaunga Tramping Club
  • New Zealand Tramper
  • NZ Walking Access Commission
  • Wanganui Tramping Club

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  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
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