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.
January
6th/7th No planned trip
14th January - Summer social, Holdsworth road end
Take an afternoon stroll towards Atiwhakatau hut, cool off by travelling down the Te Whakatūrākau stream back to
Holdsworth road end. Once dried off share a potluck dinner.Leader: Gail. Ph 027675 8257
Grade: Easy (possibly a short swim in the gorge section)
Car Pool $8
20th/21st/22nd January - 2 night camp out (option also for one night)
Pack up your tent and head out for 2nights under canvas.
Sat: Starting at Waiohine road end, head over Mount Reeves to Tutuwai hut, travel
along the river flats until we find a good camp spot. Sun: Head up to Cone
summit and explore, return to camp.Monday: Packup and walk out back to Waiohine road end.
Leader:Gail. Ph 027675 8257
Grade:Average. Car pool $10
Or alternatively
Sunday 21stJanuary a day trip to ….
WALK THE NEW HIGHWAY - An incredible opportunity to walk Te Ahu a Turanga.
Manawatu Tararua Highway and see the progress being made. Limited tickets available. This is
a fundraiser for Woodville School. See Christine for more details.
Leader: Christine
Ph: 06 3773756
Grade Easy +
Carpool $15
27th / 28th January - No Trip
February
3rd/4th/5th/6th February Trip into the Ruahine
Details to follow
Leader: Julie Miller
7th February Club Night
News,trips done, trips coming up
Guest speaker: Julia Ryan – Rewa BushupdateMembers summer trips- email your photo’s to mastertontc@gmail.com or bring onthe night
10th/11th February Totara Flats Hut overnighter
Sat: Head in from Waiohine road end, through native
forest and open flats to totara Huts. Enjoy a swimin the
river before dinner. Sunday – retrace your stepsback to
the road end
Leader: Tony. Ph: 022 454 1107
Grade: Easy +Car pool cost $8
18th February - Blue Range Hut working Bee
Come and help spruce up our club hut.
Leader: Sandra
Grade: Easy +Car pool cost $8
20th-23rd February - Tongariro Northern Circuit
Hut/ Tent site booking required. Talk to Tony if interested.
Leader: Tony
Ph: 022 454 1107
Grade: Average
Car pool cost: TBA25 February - Rewa Bush Walk
Rewa Bush walk
Leader: Margaret
Ph 021 1364323
Grade: Easy
Car Pool cost $8
March2nd/3rd March - Otaki Forks Boilers overnighter
An opportunity to Camp or stay at Parawai hut at OtakiForks and explore some of the area’s forestry heritage. Several sites to be
visited.Leader: Conrad.Ph: 027338 5008
Grade: Fit. Car Pool $206th March Club Night
News,trips done, trips coming up
Guest speaker: Emma Greg, FMC Exec10 min training: TBA
10th March - Kiriwhakapapa Road End - Miki Miki track
Head up the track from Kiriwhakapaparoad end, following along the old tram track adjacent to the stream,
zig zag up to the saddle.Return the same way.
Leader: Denise. Ph: 021 1161424
Grade Easy. Carpool $8
16th/17th March - Cattle Ridge overnighter
Walking in from Putara road end,through to Roaring stag then up to Cattle ridge hut. Returning the same route.
Option to stay the night at RS if you don’t want to climb up to CR.Leader: Conrad.Ph: 027338 5008
Grade: Fit. Car Pool $10
24th March - Cone Hut day trip
Starting at Waiohine road end head up and over down to cone hut for lunch,return same way
Leader: Tony. Ph: 022 4541107
Grade: Average. Car pool cost: $10
29th/30th/31st/1st March/April - Easter weekend up at Ruapehu.
Staying at Aorangi Ski Club, Ohakune. Advance booking
required.$30 pp per night infully equipped lodge.
Plenty of options of walks in the area. Maybe bring a bike
and cycle the Old Coach Road. See Laura for more details.
Leader: Laura 021 0605375.
Trip Reports
Read about some of the trips we've been on recently
February 25, 2024Read more...Rewa Bush Trip Report – Sunday 25 February 2024 Participants: Margaret, Denise, Alissa, Ian, Kim, Nathan, Julia, Pat, Hamish & Sarah With all the hot weather we have been having, we were keeping an eye on the fire risk out at Ngaumu and well as the weather for the week leading up to the...February 18, 2024Read more...Blue Range hut 18 February. Nathan and Brendan, two prospective new members, were not put off this trip by my description of a steady climb of about 600m before going down to the hut. It was another sunny start, but reasonably cool under the redwoods as we started the walk, there may have...February 10, 2024Read more...Trip Report – Totara Flats Hut – 10/11 February In the week leading up to the trip, the weather forecast was changing each time you refreshed the screen however on the Saturday morning we (David, Christine and Tony) set off from Waiohine Gorge road end towards Totara Flats Hut. As it turned...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