• 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.

    • 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.

       

      Please adhere to the Covid 19 traffic light system. See Covid 19 and DOC for more information

       

      Winter Trip Schedule

       

      14 August

      Blue Range Hut - stretch the legs up to the Club hut, check and replace rat bait, and take note of
      any maintenance required for September's spring clean trip.
      Leader: Tony Spittal 022 454 1107
      Grade: Easy + / Average.
      Carpool cost $10

       

      21 August

      Manawatu Gorge From the gorge carpark, explore the bush tracks and close up views of the wind turbines. If sufficient numbers can swap in the middle.

      Leader: Nigel Boniface Ph 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy.

      Car pool cost $15

       

      27 August

      Blue Range – Te Mara – mistletoe spur - Tram Track loop From Kiriwhakapapa road end, up to Blue Range, along to Te Mara high point, then down the spur to the tram track saddle. Potential to stay at Blue Range hut the night before

      Leader: Conrad Maccaffrey - conmccaffrey@hotmail.com

      Grade: Average (day trip).

      Carpool cost $10

       

      4 September

      Blue Range Hut "Spring Clean" Trip

      Carry out basic clean up inside and out of the Clubs hut. Pull a few weeds, wipe down a few surfaces, clean windows etc

      Leader: Tony Spittal 022 454 1107

      Grade: Easy+ / Average

      Car pool cost $15

       

      7 September

      Club Night News, trips done, trips coming up & a cuppa. MTC Photo competition – vote for your favourite club members photos. Top 2 from each category are entered into the annual FMC competition.

      10 Minute training – how to fit your pack properly.

       

      11 September

      Atiwhakatu track and hut Stretch the legs along the Atiwhakatu track following the river, across the many side creek bridges to the hut.

      Leader: TBC.

      Grade: Easy.

      Carpool cost $10

       

      18 September

      Escarpment Track Leave the cars at Pukerua station carpark and walk north through farmland and kohekohe forest to Paekakariki. Plenty of steps and swingbridges. Stop for a cuppa while awaiting the return train.

      Leader: Denise Stagg. 021 1161424

      Grade: Easy +.

      Car pool cost $TBC

       

      25 September

      Holdsworth pest animal trapping line Go on a trap-line, off the main tracks adventure. Learn about the network of traplines that the Holdsworth Restoration Trust install and maintain.

      Leader: Nigel Boniface Ph 06 378 6556

      Grade: Easy / Easy +.

      Car pool cost $10

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

       

    • Trip Reports

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

      Orongorongo Trip
      June 22, 2022
      What a great mid-week trip ! 8 Club members went to Haurangi Hut in the Remutaka Forest Park. Wednesday - we met in Wainuiomata, drinking coffee in the car-park while we all arrived. Drove in convoy to Catchpool road-end, got our packs and boots on and departed at 1230pm. Along the Orongorongo...
      Read more...
      Wairio and Boggy Pond Walk
      June 12, 2022
      9 of us walked 7.3km at Wairio and Boggy Pond today. Managed to miss most of the showers and gusty winds. Thanks Tony for sharing your botany wisdom  
      Read more...
      Tinui Cross Walk
      Trip to Tinui Cross Sunday 24 April.  We couldn’t have wished for better weather for our walk up to the Cross. We choseSunday 24 so as to avoid the groups that will go up on ANZAC day. There were 7 of us…Sandra, Katrina, Laura, Mike, Phil, John and David.On the way up we stopped for morning tea...
      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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