• 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.

    • 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.

               Please adhere to the Covid 19  traffic light system.  See Covid 19 and DOC for more information

       

      Spring Trip Schedule

       

      18 December 

      Bucks Ridge With SWTC. Split the group into 2 parties, meet in the middle. Track goes over Finnis trig point. Meet at Everest Cafe afterwards.

      Leader: John Rhodes rhodesja@xtra.co.nz

      Grade: Easy +

      Cost $10

       
       

      29 December

      Blue Range Blast Our traditional MTC post-Christmas day trip to Blue Range hut.

      Leader: Jason Christensen 027 693 7856

      Grade Easy +

      Cost $8

       
       
       

      Summer Trip Schedule

       

      JANUARY

       

      8 – 9 January

      Cookhouse Te Mara camping overnight camping at the edge of the bush at Mount Bruce. Bring camping gear (tents, sleeping bags, bedroll, fold-up chair). Pots, pans, cups & crockery supplied bbq, toilet facilities on site. Day walk/s possible from site.

      Leader Jason Christensen 027 693 7856

      Grade: Easy Cost $8

       

      15 – 16 January

      Totara Flats camping From Walls Whare road end. Overnight trip. Camp under the Totara trees.

      Leader Nigel Boniface 06 378 6556

      Grade Easy (plus - extra weight of tents to carry!) Cost $8

       

      22 - 23 January

      Reef Hill Camping  A short walk along the Ruamahanga river (one short hill climb) to this private hut. Some beds available inside, otherwise tents required. Swim in the river or sit in the hot tub. Dress for a shared Saturday night dinner. 

      Leader: Jason / Sandra 06 377 7360. 

      Grade Easy. Cost $10

       

      24 January 

      Dobson Loop Track A day trip around this loop starting from Kaitoke / Kiwi Ranch Road. Lunch at Smith Creek Shelter. Look for orchids along the way. DOC says Smith Creek shelter is 13km & takes 4 hours return. The loop may be longer! 

      Leader: Sandra Burles 021 061 7054 

      Grade: Easy + Cost $10

       

      30 January 

      Atiwhakatu Hut Stretch the legs along the Atiwhakatu track following the river, across the many side creek bridges to the hut. 

      Leader: Viv Webster Jones 021 0857 9074. 

      Grade: Easy Cost $8

       

      FEBRUARY

       

      2 February 

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up & a cuppa.

      Guest: Peter Laurenson, Khumbu – Pathways to Kinship.

      10 min training: My trip list

       

      5  - 7 February 

      Ruahine Forest Park trip Trip destination TBC 

      Leader: Jason 027 693 7856 

      Grade: Ave – Fit TBC

       

      5 – 7 February

      Te Kopi Cottage Stay at the coast in the DOC cottage. Close to Putangirua Pinnacles walk, Ngawi & the lighthouse.

      Leader: Laura Hopkins. 021 060 5375.

      Cottage sleeps 10. Two nights. Cost; petrol & (Cottage $160 for 4 pax, then $20 each extra person). TBC based on interest – email mlhopkinz@gmail.com by 12th December.

       

      13 February 

      A day walk trip Norbits loop - Kaitoke, OR Birchville Dam - Cannons Pt loop.

      Leader: Denise Stagg. 021 116 1424

      Grade: Easy Cost TBC

       

      20 February

      Mt Reeves via Coal Creek From Walls Whare road end. Off the main Cone track, cross Coal creek& up the ridge. Continue to The Centre of NZ and Mt Reeves.

      Leader: Sandra Burles 0210617054.

      Grade: Easy. Cost $10

       

      27 February

      Northern Reserves. Eketahuna Cliff walk, Managatoro Scenic Reserve, Monckton SR, A’deanes Bush if time.

      Leader: Christine Kerrigan 06 377 3756

      Grade: Easy Cost $10 - $15

       
       

      Summer Orienteering Nights – midweek We are collaborating with the Wairarapa Orienteering Club who are going to spend some weeknights teaching and sharing with us their love of Orienteering. Margaret McLauchlan has shared the evening as a trial run for Tony, Nigel and Sandra and we loved it! Think; map reading skills with a competitive nature, against your buddies in a local Masterton area you’re familiar with. To participate you will need the ‘Maprun6’ app.

       

      MARCH

       

      2 March 

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.

      Guest Speaker: TBC

      10 Min training: How to lead a trip

       

      6 March

      Blue Range hut From Kiriwhakapapa road end, along the valley and up the hill to visit our club hut. Tidy the hut and top up the rat bait. Lunch in the sun at the picnic table. 

      Leader: Nigel Boniface 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy+ Cost $8

       
       
       
       
       
       

       

       

       

       

       

       

    • Trip Reports

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

      Mitre Flats - Sign Install
      June 16, 2021
      16th June, Mitre Flats sign install.  Three members Jason, Barry and Tony left Masterton at 8am heading to Mitre Flats for the day. It was a very present day for a trip into the hut. We all commented about how warm it was for the middle of winter. The clubs Mountain Mule pack was pulled out...
      Read more...
      Kiriwhakapapa
      June 13, 2021
      Attached are 3 pictures from the tramp we did on Sunday 13 June. We went from Kiriwhakapapa to Mikimiki and back Taking part: Denise, Graeme, Laura and Mike
      Read more...
      Winzenburg Hill
      June 5, 2021
      Winzenberg Hill, 5 June 2021 We’d intended to visit the big rata in the Akatarawa Forest, but the early start required would have caused some of us to fall asleep before we reached it. That trip, to be led by Peter Harvey of Lowry Bay will be rescheduled for summer. The replacement was a...
      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.

       

      Click here to view the MTC Constitution

    • Huts

      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

      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

      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
      Submit

    Masterton Tramping Club © 2020

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