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.
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.
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Saturday 23, Sunday 24, or Monday 25 January
Wellington Anniversary Baldy /Jumbo loop via the Broken Axe Pinnacles From Holdsworth carpark, up to Jumbo tarns for the night then out via Broken Axe, Baldy and the Atiwhakatu valley. Choose best weather for a 2 day trip.
Leader: Sandra Burles. 021 061 7054
Grade Average
Cost $8
Saturday 30th – Sunday 31st January
Moonlight Crossing of Mount Tongariro Travel across the massive Central North Island mountain under moonlight. Trip coincides with full moon. Contact Paul ASAP for planning.
Leader: Paul Furkert. Ph. 06 379 5355.
Grade Fit.
Costs TBC
Saturday 30th January
Naenae Track Joint trip with SWTC. Help carry 16 warratah standards with track markers along the track. Require 8 people minimum. Couple of hours track maintenance then head off for a bit more walking.
Leader: John Rhodes 06 304 9095.
Grade Easy +
Cost $8 - 10
February
Wednesday 3rd February
Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.
Guest speakers: Club members Tramping and Biking holiday pics. Bring a USB to share your photos.
10 Min training: How to lead Trips.
Saturday 6 th to Monday 8 th February
Ruahine for Waitangi long weekend Into the Ruahines for a medium fit trip. Details and direction of travel TBC.
Leaders. Ange 06 377 1505 and Julie 06 370 2102
Grade Average / Fit.
Cost Huts + transport.
Monday 8 th February
Waitangi Day Farm excursion into the Tararua foothills. Check out some stunning farmland and venture into the edge of the Tararua Forest Park. Joint trip with SWTC
Leader: Kate Pitney 06 379 8429 G
rade Easy +
Cost $5
Sunday 14th February
Atiwhakatu Hut Stretch the legs along the Atiwhakatu track following the river, across the many side creek bridges to the hut. Leader: Denise Stagg. 021 1161424
Grade Easy
Cost $8
Saturday 20th – Sunday 21st February
Mitre Flats / Mitre Peak loop Head into Mitre Flats hut on the Friday night, up the hill to Mitre Peak Saturday morning, north west to Brockett and Girdlestone, South to Mid King and back to Mitre Flats hut.
Leader TBC
Grade Fit.
Cost $8
Saturday 27 or Sunday 28th February
Day trip Best weather day. More info closer to the time. Joint trip with SWTC
Leader: Gerald Leather 021 239 1946
Grade Average - fit. Cost $8
Sunday 28th February
Duathlon Marshalling Help out at a MTC fundraiser. Be a marshal on the duathlon track at Holdsworth road end, count runners and raise their spirits with a cheer.
Leader: Graeme Lenihan 06 378 0599
Grade Easy
Cost $8
March
Wednesday 3rd March
Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.
Guest speaker: Mike and Laura Hopkins; Walls of Jerusalem, Tasmania.
10 min training: High energy and delicious snacks to take walking
Saturday 6 th March or Sunday 7th March
Waiorongomai Hut and River walk Upstream in the riverbed (wet feet guaranteed) to the beginning of a cut bush track. In and out of the river, many crossings and occasional narrow track.
Leader: Chris Leather 021 230 8591, Margaret McLauchlan 06 377 1981.
Grade: Easy+ Cost $10
Saturday13th or Sunday 14th March
Bike Ride Remutaka Trail or other, Mountain bike or road depending on interest.
Leader: Chris Leather 021 230 8591
Grade TBC
Costs TBC
Saturday 20th or Sunday 21st March
Angle Knob From Holdsworth road end, along the Atiwhakatu valley and up the hill past Jumbo hut and Jumbo peak. Across the saddle to Angle Knob. Day trip.
Leader: Sandra Burles. 021 061 7054
Grade: Average Cost $8
Saturday 27 – Sunday 28th March
McGregor Biv Friday night to Jumbo hut/tarns and if the weather allows, over to McGregor via Angle Knob. Sleeps 2! Could be done as a day trip from the tarn / Jumbo Hut.
Leader: Sandra Burles. 021 061 7054
Grade: Ave.
Cost $8
Read about some of the trips we've been on recently
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