• 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.

     

    Link to Club's Constitution

    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

    April

    Weds 2nd April 7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    Speaker: Don French update on recent adventures
    10 min talk: Christine – my overnight pack
    Prospective members welcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton


    5th/6th April
    Stanfield Hut, Ruahine Forest Park
    Walk to Stanfield hut for lunch, then an afternoon walk
    to cattle creek hut, return to Stanfield for the night.
    Sunday return option via A frame hut. River level
    dependant.
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool cost $20
    Leader: Sandra Burles
    021 061 7054


    13th April
    Waiohine Ridge Track
    Explore the route between the top of Mt Dick and
    Waiohine campsite (will involve some bush bashing)
    Grade: Average
    Car Pool: Cost $8
    Leader: Phil Brown
    021 090 00158


    19th April
    Smith Creek Waterfall
    Combined trip with SWTC to visit this hidden off- track
    waterfall.
    Grade: Average
    Car Pool Cost: $8
    Leader: John Rhodes
    06 3049 095


    20th April
    Tinui ANZAC walk
    Walk up to the Tinui ANZAC cross. Walking through
    gum & pine plantations and regenerative native bush
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Cost: $8
    Leader: Nathan Ball
    027 816 1785


    26th/27th April

    Offer to lead a trip required -contact Gail
    ANZAC Fri 25th, 3-day weekend

    MAY 2025


    4th May
    Atiwhakatu Hut for Lunch
    Take a walk along the banks of the Te Whakatūrākau
    Stream to the Hut for lunch. Return same way.
    Grade: Easy
    Car Pool Cost $8
    Leader Denise Stagg
    021 116 1424


    Weds 7th May
    7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    Speaker: David Barnes - Outdoor Access Commission
    10min talk: Nigel Boniface - Trapping update
    Prospective members welcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton


    11th May
    Blue Range Hut, returning via Rovers Hill
    Head up to Blue Range Hut for an early lunch, return to
    carpark by an off- track explore off the ridge to point
    870, 810 and Rovers Hill.
    Grade: Average
    Car Pool Cost $8
    Leader: Gail Edwards
    027 675 8257


    18th May
    Tauwharenīkau Gorge Track
    Starting at Bucks Rd, Featherston – follow the trail to
    the Tauwharenīkau river.
    Grade: Easy
    Car Pool Cost $8
    Leader: Nathan Ball
    027 816 1785


    25th May
    Belmont Trig Loop Track, Belmont Regional Park track
    consisting of a bush walk with occasional waterfalls and
    rural track walks where you can see the view of
    beautiful landscapes.
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Cost $15
    Leader: Christine Kerrigan
    022 670 3050


    JUNE 2025


    31st/1st/2nd June
    King’s B’day
    Zealandia Tracks
    Head on down to Wellington on the best weather day
    of the long weekend to walk the tracks at Zealandia and
    enjoy the birdlife

    Grade: Easy

    Leader: Sandra Burles
    021 061 7054


    Weds 4th June
    7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    MTC 2025 AGM
    Prospective
    members
    welcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton


    8 th June
    Sutherland’s Hut, Aorangi Forest Park
    Take a walk to Sutherlands Hut for lunch, this trip
    involves river crossings so will be weather dependant
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Costs $10
    Leader: Christine Kerrigan
    022 670 3050


    15th June

    Hooper Loop
    Stopping for lunch at Mountain House Shelter
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Cost $8
    Leader: Tony Spittal
    022 454 1107


    21st/22nd June

    Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail
    (Matariki Fri 20th – 3-day weekend)


    29th June

    Blue 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 6322

  • Trip Reports

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

    Mangatoetoe Hut Trip Report
    March 15, 2025
    Mangatoetoe Hut Trip Report Sunday 16 February 2025 Participants: Margaret, Mike, Laura, Nathan, Bronwyn, Christine, Chris, John This was a joint trip with South Wairarapa Tramping Club. After a brief stop at Ngawi for toilets and morning tea we headed around to the carpark at the start of...
    Read more...
    Mount Reeves
    February 21, 2025
    Tutuwai Hut via Mount Reeves trip, 22- 23rd February 2025.
    Read more...
    Taputeranga Marine Reserve and Wrights Hill
    February 1, 2025
    Taputeranga Marine Reserve and Wright’s Hill Combined SWTC / MTC trip, Sunday 2 February 2025. With a forecast for 20 knots from the south and little swell, Tim Walshe of Island Bay Divers emailed that we should be fine to go, and so it proved. Tim has been running his business on The...
    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

    broken image

    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

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    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

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    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)

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  • 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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