Masterton Tramping Club

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.

 
MAY 

28 May
Atiwhakatu hut.
Stretch the legs along the Atiwhakatu track
following the river, across the many side creek
bridges to the hut.
Leader: Denise Stagg Ph 021 116 1424
Grade: Easy. Car pool cost $8
 
 JUNE
 
2nd - 5 June
Camphouse Taranaki
TBC Bookable 8 bunk room. Needs 6 – 8
people to be economic. Bunk $27 pppn, Car
pool cost $TBC. Leader: Sandra Burles
Ph 021 061 7054 Day walks Easy to Average
 
7th June
Club Night
News, trips done, trips coming up & a cuppa.
AGM & team building fun
 
18th June
Uriti to Tathems cafe
We will need a couple of cars – one at the finish, drive one to the start at the
coast. Coastal walk then inland to the ‘new’ Tathems café.
Leader: Sandra Ph 021 061 7054 
Grade: Easy + Car pool cost $15

25th June
 Kawakawa hut via Mangatoetoe hut
An easy walk up the river with many stream crossings (expect wet feet) to
Mangatoetoe Hut. Then continue up river / alongside the river and over the hill
to Kawakawa hut.
Leader: Tony Spittal. Ph 022 454 1107 
Grade: Easy + Car pool cost $15
 
JULY
 
2nd July
July Gentle Annie Saddle loop
From Holdsworth carpark, up to Holdsworth
lookout then continue along to Gentle Annie
Saddle, up the other side and come out on
the main Gentle Annie Track down from
Point 801.
Leader: Nigel Boniface Ph 027 356 6322 
Grade Easy + Car pool cost $8

Trip ReportsRead about some of the trips we've been on recently

Atiwhakatu Hut

May 29, 2023

A lovely Sunday stroll The car park was very full on arrival. The track was very busy but a lovely winter day. We had lunch at the Hut. Then home again.

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)

 Newsletters

August 2022

September 2022  
October 2022 
November 2022 
December 2022 
February  2023 
 

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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