Napier Tramping Club

based in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
  • Home
  • News
  • Recent trips
  • Meetings and Events
    • The Tramp List, and how to book online
    • Club meetings
    • Bike Rides
    • Eezee Tramps
  • Gear and fitness
    • Tramping gear details
  • History
    • Memory Lane
  • Contacts
    • Interested in joining

Howletts Hut works its magic

September 20, 2020 by Alison Greer Leave a Comment

Howletts Hut, Ruahine FP, Sat/Sun 19-20 Sept 2020. Map: BL36

Howletts Hut is the highest hut in the Ruahine Range, at 1365m, and a great destination. With three of the four having never been before, there was some trepidation in the group.

Views north from the hut

On the drive down, the range behind Ashley Clinton looked a little stormy, with even a rainbow over the area we would be tramping in. At the Daphne car park, the breeze was cool (thankfully not a howling gale) but no sign of rain we got organised and set off with the day party across the two small streams and onto the base of the climb.

By the time we had ascended the 500m to the Daphne Ridge, the sun was out and we had stripped off. We reached the Tukituki River to find it running a little high but clear after recent rain, so we decided to press on to Daphne Hut for lunch.

Matt and Fiona

We “manned up” for each river crossing, me clinging to Matt as he was much bigger and stronger, and made the six crossings without mishap. My feet were freezing so we did not linger over lunch, and it was back across the river to start the slow 700m climb up Daphne Spur. By the time we climbed above the bush line, light rain was falling and visibility was pretty much nil. The hut was a welcome sight and as Matt and I had arrived first, we set about getting the fire going and water on the boil, for Fiona and Hilary.

We were quite settled in and spread out when a guy arrived and said that three more were on the way. They had met in the car park, a couple from Palmerston North and two girls, one from New Plymouth and one from Napier. They thought the river might have been too high so came via Longview and the tops, which meant they were wet and cold on arrival. We got the fire cranked up with the help of the logs Chris had brought in his pack from Longview; put more water on to boil and tidied up a bit.

The overnighter’s

We had a pleasant evening round the fire; so nice to see young people out tramping. During the night, the weather cleared and got quite cold.

The light dusting of snow on Sunday morning

Daybreak saw an amazing sunrise and everything was frozen; I think there had been a very light dusting of snow. It was really magical, with fabulous views over to the main range and out to the east. Before leaving, I spent some time pointing out the routes and high points to the team, and then we retraced our steps down across the open ridge into the bush, arriving at the river to find it had dropped overnight.

We had morning tea after negotiating the river crossings, then headed back up the ridge and down to the car park, making really good time.

We were all stoked to have made the trip. It is a special hut, and even the bush is magnificent.

Thanks to Heretaunga Tramping Club for providing and maintaining a wonderful hut.

Trampers: Fiona Bryant, Hilary Heath-Caldwell, Matt Nisbett and reporter Alison Greer

Filed Under: Napier Tramping Club, Recent trips Tagged With: Daphne Hut, Howletts Hut, Ruahine Forest Park

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Our most recent trips

The (local) hills are alive with trampers

Taradale Hills - Sugar Loaf, Dolbel Reserve and Otatara Pa Historic Reserve, Saturday 11 March 2023 Tramping in the Kawekas or Ruahines was out, … Read More

Racing (and beating) Cyclone Gabrielle

Kiwi Mouth Hut, Kaweka FP, 11-12 February 2023 Banner Photo: From HP 1238 there are  a few open clay and scree slopes before reaching the bushline … Read More

The Kaweka J Experience delivers for first-timers

Kaweka J, Kaweka FP, Saturday 11 February 2023 Banner Photo: Taking in the views from Kaweka North Kaweka J was a first for some of us. The … Read More

News

March 2023 News

March 1, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

Tramp List Amendments and Road Closures Due to the inability to access most of the Ruahine Forest … Read More

February 2023 News

February 4, 2023 By Julia Mackie Leave a Comment

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

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

Tramp List Amendments and Road Closures Due to the inability to access most of the Ruahine Forest … Read More

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

Copyright © 2023 · Napier Tramping Club · Sign In · Website by D2 ·