• 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.

     

     

     

    JANUARY

     

    8 January 

    Pinnacle High Point

    Quick up and back trip to Pinnacle high point 877.

    The trip is 30 minutes along the river, 60 minutes up the hill and 30 minutes along the top to the view.

    Leader: Nigel 027 3566322

    Grade: Average

    Carpool cost $10

     

    15 January

    Kiriwhakapapa to Mikimiki stream

    From Kiwiwhakapapa road end up to the saddle and over to the stream. Great stream for cooling the feet during lunch.

    Leader: TBC

    Grade: Easy

    Carpool cost: $10

     

    23 January

    Remutaka Rail Trail - Mountain Biking

    From Pakuratahi along the gravel 4WD track up to the Summit and through to the Siberia swing bridge.

    Back to the Summit for lunch then return to Pakuratahi car park.

    Leader: Sandra Ph 021 0617054

    Grade: Mountain Biking grade 2

     

    29 January

    Sayers Hut - day trip 

    Up and Over the 772m hill from the Mangatarere Valley Road.

    Walk through scrub and native bush to reach this historic nut next to the Waiohine River.

    Good Views from the top of the hill.

    Leader: Tony Ph 022 4541107

    Grade: Average

    Car pool cost $10

     

     

    FEBRUARY

    1st February

    Club Night, News, trips done, trips coming up & a cuppa.
    Club Members Summer Trip photos
    10 Min training : How to lead & join a trip

    11 February

    Manawatu Gorge – with SWTC (Saturday)
    Walk either W-E or E-W. Meet up in Woodville
    for afternoon tea/coffee. A climb at the start,
    then an easy walk through the forest, nikau
    palms, maidenhair ferns, views into the Gorge
    itself, view a wind turbine at the lunch stop.
    Visit the Whatonga.

    Leader: Nigel 0273 566 322

    Grade: Easy.
    Car pool cost $10
    Back up day for weather = Sunday 12th


    17 - 19 February

    Alpha Hut
    On Friday afternoon, tramp to Cone hut / camp
    at heli pad by Tauherenikau river. Saturday
    tramp via Bull Mound and Hells Gate to Alpha
    hut. Return on Sunday. Weather and river level
    dependant.
    Leader: Sandra Burles 021 061 7054
    Grade: Average

    Car pool cost $10

     

    25 February (Saturday) 

    Mount Bruce Crossing with SWTC
    Cross from the visitor centre (Entry $5) to
    Mt Munro Road, or in reverse. Steady climbing
    at first, open forest with views to the Wairarapa
    valley. Great picnic spots for lunch.
    Leader: Nigel 0273 566 322
    Grade: Easy plus. Car pool cost $10
    Back up day for weather = Sunday 26th


    MARCH


    1 March

    Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up & a cuppa.
    Guest Speaker: TBC
    10 Minute training – boot care.


    5 March
    Rewanui Forest Park
    Visit this local forest park, 23km east of
    Masterton. Great trees, great views and new tracks to explore.
    Leader: Denise Stagg 0211161424

    Grade: Easy +.

    Car pool cost $10

     

    11 – 12 March
    Jumbo / Pinnacles loop
    Walk to Jumbo hut Saturday - go in via the Baldy track, Broken Axe Pinnacles,
    McGregor and Angle Knob if the weather is good enough.
    Leader: Sandra Burles. Ph 021 061 7054

    Grade: Average.

    Carpool cost $8
    NOTE: Jumbo hut MUST be booked in advance.

     

    19 March

    Fensham Reserve

    Lots of options here - loop tracks, the look out,
    check out the weta hotels, track upgrading
    and views of the valley and hills.
    Leader: Viv Webster Jones. Ph 021 0857 9074

    Grade: Easy.

    Carpool cost $8


    25 – 26 March

    Roaring Stag hut
    In via Putara road end to Roaring Stag hut, next to the Ruapae stream. Overnight trip.

    Leader: Tony Spittal. Ph 022 454 1107

    Grade: Average.

    Carpool cost $15

     

     

     


     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Trip Reports

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

    Point 613
    November 13, 2022
      5 November 2022 A combined Masterton and South Wairarapa Tramping Club trip Point 613 is somewhere near Mikimiki. Well, perhaps not altogether near if you’ve spent three hours getting there. But, after navigational uncertainty had cost us a quarter hour, we found the small eminence of...
    Read more...
    White Rock Trapping
    October 15, 2022
    More Hedgehogs Trapped ! Margaret, Nigel and Sandra joined Joe to check the Doc250 and Timms traps on the Opuawe River at White Rock. We arrived at the coast at 930am, and set off in 2 pairs on each side of the river. Traps were emptied of mice and hedgehogs, cleaned and reset. There was a bit...
    Read more...
    Kiriwhakapapa Loop Track
    October 8, 2022
    Kiriwhakapapa Loop Track Sunday 9 October After the cold and miserable weather of the previous week it was just great to get out and enjoy the outdoors. A small group – Loralei, Jill, Di, Viv, Ron, Laura and Mike – walked the loop track at Kiriwhakapapa. The carpark was very windy but there was...
    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

    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
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