Te Apiti-Manawatu Gorge, Saturday 24 March 2018 This is not a loop tramp and we didn’t have a shuttle to take us back to our vehicles, so five drove round to the Ashhurst end and four started from the Balance Gorge Road. The idea was to meet in the middle for lunch and exchange keys,… [Read More]
Longview Hut with No View
Longview Hut, Saturday 25 March (Planned tramp was Longview, Rocky Knob, Maraketu Hut), Ruahine FP, Map: BL36. Banner photo by Bruce Hodgson. The road end signage provides shelter from the rain. Seven of us knew the forecast was for rain and it did just that. We took two private cars out and it was great… [Read More]
Kapiti Island, museums and the escarpment walk
Labour Weekend, 21-24 October 2016. Fourteen members and their families travelled to Paekakariki at Labour Weekend. Because the weather and sea conditions weren’t conducive for the planned day to explore Kapiti, we decided to shelter from the wind, rain and cold and explore the Wellington museums. The Gallipoli display at Te Papa is outstanding and… [Read More]
Dr Paul and harem land in deep water
Lotkow Rd, Black Birch Ridge to Littles Clearing – Kawekas, Saturday June 4 2016 Banner pix: The view from our morning tea spot of Kaweka J. We left Napier on a crisp frosty morning and were pleasantly rewarded with stunning white scenes as we drove along Puketitiri Road towards the Kawekas. Lotkow Rd was no… [Read More]
Tramping, the way it should be!
Galbraith Hut-Maungaharuru Range-Taraponui, Saturday 7 May 2016 Banner Photo: Walking the farm track to historic Galbraith Hut We left the car park earlier than usual, mainly because many of us had been woken by a ship’s continuous foghorn as early as 4am. As we travelled out of Napier, less fog was present. In fact, it… [Read More]
Southern Ruahine crossing out – but kakas are in!
Shines Fall and Boundary Stream, Wednesday October 8 2014 Severe winds cancelled our planned tramp so, after much discussion, we travelled to Heays Access Road and walked to Shines Fall then through Boundary Stream Scenic Reserve to the car park in Pohokura Road. Thanks are due to Hillary, Paul and John who took the van… [Read More]
Amongst the Forest Giants
Whirinaki Park, Queens Birthday Weekend, June 2014 I just love being in this area amongst these awe-inspiring trees, so I was thrilled to be back again. We stayed at the Whirinaki Recreation Camp huts which have been recently refurbished with flush toilets, solar showers, and a covered outdoor eating area. What luxury! After some confusion… [Read More]
Fungi feast on the Apiti Track
Mangatewainui Circuit, via Apiti Track, Ruahine Forest Park, Saturday May 18 2013 Showers were forecast, so everyone came prepared. We turned off at Norsewood into Ngamoko Road and set off on foot from the DoC car park. The overnight group who were tramping onto Leon Kinvig Hut kindly helped us shift the car to the… [Read More]
Damn it, the wrong dam!
Burn Hut, Tararua Range, Saturday-Sunday September 22-23, 2012 Map BN34 Nobody had been here before, except Dorothy, who tramped here several years ago in the reverse route, but she couldn’t remember anything until she got to the hut! So we drove down to the Tararua Ranges and turned from Shannon. This road leads past the… [Read More]
How Geoff piste off Isobel…
Sunrise Hut and beyond. Map: BK36 Saturday, August 11, 2012. Sunrise Hut – always an alternative when it’s been raining for several weeks and the rivers are swollen. Poutaki Hut was out of the picture and the second choice of Gold Creek meant cold bush and no views. So an executive decision was made in… [Read More]
Good to be back in the bush
Middle Hill Hut, Whetu – changed to: Te Puia Lodge, Kawekas, March 26 2011 Trampers to Te Puia via the Mohaka River Track: Paul Exeter, Ted Angove, Geoff Donkin, Marc Marchal, John Marshall and reporter Sue Martin It rained and was blowing all the way out to the Kawekas, so it didn’t look promising for… [Read More]
Get your kicks, flicks, blisters and bruises on Route 66
Sunrise, Armstrong Saddle, Te Atuaoparapara (66) Waipawa Saddle, Waipawa River, Saturday May 8. Map: BK36 Trampers: Colin McNatty, Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, Shaun (visitor), Geoff Donkin, Jude Paton, Julia Mackie, Alison Greer, Murray White, Phil (visitor), Denise Payne, Colleen Pereau, Matt Green, Ray Slavin, Murray Goss, Sue Martin It was a perfect day to tackle… [Read More]