• 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

    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 DOGS

    Grade: Easy +

    Car Pool Costs: $15

    Leader: Margaret McLauchlan

    021 136 4323


  • Trip Reports

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

    Training Weekend
    2025年8月16日
    Training Weekend 16-17/8/2025 Two bold members, Nathan and Christine, signed up for the camping trip to Holdsworth, for a wintery overnight experience, and to be able to test equipment, try some ideas and indeed test themselves. We left Masterton at around 5 pm, heading off from the...
    Read more...
    Mount Bruce
    2025年8月3日
    MOUNT BRUCE Sunday 3rd August Brenda, Geraldine, Nathan, Josh and Christine Weather; Cold, overcast. Our little party headed to Pukaha Mount Bruce carpark to start our walk and explore the Wildlife centre. While paying for our tickets the receptionist said only ½ of the track was...
    Read more...
    Herepai Hut
    2025年7月13日
    Herepai Hut Sunday 13 July 2025 Conrad, Geraldine, Josh, Monty, Nathan and Christine. Weather; Cool, overcast with drizzle We all pile out of our cars in the Putara Road end, putting on boots and surveying the map of where we are going and the lay of the land. We set off at a moderate...
    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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