• Welcome to the Masterton Tramping Club website, we are a small, friendly and active club. We offer a wide variety of adventures throughout the year. These trips vary from easy, one day walks, to multi day camping trips in the south island.

    Masterton Tramping Club

  • Welcome

    We meet on the first Wednesday of each month (except January) at the Masterton Community Centre, 41 Perry Street. Meetings start at 7.30pm, and at most meetings we have a guest speaker or some form of training. Visitors and prospective members are encouraged to come along to meetings and join a trip.

     

    Some examples of past trips include:

    • Family day trip to Kapiti Island
    • Camping at top of Cone, Tararuas
    • Easy overnighter to Tutuwai Hut
    • Week long adventure past Dragon’s Teeth in Kahurangi National Park
    • Off-track adventure, Kiriwhakapapa area, Tararuas

     

    We organise a trip most weekends, either a local trip usually on a Sunday, or a longer overnight trip which may go beyond the immediate area of the Tararuas.

     

    Trip categories are:

    • Easy: 4-6 hours, possibly hills with plenty of rest stops. Suitable for beginners.
    • Easy+: 4-6 hours, probably some short hills.
    • Average: 5-8 hours, some hills, fewer rest stops. Suitable for people with reasonable fitness and some experience.
    • Fit: 6+ hours per day, lots of hills, may go off-track, stops for lunch and ‘smoko’. Suitable for experienced trampers with good fitness.

     

    We suggest the new members start with an Easy trip to assess their fitness.
    The Club has some equipment available for members to borrow.

     

    Link to Club's Constitution

  • Upcoming Trips

    If you're interested in joining us on any of our trips, please come along to our Club night and make contact with the trip leader.

    We usually offer a trip each weekend, either a day trip on a Sunday, or an overnight tramp. Day trips are a great way to gain fitness without having to carry a heavy pack. Each trip has an indicated grading, and approximate transport cost. All potential members are urged to start with an easy trip so as to judge their fitness, confidence and ability. If in doubt check with the trip leader.

     

     

    October

     

    30 September - 1 October
    Mitre Flats Overnight
    Two routes in, either over Blake Peak or
    via the Barra track to Mitre Flats Hut.
    Leader: Conrad Ph. 027 3385008
    Grade: Blake Peak: Average
    Barra Track: Easy +
    Car pool cost $8

     

    4th October
     Club Night
    News, trips done, trips coming up
    Guest speaker: Paul Furkert: Mungo -The hard way
    10 min talk: Margaret McLauchlan: Orienteering - a navigation training opportunity

     


    7th/8th October TBC

     

    14th - 15th October

    Opouawe River trapping
    Travel to White Rock station, walk the Opouawe River
    checking the traps along the route. Overnight at the
    shearer’s quarters.
    Leader: Sandra Ph. 021 0617054
    Grade: Easy.

    Car Pool cost $20

     


    20th - 23rd October
    Otaki-Elder-Kime-Penn creek
    Starting from Otaki, a 4-day trip over the southern high points of the Tararua.

    Leader: Paul Furkert Ph 021 904 854

    Grade: Fit

    Car pool cost $25

     

     

    28th- 29th October

    Blue Range Hut working bee & camp
    A chance to help maintain the club hut.
    Camp at Kiriwhakapapa on the Saturday night, relax and
    enjoy a pot luck dinner. Sunday-head up to Blue Range
    Hut for the mahi.
    Contact Conrad & Gail Ph. 027 338 5008

     


    November

     


    1st November

    Club Night
    News, trips done, trips coming up
    Guest speaker: Glenys Robertson,
    New Zealand’s Sub-Antartic Islands.
    A second chance to see and hear an account of Glenys’s
    trip to NZ’s southernmost islands

     

    5th November
     Mt Climie, Pakuratahi Forest
    A trip up the main track to Mt Climie, exploring the ridge off track to point 857 on return
    Leader: Gail Ph. 027 675 8257
    Grade: Average
    Car pool cost $15

