Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

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Ruahine tops, here we come

June 2, 2018 by Lynette Morgan Leave a Comment

Sunrise Hut – Saturday 2 June 2018
Ruahine FP, Map BK36

Two cars with eight trampers on board left Park Island on a fine but cold and brisk morning. It was a slightly later start (0730) for a Saturday morning tramp, thanks to Jude, so the later start was most welcome. A quick pickup stop at the Maraekakaho Monument car park, then we were away, a total of nine keen trampers.

Three of us were first timers to Sunrise Hut and Armstrong Saddle: Peter, Mana and myself.

Arriving at Sunrise Hut

We arrived to a very full Sunrise Hut car park at a little before 9 o’clock. There were two mini-buses from Karamu High school (they were heading off towards the Waipawa River track) and a mini-bus from a local church group, plus quite a few cars, so we thought we were going to encounter a full hut.

Weather was ideal for tramping but not for views, as there was very low cloud most of the way. On the upside, there was absolutely no wind.

On our way up, we passed our first party of young trampers who had stopped to regroup, at least 16 of them, and another six or eight people were coming down.

Armstrong Saddle, we made it in the murky cloud.

We arrived to an empty hut, much to our surprise, so enjoyed a quick morning tea break before heading out to cross the Armstrong Saddle; again, no views but it was still worth the short trek across the top. A little icy and slushy and with very cold, thick misty cloud. The tarn at the top was frozen with solid ‘ice blocks’, but surprisingly, there was little snow around – not that we could see very far…

We took a few group photos then made the return trek to the protection and warmth of the hut.

Having lunch in the warm Sunrise Hut

Tony had decided not to join us on our trek across the saddle, so we returned to a lit fire and a very full hut. We enjoyed lunch with the large group of happy teenage trampers and one adult, who were camping for the night.

It was an easy trip down. The track was quite busy with people wanting to make it to the hut; most had overnight packs with them. Sorry people, no room left at Sunrise.

We arrived back at the car park at 2.30, then made a b-line to the Tikokino pub for the usual refreshments of the non-alcoholic kind.

Home by 4.30, so all in all a most enjoyable day. Thanks to Tony P and John B for providing the transport.

Trampers: Jude Paton, Juliet Gillick, Tony Pluymers, John Bennett, John Russell, Hannah Munro, Mana Hattori, Peter Ide – Photos, and reporter Lynette Morgan

Filed Under: Recent trips

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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

September 2023 News

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Latest trip

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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

Useful links 2

  • Royal Forest & Bird Protection Society
  • Weather forecast

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