• 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:

      • 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.

    • 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.

      Winter Trip Schedule

       

      SEPTEMBER

       

      Sunday 13th September 

      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 19 – Sunday 20th September

      Alpha hut in via Cone hut, Bull Mound, stay at Alpha hut. Out via the Omega track. Approx. 24km return.

      Leader: Ange Minto 0274 720660

      Grade: Fit

      Cost $8

       

      Sunday 20th September 

      Fensham Reserve Lots of options here - loop tracks, the lookout, check out the weta hotels, track upgrading and views.

      Leader: Ian Shanks 06 377 0716

      Grade: Easy

      Cost $8

       

      Saturday 26th and Sunday 27 September 

      Waikuku Lodge An overnight trip to the DOC lodge in the Aorangi Ranges. The lodge is booked – sign up with Nigel. Limited to 24 people.

      Leader: Nigel Boniface 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy

      Cost $10 -$20

       

      Spring Trip Schedule

       

      OCTOBER

       

      Saturday 3rd or Sunday 4th October

      Mount Bruce Climb this local landmark from the western side, up through patches of beech forest to get great views.

      Leader: Nigel Boniface 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy Cost $8​

       

      Wednesday 7th October

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.

      Guest Speaker: Joe Hansen and the Aorangi Forest Park.

      10 Minute discussion: Blue Range hut and Mitre Flats hut.

       

      Saturday 10th October

      Winzenberg Hill Track clearing trip with SWTC.

      Leader: John Rhodes. 06 304 9095 rhodesja@xtra.co.nz

      Grade Easy + Cost $8

       

      Sunday 18th October

      Sayers Hut Start at the Mangatarere road end to visit this historic hut. Day trip there and back.

      Leader TBC.

      Grade Easy +

      Cost $8

       

      Saturday 24, Sunday 25 or Monday 26th

      Gentle Annie Saddle 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. Pick the best weather day.

      Leader: Margaret McLauchlan. 06 377 1981.

      Grade Easy +

      Cost $8

       

      31st October – 1st November

      Moonlit Crossing of Tongariro A moonlight crossing of the Tongariro Mountain for the weekend. Trip coincides with a full moon. Contact Paul ASAP for planning.

      Leader: Paul Furkert 06 379 5355.

      Grade: Fit

      Cost TBC

       

      November

       

      Wednesday 4th November

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.

      Guest speakers: Julie and Glen Millar - West Coast / Ivory Lake /Mt Beaumont / Whitcombe.

      10 Min training: Tramping hydration.

       

      Saturday 7th – Sunday 8th November

      Sunrise Hut - Into the Ruahines on the eastern side and follow the zig zag track up to the popular Sunrise hut. Visit Armstrong Saddle for a view of Ruapehu. Book your own bed via the DOC website.

      Leader Margaret McLauchlan. 06 377 1981.

      Grade Easy +.

      Cost Hut $15 + transport.

       

      Sunday 15th November

      Kiriwhakapapa – Mikimiki Stream A great local walk from the carpark - out and back to the saddle / over to the stream for lunch. Leader: Chris Leather.021 230 8591 chris.leathernz@gmail.com

      Grade Easy.

      Cost $8

       

      Friday 13th - Sunday 15th November

      Shingle Slip Knob to Andersons To Jumbo hut on Friday night. Saturday – over Shingle Slip Knob off track down to Waiohine and up to Andersons ( If time permits along to Aokaparangi Biv). Sunday – out via MidWaiohine with the possibility of overnighting at Mid-Waiohine or Powell for those who don’t have to rush off to work too early on Monday. This trip would be very weather dependent. Leader Gerald Leather 021 239 1946

      Grade Fit.

      Cost $8

       

      Saturday 21 – Sunday 22nd November 

      Cow Creek and Mitre Flats Saturday to Cow Creek hut/camp via Blue Range. Sunday; From Cow Creek via Mitre Flats hut to the Pines.

      Leader: Sandra Burles. 021 061 7054

      Grade Ave.

      Cost $8

       

      Sunday 29th November

      Wellington Walkway Skyline track or City to Sea walkway depending on the weather.

      Leader: Nigel Boniface. 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy

      Cost $10 - $15

       

      December 

       

      Wednesday 2nd December

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up and a cuppa.

      Guest speaker: Tony Gazley Hollyford Pike circuit, Fiordland. 6 day tramping and pack rafting.

      10 min training: What’s in a summer pack?

       

      Sunday 6th December

      Norbett Creek Circuit at the end of Kaitoke Waterworks Road. Loop around the well-marked track (a bit steep in places).

      Leader: TBC

      Grade: Easy/Easy+

      Cost $10

       

      Saturday10th - Sunday 13th December

      Atiwhakatu – Carkeek – Poads Road Atiwhakatu, Jumbo Hut (Friday night), Angle Knob, McGregor, Dorset Creek, Park Forks, Carkeek Hut (Saturday night), Lancaster, Arete, Te Matawhai, Poads Road.

      Leader: Paul Furkert. 06 379 5355.

      Grade Fit.

      Costs TBC

       

      Sunday 20th December

      Blue Range Hut (Slow Trip) From Kiriwhakapapa road end, along the valley and up the hill to visit our club hut. Top up the rat bait. Leader: Nigel Boniface. 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy+

      Cost $8

       

      Sunday 27th December

      Blue Range Hut Wear off the Christmas dinner! From Kiriwhakapapa road end, along the valley and up the hill to visit our club hut. Leader: Jason Christensen. 06 377 7360

      Grade Easy+

      Cost $8

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

    • Trip Reports

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

      WTC - Hutt River Trail walk
      July 11, 2020
      MTC tramp Saturday 11 July Members , Chris, Nigina, Laura, Mike, and visitor Chrissie joined the S Wairarapa T C for a walk down the Hutt River trail in upper Hutt(over the hill) from Te Marua to Moonshine Bridge and back . The SW folk all opted to bike ( some electric) MTC were the only walkers....
      Read more...
      Renwanui Forest Park
      July 7, 2020
      Participants: Viv, Chris, Maggie, Denise, Nigel & Margaret I woke in the morning to the sound of heavy rain on the roof and thinking we might need to cancel our planned tramp at Rewanui. A check on the Metservice website assured me it was going to clear around 10am which was our scheduled meeting...
      Read more...
      Atiwhakatu Hut
      June 28, 2020
      It was another of those wintery, will we or won’t we, kind of days, but we went. Five of us set out for Atiwhakatu Hut. It was damp and the track had lots of puddles and mud to jump over, or stride through (depending on your footwear). The Atiwhakatu river was in full flow, dramatic and very...
      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.

       

      Click here to view the MTC Constitution

    • 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
      Submit

    Masterton Tramping Club © 2020

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