Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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The wet but still smiling trampers to Top Maropea Hut

A great Plan B, to Top Maropea Hut

February 11, 2012 by Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Saturday February 11 2012
Sunrise, Top Maropea – Map BK36

The La Nina weather pattern this summer affected our tramp this Saturday. The scheduled trip along the tops from Sunrise to Sparrowhawk Bivvy is not going to happen due to the complete clag in the Ruahine ranges. So to Plan B, which is up to Sunrise and then on to Top Maropea Hut for lunch.

Sixteen on this trip, including Carolyn, newly arrived from the UK. As this was her first tramp with the club, the trip is a good one to test her ability. (Carolyn did well, and we hope to see more of her while she is in NZ on a doctor’s secondment for one year. We should be in good hands if anything goes medically awry.)

The young rimu tree stands proudly

At the start of the Sunrise Hut track, which is one that DoC keeps open as a superhighway, a lovely young rimu tree stands proudly. Unfortunately about 500m further up the track, an old rimu has come a cropper, and fallen over. But it is good to see a lot of regenerating trees on this track.

The track zigzags for a short while, and then winds its way around the hillside. In 30 minutes, you reach the Waipawa Forks turn-off. From there, a steady climb continues to the hut, passing some patches of creeping eyebright (Euphrasia revoluta), and some fading Senecio (Senecio bellidioides).

The creeping eyebright

Once we have all reached Sunrise Hut and snacked and watered, nine of us continue on to Top Maropea Hut. This part is exposed, so we feel the drizzle. Making our way past Armstrong Saddle, we sidle around the top of some seriously big slips, a feature of the Ruahine ranges. We reach the turn-off for Te Atuoparapara, and the start of the descent to Top Maropea Hut. The track winds around a few rocky bluffs, before it enters the bush for a steep descent to the hut.
Top Maropea HutTop Maropea Hut is a small NZFS four-bunk hut. A back porch has been built over the doorway. It is dark inside, but has a small open fire. All nine of us find a seat inside for an early lunch, after which we head back up the steep bush track to the tops, and take a group photo. We all seem to be enjoying the walk, even though we are getting wet. A tramper should be able to cope with all weather conditions, and still have fun.

The wet but still smiling trampers to Top Maropea Hut

We reach Sunrise Hut again, and find that everyone else has already departed, so after a quick drink stop, we head off downhill. Somehow the return downhill seems much longer than the uphill this morning. We are happy to get out of our wet gear and back into the van, and head home. A good day trip, and a pity that we never got any views, but all the more reason to put the original trip back onto the list again. Better luck with the weather next time.

Trampers: Carolyn Rigg, Marc Marchal, Colin McNatty, Matt Greene, Jenny Burns, Ted Angove, Paul Exeter, John Marshall, Dennis Mitchell, Kelvin Shaw, Viv Bramley, Sue Titter, Sue Martin, Denise Payne, Jude Paton and Julia Mackie

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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

March 2023 News

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February 2023 News

Mokai Access to Iron Bark and Colenso Huts Copied from the Ruahine User Group (Private) Facebook … Read More

Latest trip

The (local) hills are alive with trampers

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

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Weather forecast

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