• 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.

     

    Link to Club's Constitution

  • 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.

     

    APRIL

    3rd April Club night

    News, trips done, trips coming up

    Billy Boiling Competition or otherwise (fire ban dependant)!

     

    6th/7th April

    Blue Range Hut overnighter

    A ‘Snail Adventure’ - a slower paced trip to the club hut. A good opportunity

    for first timers who might like to overnight in a hut

    Leader: Christine. Ph 06 377 3756

    Grade: Easy + . Carpool $8

     

    10th/11th April

    Rangiwahia Hut overnighter

    From the west side of the Ruahine. A great zig zag

    track through stunning forest, to reach the hut with fab

    views. Hut – Must be booked, $25 adult.

    Leader: Tony. Ph 022 454 1107

    Grade: Easy + . Car pool cost $15

     

    14th April

    Mount Frith Track

    Heading in from Bucks Road, Featherston traversing the ridge line to Mt Frith and beyond!

    Leader: Gail. Ph 027675 8257

    Grade: Easy + . Car Pool $8

     

    20th/21st April

    Opouawe River, White Rock - Trapping

    Travel to White Rock station, walk the Opouawe River

    checking the traps along the route.

    Leader: Sandra. Ph 021 0617054

    Grade: Easy. Car Pool cost $15

     

    28th April

    Tunnel Gully

    An exploration of the Northern Remutaka: From Kaitoke via

    Goat Rock Road through to Tunnel Gully (bring a torch).

    Then back via Tane’s Track to Kaitoke Loop Road.

    Leader: Margaret. Ph 027675 8257

    Grade: Easy +. Car pool $15

     

    MAY

     

    1st May Club Night

    News, trips done, trips coming up

    Speaker: Emma Gregg FMC Executive committee - bring your

    questions!

    10 min training: Sandra -choosing the right snack bar

     

    5th May

    Winzenberg Hill

    From Holdsworth road end, climb up to the high point

    looking into the Waingawa valley and across to Holdsworth

    peak. Bring your prunners to trim the track as you go.

    Leader Denise. Ph: 021 116 1424

    Grade: Easy. Car pool cost $8

     

    12th May – Would anyone like to lead or suggest a tramp?

     

    19th May

    Rewanui Exotic Loop

    An opportunity to explore the eastern side of the

    Rewanui forest park.

    Leader: Sandra. Ph 021 061 7054

    Grade: Easy. Car pool cost $8

     

    26th May

    Gentle Annie saddle circuit

    Leaving from Holdsworth campground, climb to the

    lookout before following the ridge to the Gentle Annie

    saddle, then another climb to Point 801, before

    travelling down on the Gentle Annie track back to the

    start.

    Leader: Nigel. Ph 027 356 6322

    Grade: Easy +. Car pool cost $8

     

    JUNE

    1st/2nd/3rd June

    Bushy Park, Whanganui

    A weekend exploring!

    Stay at the bunkhouse for 2 nights and

    walk among giant trees and experience rare

    native wildlife in a stunning ancient forest.

    Leader: Sandra Burles Ph 021 061 7054

    Grade: Easy. Car pool cost TBA

     

    5th June

    Club Night

    News, trips done, trips coming up and the MTC Club ........

     

    8th/9th June - Would anyone like to lead or suggest a tramp?

     

    15th /16th June

    Sunrise Hut overnight

    A very popular Ruahine hut, a chance to see the

    sunrise over the Hawkes Bay.

    Leader: Tony. Ph: 022 454 1107

    Grade: Easy + . Car pool cost TBC

    Hut – Must be booked, $25 adult

     

    22nd/ 23rd June 

    Upper Hutt short walks

    Plenty of options available – details to be confirmed

    Leader: Christine. Phone 06 377 3756

    Grade: Easy. Car pool cost $10

     

    29th/30th June

    Marchant ridge to Alpha Hut, return via Quoin

    An opportunity to visit the newly spruced up Alpha Hut

    Leader: Conrad. Ph 027 338 5008

    Grade Fit . Car pool cost $8

  • Trip Reports

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

    Rewa Bush Trip
    February 25, 2024
    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...
    Read more...
    Blue Range Hut
    February 18, 2024
    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...
    Read more...
    Totara Flats Hut
    February 10, 2024
    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...
    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

    broken 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

    broken 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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