     


    12th October

    Mount Bruce track check
    A check of the route for the club’s event for the
    Wairarapa Walking festival
    Leader: Sandra Ph. 021 061 7054
    Grade: Easy +
    Car pool cost $8

     


    19th October

    Atiwhakatu Hut
    Follow the track along the Te Whakatūrākau Stream (Atiwhakatu stream recent name change)
    to the Hut for lunch
    Leader: Denise Ph. 021 116 1424
    Grade: Easy

    Car pool cost $8

     

     

    25th- 26th October

    Pinnacle Ridge Loop with overnight camp
    Going in via the Atiwhakatu track, to camp by the
    Te Whakatūrākau stream at the end of Pinnacle Ridge.
    Sunday back to Holdsworth road end via Pinnacle Ridge
    Leader: Gail Ph. 027 675 8257
    Grade: Easy +
    Car pool cost $10

     

     

    December


    2nd- 3 December
    Kiritaki Hut, Overnight
    Visit this 6 bunk hut in the Ruahine. Enjoy
    the views from above the bushline
    Leader: Sandra Ph. 021 061 7054
    Grade: Average. Carpool cost $15.

     

    6th December
    Club Night
    A Christmas Special
    News, trips done, trips coming up
    10 min talk: Conrad - what’s in my pack?

     


    8 th - 10th October
    Mitre Flats Hut/Mitre Peak
    Head in Friday night on the Barra track to stay at Mitre Flats hut. Day trip to Mitre peak summit on
    Saturday or, plan your own day! Return to road end Sunday.
    Leader: Nigel Ph. 027 356 6322
    Grade: Average.

    Car pool cost $8


    16th - 17th

    Kapakapanui Hut overnighter
    Head in at Ngatiawa Road end, overnight at the hut.
    Sunday - top out at Kapakapanui peak (1100m,) before
    returning to complete the circuit.
    Leader: Tony Ph. 022 454 1107
    Grade: Easy +.

    Car pool cost $20

     


    27th December

    Post Christmas blast to Blue Range Hut
    Stretch the legs and work off the Christmas excess.
    Share a leftovers potluck lunch
    Leader: Conrad Ph.027 338 5008.
    Grade: Easy +
    Car pool cost $8

     


    31st - 1st

    New Years Eve tramp and Camp out
    Join the Club Captains for their annual New Year celebration.
    Based at Holdsworth camp ground.
    Leader: Gail & Conrad Ph. 027 675 8257
    Grade: Easy.

    Car pool cost $8

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Trip Reports

    Read about some of the trips we've been on recently

    Paekakariki Escarpment Walk 
    September 24, 2023
           
    Read more...
    Herepai and High Point 655
    September 10, 2023
      Following the 40-minute drive around to the Putara road end, we parked amongst about a dozen other vehicles. The plan was to travel a short distance in on the standard track to Herepai, and then climb up to high point 655, before following a route down to the river on the north western...
    Read more...
    Mountain House Loop Walk
    September 3, 2023
         
    Read more...
    More Posts

  • Club History

    The Club was formed in 1957 with the amalgamation of the YMCA Tramping Club and the Masterton Outdoor and Social Club.
    At that time members were also participating in the construction of what was to be called Blue Range Hut, a joint exercise with the NZ Forest Service.
    The Club also inherited a hut at Mitre Flats, the second hut at that location.
    The Hut on the Atiwhakatu River was built during 1968.
    Today the Club still maintains Blue Range Hut, it being a non core hut, for DoC and the community. The Tararua Aorangi Rimutaka Huts committee helps with funding for this work.
    The third hut at Mitre Flats, and the second Atiwhakatu Hut are both core DoC Huts, although Club members still help with minor repairs and maintenance.

