• 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 Clubs Constitution 2025

    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

    March 2026

    Weds 4th March 7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    Speaker: Lake Ōhau Trips. Nigel & David
    10 min talk required – contact Gail
    Prospective
    members
    welcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton

    7 th / 8th March
    Totara Flats overnight
    Walk into Totara Flats for a camp out or alternatively
    stay at the hut
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Costs: $15
    Leader: Nathan Ball
    Phone: 027 816 1785


    14th/15th March

    Island Forks Hut overnight
    Head in from Otaki via the Mick track, the hut is a 2
    bunk with plenty of camping spots nearby
    Grade: Fit
    Car pool Cost: $TBA
    Leader: Conrad McCaffrey
    Phone: 027 338 5008


    21st/22nd March

    TBA

    Grade: Easy
    Car pool Costs: $TBA
    Leader: Laura Hopkins
    Phone: 021 060 5375


    29th March
    Pinnacle returning via Wattie’s alternative
    From Holdsworth carpark, tramp up to Pinnacle at
    877m, returning via ‘Wattie’s alternative’ ridge,
    crossing the Te Whakatūrākau Stream back to the
    carpark
    Grade: Average
    Car pool Costs: $8
    Leader: Phil Brown
    Phone: 021 090 00158


    April 2026

    Weds 1st April 7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    Speaker: Julie Miller will give us a talk about last year’s
    overseas travel n tramps
    10 min talk: Know your committee
    Prospective memberswelcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton


    4th/5th (3 rd - 6th Easter) April
    Trip required – contact Gail


    11th April
    (Saturday)

    Combined MTC & SWTC
    Belmont Park
    Grade: Easy Plus
    Car Pool Cost: $TBA
    Leader: John Rhodes
    Phone: 06 3049 095


    18th/19th April
    Norbett Creek loop
    The route follows Norbett Creek before climbing up a
    beech forest-clad ridge to the Catchment Road. Return
    via the track to the starting point
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Costs: $15
    Leader: Nathan Ball
    Phone: 027 816 1785


    25th/26th

    27th Public Holiday
    Trip required – contact Gail

    May 2026

    3rd May

    Remutaka Summit to Bucks Road Campsite
    Travel along the length of the ridge, passing through Mt
    Frith.
    Grade: Average
    Car Pool Cost $8
    Leader Bruce Clay
    Phone 027 237 2080


    Weds 6th May
    7.30pm
    Club Night. News, trips done, trips coming up
    Speaker: John Rhodes Olivine Plateau
    10min talk required - contact Gail
    Prospective
    members
    welcome
    Community Centre,
    41 Perry St,
    Masterton


    9th/10th May
    Cow Creek overnight
    From Kiriwhakapapa, head up to Blue Range Hut, then
    down to Cow Creek Hut for the night. Return Sunday
    Grade: Average
    Car Pool Cost: $8
    Leader: Gail Edwards
    Phone: 027 675 8257


    16th/17th May
    Mitre Flats Hut overnight
    Starting at The Pines road end on Saturday morning,
    tramp to Mitre Flats Hut, return Sunday
    Grade: Easy +
    Car Pool Cost: $8
    Leader: Sandra Burles
    Phone: 021 061 7054


    24th May
    Southern Walkway Wellington
    Oriental Bay to Island Bay 4-5 hours
    The route is largely in the Town Belt.
    Cost: Car to Upper Hutt: $15
    Train to Wellington: Cash $11.50, Snapper $6-27
    Bus to/from Island Bay: Cash $6, Snapper $3-15
    Grade: Easy +
    Travel Costs: $25 approx.
    Leader: Nigel Boniface
    Phone: 027 356 6322

  • Trip Reports

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

    Waiohine Ridge Explore
    15. helmikuuta 2026
    Waiohine Ridge explore 15th Feb 2026 With heavy rain and wind forecast in the afternoon, the scheduled pack float was cancelled. So as not to totally disappoint those who had signed up, the Trip Leader offered a morning exploration of the Waiohine Ridge, enabling us to be home before the...
    Read more...
    Waitangi Weekend - Aorangi Crossing
    6. helmikuuta 2026
    Aorangi crossing- Waitangi weekend 2026 “Moe atu te ringa raupa” With a 3 day weekend to celebrate Waitangi day, the plan was for an avarage trip to complete the Aorangi crossing. However with only 3 members signing up, it was felt by all of the party that the trip could be completed in 2...
    Read more...
    Incline Walk Alternative
    10. tammikuuta 2026
    First up, a thank you to Nathan for alerting us to the Met Service's Orange Wind Warning, which made the planned walk to the incline rather unattractive. Our Plan B walk from Cotter St Rail Trail to Woodside Station departed around 9am. Participants were Shona, Peter, Nathan, Josh, Christine,...
    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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