• 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

  • 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

    Welcome

  • Upcoming Trips

    f 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.

    Trip Gradings

    Easy - 3 - 6 hours, little climbing. Suitable for beginners

    Easy + - 3 - 6 hours, probably some short hills

    Average - 5 - 8 hours, some experience required almost certainly some hill work

    Fit - 6+ hours, good fitness required, may go off track

    the


    21st/22nd June

    Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail
    (Matariki Fri 20th – 3-day weekend)


    29th June

    Blue Range Hut
    Warm up your day with a tramp to the Hut for lunch
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Costs: $8
    Leader: Nigel Boniface
    027 356 6322

    JULY 2025


    Weds 2nd July 7.30pm

    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up

    Speaker: Paul Furkert - 10 days in Kahurangi National Park

    10 min talk: David Little - GWBN

    Prospective members welcome

    Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton.


    5t h July

    Norbert Creek Loop, Kaitoke Regional Park

    Combined MTC & SWTC trip

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Cost: $TBA

    Leader: Stuart Hammond

    04 526 7224


    13th July

    Herepai Hut

    Take a slow and steady tramp to Herepai Hut for lunch, return same way.

    Grade: Easy +

    Car pool Cost: $10

    Leader: Christine Kerrigan

    022 670 3050


    20th July

    Pig Flat Hut

    Head up the Gentle Annie track to look for the remnants of Pig Flat Hut

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Cost $8

    Leader Tony Spittal

    022 454 1107


    27th July

    Rewanui Forest Park

    Take a walk up to Mt Clyde Trig, returning via the exotic loop

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Cost: $8

    Leader: Nathan Ball

    027 816 1785

    AUGUST 2025


    2nd August

    Winzenberg Hill Working Bee

    In conjunction with SWTC, come and take a slow stroll up Winzenberg hill, clearing the track as you go. Great views at the top for lunch. BYO pruning gear

    Grade: Easy paced

    Leader: John Rhodes

    06 3049 095


    Weds 6th August 7.30pm

    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up

    Speaker: Gerald Leather – Tramping at Lake Ohau

    10 min talk: Gail - 3 good things

    Prospective members welcome

    Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton


    10th August

    Upper Hutt walks

    Plenty of options available – details to be confirmed

    Grade: Easy

    Car Pool Costs: $15

    Leader: Christine Kerrigan

    022 670 3050

    16th/17th August

    Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail



    24th August

    Kaiparoro Trig & Plane Wreck

    Follow the track to the Kaipororo trig (808m) and then onto the site of the 1952 plane crash

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs: $10

    Leader: Gail Edwards

    027 675 8257


    30th/31st August

    Tutuwai Hut overnight

    Heading in from the Kaitoke road end

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs $15

    Leader: Tony Spittal

    022 454 1107

    SEPTEMBER 2025


    Weds 3rd September

    7.30pm

    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up

    Judging of Wairarapa Entries for the FMC Photo competition - Sandra

    10 min talk – Anyone like to offer? Contact Gail

    Prospective members welcome

    Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton


    7th September

    Gentle Annie to Totara Flats turnoff, return via Murray’s track

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs $8

    Leader: Denise Stagg

    021 116 1424



    13th September

    Wellington Skyline walkway

    Walk the 14km route along Wellingtons ridge tops with rural, city and coastal views

    https://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/outdoors/walks-and-walkways/beyond-the-city/skyline-walkway

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs $TBA

    Leader: John Rhodes

    06 3049 095


    20th/21st September

    Waiotauru hut from Otaki forks road end, overnight

    Hut sleeps 4, so byo tent / fly.

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs: $TBA

    Leader: Sandra Burles

    021 061 7054


    28th September

    Remutaka incline summit via Via Dela Rosa track

    start near the top of the Remutaka Hill on SH2, head along Via Dela Rosa (a 4WD track) & Back Road to the summit of
    the Incline. Return along the Incline towards Upper Hutt, via Back Road to
    Via Dela Rosa to where we started. NO DOGS

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs: $15

    Leader: Margaret McLauchlan

    021 136 4323


  • Trip Reports

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

    Smith Creek Waterfall
    June 23, 2025
    Smith Creek waterfall, 19 April 2025 Combined trip with Masterton Tramping Club and South Wairarapa Tramping Club. On a perfect, warm autumn day four trampers and a dog walked from the Pākuratahi car park over Puffer Saddle and down the main track towards Smith Creek. At the 370-metre...
    Read more...
    Wednesday Walk
    April 2, 2025
    Wednesday 2nd April 2025. Another enjoyable trip today. Five of us walked up to the the Kaiparoro Trig. Pleasant tramping weather but the main range stayed covered in cloud so no view to speak of. Two of us tripped down to the crash site while rest of us had a leisurely early lunch and...
    Read more...
    Rewa Bush Trip
    March 30, 2025
    Rewa Bush Club trip 30th March 2025. One of the more enjoyable things about being part of a tramping club is in finding areas that haven't come to the attention of the majority of people. One such area is the Rewa Bush Conservation Area located near Ngaumu Forest in the eastern hills of the...
    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

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    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

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    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

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    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)

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  • 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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