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:
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:
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.
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
November
1st November
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
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
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
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.
Masterton Tramping Club © 2020