Smith Stream Hut, Ruahine Forest Park, 1-2 February 2025 Banner photo: The team selfie at Smith Stream Hut Craig, Anne, Jenny and I set off for North Block Road, and ended up following the van full of the day trampers. It was nice to catch up with them and especially see the newbies, Barbara, Connie… [Read More]
We joined forces to tackle the wilding pines
Kohinga, Kaweka Forest Park, Wednesday 4 September 2024 Banner Photo: Check out the wilding pines everywhere It was chilly at Park Island, but the sky looked sort of blue(ish) so we hoped the rain wouldn’t arrive until later. Johnny D drove the van and we met Graham Leech from Afoot at Omahu. Graham organises the… [Read More]
Yet another cliff-hanger, en route to Cape Kidnappers
Cape Kidnappers, Wednesday 24 July 2024 Banner Photo: There are some rocky sections on the walk It looks safe enough, but the route to Cape Kidnappers is fraught with hazards, as we found out yet again. Club trampers had previous experience of the unstable cliffs when they walked the beach on 7 June 2023. Gannet-free… [Read More]
A river walk, with three huts to view
Awatere Hut, Black Stag Biv (dilapidated) and Happy Daze Hut, Ruahine FP, Saturday 13 April 2024 Banner Photo: The view down to the Makaretu North Branch from the track above Moorcock Saddle It was a lovely sunny, autumn day on Saturday when Liz, Uta, Paul, Colin and myself met at Colin’s house. We set off… [Read More]
Our very refreshing refresher course in how to cross rivers
Cameron Hut, Kaweka FP, Saturday 2 March Banner Photo: One of the many river crossings The weather was virtually perfect as we set off. The cars picked up Colin and myself up at Omahu and we were at the Cameron car park by 8.30am. Mark also arrived to do his own private walk, and hoping… [Read More]
Four have a foggy J all to themselves, but there’s an evil green cloud down below…
Kaweka J, Wednesday 21 February 2024 Banner Photo: (L to R) Cherie, Jenny and Keith on the seat at the memorial cairn at Kaweka J (Photo taken by Di) At 7.15am, five happy trampers met at Park Island and we managed to arrange everyone comfortably into my car. The weather was fairly cool, a pleasant… [Read More]
Ruahine crossing, and a walk on water
Southern Ruahine Crossing, Wednesday 8 November 2023 Banner Photo: The view from the Ruahine FP border, after crossing the farmland on the western side Five set out in two cars from Taradale at 7.30am, collecting Colin at Maraekakaho on the way down SH 50. We stopped at the start of Maharahara Road just the other… [Read More]
Up and up we went… on yet another vertical mud-fest
Parks Peak, Ruahine FP, Saturday 15 July 2023 Banner Photo: Parks Peak Hut, in a clearing on the ridge line The mornings are getting lighter! It was almost dawn when we met at Park Island. Spring can’t be far away. Simon, Juliet and Geoff kindly drove their 4WD/AWD vehicles which, as it turned out, were… [Read More]
Merry Mackintosh band tracks mystery pathfinders
Mackintosh Hut, Kaweka FP, Wednesday 26 April 2023 Banner Photo: The old slip has grown and is now unstable. A diversion is in place Our merry group set off from Park Island but got snagged up with traffic trying to get onto the motorway, then picked up Lynette and Di at Omahu around 8.20am. There… [Read More]
Our struggle towards the tower that always leaned a little bit further away…
Wharite, Southern Ruahine Range, 16 November 2022 Ten happy trampers whizzed off towards Dannevirke on a cloudy Wednesday morning, Alison behind the wheel and with strict instructions that we had to be back in good time for child-minding the grand-lovelies! We set off at 9.45 following the stream along a lovely track with a few… [Read More]
Our second option proved a hit
Gold Creek Hut, Ruahine FP, Wednesday 19 October 2022 Banner Photo: The Makaroro River, from near the fenceline entrance to the Ruahine FP It was a beautiful spring morning when eight club members left Napier, collecting Di and Anne at Maraekakaho and then on to meet Sue and Jim Trotter at the start of the… [Read More]
Winter ills and chills begone! How we almost flew up to Sparrowhawk
Sparrowhawk bivvy, Ruahine Forest Park, Saturday 6 August 2022 Banner Photo: The view east, towards the Wakararas and beyond On a beautiful winter’s morning, eight set out in the van with expert driver John D at the helm. We saw lots of fat sheep looking as if they could have their lambs at any moment,… [Read More]
