

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
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.Welcome
Upcoming Trips
f 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.
Trip Gradings
Easy - 3 - 6 hours, little climbing. Suitable for beginners
Easy + - 3 - 6 hours, probably some short hills
Average - 5 - 8 hours, some experience required almost certainly some hill work
Fit - 6+ hours, good fitness required, may go off track
the
21st/22nd JuneOffer to lead a trip required – contact Gail
(Matariki Fri 20th – 3-day weekend)
29th JuneBlue Range Hut
Warm up your day with a tramp to the Hut for lunch
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs: $8
Leader: Nigel Boniface
027 356 6322JULY 2025
Weds 2nd July 7.30pm
Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
Speaker: Paul Furkert - 10 days in Kahurangi National Park
10 min talk: David Little - GWBN
Prospective members welcome
Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton.
5t h July
Norbert Creek Loop, Kaitoke Regional Park
Combined MTC & SWTC trip
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Cost: $TBA
Leader: Stuart Hammond
04 526 7224
13th July
Herepai Hut
Take a slow and steady tramp to Herepai Hut for lunch, return same way.
Grade: Easy +
Car pool Cost: $10
Leader: Christine Kerrigan
022 670 3050
20th July
Pig Flat Hut
Head up the Gentle Annie track to look for the remnants of Pig Flat Hut
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Cost $8
Leader Tony Spittal
022 454 1107
27th July
Rewanui Forest Park
Take a walk up to Mt Clyde Trig, returning via the exotic loop
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Cost: $8
Leader: Nathan Ball
027 816 1785
AUGUST 2025
2nd August
Winzenberg Hill Working Bee
In conjunction with SWTC, come and take a slow stroll up Winzenberg hill, clearing the track as you go. Great views at the top for lunch. BYO pruning gear
Grade: Easy paced
Leader: John Rhodes
06 3049 095
Weds 6th August 7.30pm
Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
Speaker: Gerald Leather – Tramping at Lake Ohau
10 min talk: Gail - 3 good things
Prospective members welcome
Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton
10th August
Upper Hutt walks
Plenty of options available – details to be confirmed
Grade: Easy
Car Pool Costs: $15
Leader: Christine Kerrigan
022 670 3050
16th/17th August
Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail
24th August
Kaiparoro Trig & Plane Wreck
Follow the track to the Kaipororo trig (808m) and then onto the site of the 1952 plane crash
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs: $10
Leader: Gail Edwards
027 675 8257
30th/31st August
Tutuwai Hut overnight
Heading in from the Kaitoke road end
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs $15
Leader: Tony Spittal
022 454 1107
SEPTEMBER 2025
Weds 3rd September
7.30pm
Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
Judging of Wairarapa Entries for the FMC Photo competition - Sandra
10 min talk – Anyone like to offer? Contact Gail
Prospective members welcome
Community Centre, 41 Perry St, Masterton
7th September
Gentle Annie to Totara Flats turnoff, return via Murray’s track
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs $8
Leader: Denise Stagg
021 116 1424
13th September
Wellington Skyline walkway
Walk the 14km route along Wellingtons ridge tops with rural, city and coastal views
https://wellington.govt.nz/recreation/outdoors/walks-and-walkways/beyond-the-city/skyline-walkway
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs $TBA
Leader: John Rhodes
06 3049 095
20th/21st September
Waiotauru hut from Otaki forks road end, overnight
Hut sleeps 4, so byo tent / fly.
Grade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs: $TBA
Leader: Sandra Burles
021 061 7054
28th September
Remutaka incline summit via Via Dela Rosa track
start near the top of the Remutaka Hill on SH2, head along Via Dela Rosa (a 4WD track) & Back Road to the summit of
the Incline. Return along the Incline towards Upper Hutt, via Back Road to
Via Dela Rosa to where we started. NO DOGSGrade: Easy +
Car Pool Costs: $15
Leader: Margaret McLauchlan
021 136 4323
Trip Reports
Read about some of the trips we've been on recently
2025年6月23日Read more...Smith Creek waterfall, 19 April 2025 Combined trip with Masterton Tramping Club and South Wairarapa Tramping Club. On a perfect, warm autumn day four trampers and a dog walked from the Pākuratahi car park over Puffer Saddle and down the main track towards Smith Creek. At the 370-metre...2025年4月2日Read more...Wednesday 2nd April 2025. Another enjoyable trip today. Five of us walked up to the the Kaiparoro Trig. Pleasant tramping weather but the main range stayed covered in cloud so no view to speak of. Two of us tripped down to the crash site while rest of us had a leisurely early lunch and...2025年3月30日Read more...Rewa Bush Club trip 30th March 2025. One of the more enjoyable things about being part of a tramping club is in finding areas that haven't come to the attention of the majority of people. One such area is the Rewa Bush Conservation Area located near Ngaumu Forest in the eastern hills of the...More PostsClub 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 InfoAtiwhakatu 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 InfoMitre 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 InfoLibrary
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