• 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

    DECEMBER 2025

    Weds 3 December

    7.30pm

    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up

    Speaker: What happens when you activate your PLB?

    Chris Wilson (formerly of the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ)

    10 min talk: Cane Toads - Conrad

    Prospective members welcome

    Community Centre,

    41 Perry St,

    Masterton

    6-15 December

    Lake Ohau – Fully Booked

    Based at Glen Mary Lodge, daytrips and multiday trips.

    Grade: Easy + to Fit

    $TBA

    Gerald Leather

    021 239 1946

    5th- 7th December

    Bannister Peak

    Fri - Kiriwhakapapa Rd end to Cow Saddle, camp.

    Sat - Bannister via Waingawa, return to Cow Saddle for

    the night. Sun - return to Kiriwhakapapa Rd end.

    Grade: Fit

    $8

    Leader: Sandra Burles 021 061 7054

    13th / 14th Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail

    21st December

    Winzenberg - Pinnacle loop

    Travel up Winzenberg hill, cross the saddle to Pinnacle,

    return to carpark

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool: $8

    Leader: Conrad McCaffrey 027 338 5008

    28th December

    Blue Range Hut

    Stretch the legs and work off the Christmas excess.

    Bring your leftovers for a shared potluck lunch

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool: $8

    Leader: Nigel Boniface 027 356 6322

    JANUARY 2026

    1 st - 4th January

    4-day trip

    Tararua Middle Crossing

    Otaki Forks/Waitewaewae Hut/Andersons Memorial

    Hut/Aokaparangi Hut /Mid Waiohine Hut/Powell Hut/

    Holdsworth Rd end

    Grade: Fit

    Car Pool Cost $TBA

    Leader: Gail Edwards 027 675 8257

    11th January

    Remutaka Incline

    Take a walk along the Remutaka Incline for 10km, have

    lunch then return the same way

    Grade: Easy

    Car Pool Costs: TBC

    Leader: Shona Brown

    18th January

    Powell Hut

    A day trip up to the hut to admire the view whilst

    having lunch

    Grade: Average slower paced

    Car Pool Costs $8

    Leader: Christine Kerrigan 022 670 3050

    17th - 19th January

    Roaring Stag/Cattle Ridge/Arete Forks/Kiriwhakapa Rd end

    Head in at Putara for this 3-day tramp

    Grade: Fit

    Car Pool Costs: $8

    Leader: Conrad McCaffrey 027 338 5008

    24 th - 25 th January - Offer to lead a trip required – contact

    Gail 027 675 8257

    FEBRUARY 2026

    1st February

    Gentle Annie Saddle

    Head up to Holdsworth lookout, follow the track

    through pleasant bush to the Saddle, continue on to

    high point 801 and return via Gentle Annie track.

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs $8

    Leader: Margaret McLauchlan 021 136 4323

    Weds 4th February 7.30pm

    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up

    Speakers: MTC trip Lake Ohau - Finlay Smith + others

    Offer to give a 10 min talk required – contact Gail

    Prospective members welcome

    Community Centre,

    41 Perry St,

    Masterton

    6th- 8th February

    Aorangi Crossing

    3-day trip across the Aorangi range via Mangatoetoe

    Hut, Pararaki Hut, Washpool Hut, Pūtangirua Pinnacles

    Grade: Average

    Car Pool Costs: $15

    Leader : Conrad McCaffrey 027 338 5008

    15th February

    Tauwharenīkau Gorge pack float

    Tramp from Bucks Rd to the Tauwharenīkau River for

    lunch, return same way or for competent swimmers...

    pack float down the river to the campground.

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs $8

    Leader: Gail Edwards 027 675 8257

    21st -22nd February

    Castlepoint camp & click

    Head out to camp at Castlepoint, wake up early to take

    photos of the sunrise

    Grade; Easy

    Car Pool Costs $15

    Leader: Nathan Ball 027 816 1785

    28th/1st February/March

    Offer to lead a trip required – contact Gail


  • Trip Reports

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

    Te Kopahou Reserve, Wellington
    November 22, 2025
    Te Kopahou Reserve, Wellington Combined SWTC / MTC trip, 22 November 2025 An early start from Greytown brought us by car and train before 9 a.m. to Wellington, where Liz joined us. Bus 29 then provided a tour of the southern suburbs before depositing us at Owhiro Bay. It was a short...
    Read more...
    The Pines to Kiriwhakapapa
    November 9, 2025
    Rip it up ...... The plan for a trip across the Blue Range ridge had been floating around for a while, with a rough idea of a full crossing in one day. The unavailability of the trip leader for a scheduled trip meant that the plan was a useful fill in, and with increased fitness in mind,...
    Read more...
    Stanfield and Cattle Creek Huts
    October 18, 2025
    Trip report for 17th - 19th Oct, Stanfield and Cattle Creek Huts. You know you are in the Ruahine Forest Park when you visit bright orange huts! 4 of us departed early on Friday 17th October, heading to the Tamaki West road end for our long weekend tramping. The day was super sunny when we...
    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

    Section 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

    Section image

    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

    Section image

    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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