     

     

     

     

  • Huts

    broken image

    Blue Range Hut

    Grid Reference: E1812491, N5481135 (NZTM2000)

    Bunks: 4 Single
    Cost: 1 Standard Hut Ticket
    The Hut was built during 1957 and 1958 by members of the newly formed Masterton Tramping Club, and staff from the NZ Forest Service. The Club organised a trip at fortnightly intervals for 18 months to carry the materials up, with regular races to see how many return trips could be made in one day, it is nearly a 700 metre climb.
    The Hut was opened by Mr. D.Blythe (NZFS) and Ted Esler, an early member of the Club, on Sunday 9th November 1958.
    More Info

    broken image

    Atiwhakatu Hut

    Grid Reference: E1806817, N5472972 (NZTM2000)

    Bunks: 26 bunks in three separate rooms
    Cost: 1 Standard Hut Ticket
    The first hut was built in 1968 as a joint venture between the Club and NZFS, and slept 8-10.
    When the hut was opened it was a three hour walk along the Atiwhakatu track, which had many climbs and descents, no wonder that the river was a popular option.
    Today, with the new(ish) track it is an easy 90 minute walk, and about 30 minutes for a fit mountain runner.
    The new hut, built by DoC, was opened in June 2009. It is a much larger 12 bunker of the latest design.
    Due to unprecedented demand DoC once again extended it, to its new 26 sleeping design in 2013. The club no longer maintains this hut.
    More Info

    broken image

    Mitre Flats 3

    Grid Reference: E1808985, N5477084 (NZTM2000)

    Bunks: Two platform Bunks, sleeps 14
    Cost: 1 Serviced Hut Ticket
    After many years of consultation and fund-raising Mitre Flats 3 was constructed in 1988 by the Department of Conservation at a total cost of $29,000. With $4,000 being donated by Masterton Tramping Club, (including $400 from Masterton Licensing Trust, $275 from South Wairarapa Tramping Club and $25 from Kaumatua Tramping Club).
    The first hut was built in 1935 and the second hut was built in 1953
    More Info

  • Library

    Masterton Tramping Club has some books that we are happy to lend out. If interested please enquire by contacting us.

    Books available to lend

    Wairarapa. An Historical Excursion Bagnall, A.G. (1976)

    North Island, Weekend Tramps Barnett, S (2002)

    Plant Icons of New Zealand Church G. and Greenfield P. (2005)

    New Zealand Endangered Species. Birds, Bats, Reptiles, Freshwater Fishes, Snails and Insects. Cusa, N.W., Lockley M. (1980)

    Where to Find Birds of the Wairarapa Dennison T, Scadden, Watt B

    Some Better Known NZ Wild Flowers and Birds Department of Tourism and Publicity

    The Natural World of New Zealand. An Illustrated Encyclopaedia of NZ's Natural Heritage Hutching G (1998)

    The Reed Handbook of Common New Zealand Birds Kinsky F.C., Robertson C.J.R. and Marshall J (1987)

    New Zealand Islands McGeorge P and McGeorge R (2004)

    New Zealand; Land of Birds Moon G. (2001)

    Spot X, Tramping New Zealand. Over 400 Tracks Moore, C. (2007)

    Wairarapa, A Place Apart. Nikolaison P. and Wall M. (2006)

    Ruahine Forest Park. A guide to Family Walks, Tramping Tracks and Routes Ombler, K (1993)

    202 Great Walks. The Best Day Walks in NZ Pickering M. (2003)

    The Four Corners of New Zealand Reed A.H. (1954)

    Wairarapa Walks Rhodes, J. and Cederman, A. (1989)

    Tararua Footprints. A Tramper's Guide to the Tararua Ranges Rodgers, M (1996)

    New Zealand Bird Portraits Soper M.F. (1963)

    New Zealand, Portrait of a Nation Stewart, G. (1985)

    From Mountains to Sea. The Story of Westland National Park Te Papa Atawhai, Department of Conservation (1990)

  • Get in contact

    Use the form to enquire about going tramping, joining the club or just to seek general information about tramping in the local ranges.

    41 Perry St, Masterton
    mastertontc@gmail.com
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