Heay’s Deer Farm/Boundary Stream, Wednesday August 15 Actually, it’s the ex-Heay’s ex-deer farm. Never mind, it’s the same tramp. We started from the saddle on Pohokura Road and headed north. The sun was shining and we were heading uphill but still needed to put on extra clothing to combat the biting south-westerly wind. The route… [Read More]
Boundary Stream our wet weather option
Boundary Stream Wednesday 11 April 2012 The scheduled trip was to have been to Te Waewae but again it didn’t happen. Judging by the state of the Main Highway after the recent heavy rain, we probably would not have made it. The highway was a massive mess of slips. One rock which we had to… [Read More]
Ruapehu week – We step back in time on a railroad walk
The annual Ruapehu stay Ohakune Old Coach Road, March 12 2012 The weather forecaster got it right. It was raining. So we went down the mountain seeking some shelter at least. We headed for the Ohakune Old Coach Road (OCR) – and no, Ohakune does not have an Official Cash Rate. It runs from Ohakune… [Read More]
Snap, crackle and plop into the Waipawa River
Waipawa River Gorge, Wednesday January 18 2012 This tramp began at the end of North Block Road in the Ruahines. We had checked the water level in the Waipawa River on the way in and it looked ideal. Even so, some chose not to get their feet wet but instead climb to Sunrise Hut and… [Read More]
No gale force winds, but no views either
Sparrowhawk Range, Wednesday, November 23, 2011 If we had believed the weather forecast, we would have chosen an alternative trip for the day – but we didn’t. When we got out of the van at Taruarau River Bridge on the Taihape Road, there was hardly any trace of the predicted gale force winds. The sky… [Read More]
A day of distinctive shapes
Te Waka Wednesday June 8, 2011 Te Waka, the canoe that turned to stone, dominates the skyline above Te Pohue on the Napier/Taupo highway and is visible from nearly everywhere in Hawke’s Bay with its distinctive shape and microwave transmitter structure. Our day’s tramp wasn’t from the Taupo road, but from Potters Road out near… [Read More]
Ruapehu, March 2011
Mt Ruapehu 2011, March 4 – 10 The small but select party who enjoyed a week at Ruapehu this year were Noeline Blair, Jennie Burns, Vic Bullock, John Marshall, Peter Slagter, Ken Ross (reporter) and our reluctant but very able leader, Kelvin Shaw. Day 1.We arrived on the mountain early in the afternoon after a… [Read More]
Mt Tauhara for Christmas lunch… and there’s more
Mt Tauhara (Christmas Shared Lunch Special), Wednesday December 7 2010 The lucky ones: Alison Greer, John Marshall, Peter Slagter, Kelvin Shaw, John Gray, Diane and David Hills, John Burrell and Ken Ross There are lots of things I like about Wednesday shared lunch tramps. They tend to be shorter; we have a really great lunch… [Read More]
A floral day out… with a walk thrown in
Ngamoko Road to Mangatewainui River, Wednesday November 10. Map: BL36 Norsewood Trampers: John Marshall, Paul Exeter, Kelvin Shaw, Ron Morison, Peter Slagter, Keith Moretta, Julia Mackie, Robyn Smith, Gary Bowler, Alison Greer, John Burrell and Ken Ross The weather forecast was good and the weather Gods delivered. We were going to have a perfect day… [Read More]
Te Waewae Station
Te Waewae Station, August 18 2010. Map: Local Trampers: Vic Bullock, Paul Exeter, John Gray, Alison Greer, John Marshall, Les O’Shea, Kelvin Shaw, Peter Slagter and reporter Ken Ross This was an eagerly anticipated new tramp. Te Waewae is a station inland from Kotemaori off the road to Wairoa. After a drive of close on… [Read More]
The Mohaka: Up-and-down, and all-round drama
Waitere Station, Wednesday, April 14 2010 Trampers: Ted Angove, Gary Bowler, Vic Bullock, Alison Greer, Rosemary Jeffery, John Marshall, Sue and Peter Martin, Keith Moretta, Kelvin Shaw, Robyn Smith, Peter Slagter, Gordon Tapp and Ken Ross From the top of the Mangaharuru Range (Bell Rock or Taraponui), you can look north-west into the Mohaka River… [Read More]
Expert navigation to Galbraith Hut
Maungaharuru Range Wednesday March 17 2010 Trampers: to Galbraith Hut, Alison Greer, Ali Hollington, Sue Martin, Noeline Blair, Jeanne van den Hout, Manfred Hausler and reporter Ken Ross. The Bellbird Bushers were John Marshall, Vic Bullock, John Mason and Ron Morison If half Plan A plus half Plan B is Plan C, then we did… [Read More]