Trip Captain's Challenge

The Longest Day! 21st December

This is a spontaneous sort of day out - if the weather packs in we will give it away (or wait in a pub for the weather to clear, right!).

The plan is to see how many of the Waikato mountains we can climb in one day - the longest day of the year.

Last year we did Te Aroha, Maungatautari and Ruapane, soaked by a downpour on Maungatautari, the Ruapane was a dispirited effort. This year we will do Te Aroha, Maungatautari and Pirongia, and see what is left of the sunlight.

Be in! - the car(s) leave early (last year we got to the top of Te Aroha about 8.30am), and we get back late - that's why they call it the Longest Day. 

Transport cost: private transport arrangements

Trip 2495 Slogger's: Cape Brett

Slogger's week; 9th to 13th December

The last Sloggers not Bloggers trip this year will run on from the last tramp of the year at Bream Head, Whangarei. Some will drive up from Hamilton on Sunday and meet up with the Bream Headers ready to start the walk on Monday morning say 9.00am (or thereabouts) to Cape Brett – 16.3 km one way, DoC time 8 hours. The track description from DoC:

Cape Brett Track traverses through native and regenerating bush. The track runs along the ridge through Maori-owned land before reaching conservation land at Deep Water Cove - Manawahuna for the last 6 km of the track. From the forested ridges, you can take in spectacular coastal scenery. Towards the Cape, walking alongside the dramatic cliff-face, you can see abundant fish and bird life below - often dolphins and seals will come close to shore.

From Deep Water Cove onwards, the track gets more challenging and becomes quite exposed with steep drop-offs to the sea below.

We will stay 2 nights in the Cape Brett Hut, the old Lighthouse Keeper’s house – 23 bunks, $15 per night, Backcountry Hut Pass not valid, all rubbish including food scraps is packed out and camping is not permitted.  On the intervening day we can enjoy the spectacular coastal scenery, visit Deep Water Cove or just relax.

On Wednesday we return to Rawhiti and stay a night somewhere handy, do a short walk the following morning and return home on Thursday afternoon.

We would like to make a booking for the Cape Brett Hut as soon as possible. If you are interested in coming on this trip please let us know.

Transport cost: private transport arrangements

Trip 2494 Far North: Last Tramp of the Year Bream Head

Weekend 7th & 8th December

Plan to leave Hamilton normal time i.e.7pm but NOT have a dinner stop on way. Please eat first. Camping that night at DoC Uretiti Campsite. We will be setting out from there 8.30am Saturday morning & travelling to Bream Head which is on the north side of Whangarei Harbour.

M/F trampers will be dropped off first for 6 hour day tramp with excellent views. E/M trampers have a circular 4 hour day tramp also with excellent views.

Groups will meet up and travel to campground nearby.

Sunday morning   M/F have a 4 hour tramp and will meet up with the E/M group at the Radar Station site for lunch before a steady downhill to transport for the homeward journey. 

There may be an option to travel home on Sunday evening, or stay the night at the Whangarei Camping ground and return home on Monday morning. Those who are continuing with the Sloggers not bloggers to do the Cape Brett walk will meet them at a different campground for the night.

Transport cost:

Trip 2493 Waikato: Karapiro section of the Waikato River Trail

Sunday 1st December

Easily accessible from SH1, the Lake Karapiro section of the Waikato River Trails is proving popular with visitors looking for a one day tramping adventure. The Trail starts 4km from SH1 on Horahora Road. From the Pokaiwhenua carpark, the 4km of roadside Trail is a popular warm up. The Trail then pops into Little Waipa Domain and meanders lakeside through to the Hydro village of Arapuni. 

This section of Trail is an easy grade with a couple of short, steeper sections. The trail is wide and smooth, and provides a great day of fun for walkers.  Length: 13.7km and this should take us about 3 - 4 hours.  If there is time we could do a little of the Lake Arapuni section

Transport cost:

Christmas Dinner party

Trip 2492 Opotiki: Te Waiti to Pakahi

Weekend 23rd & 24th November

We will leave Hamilton as early on the Friday afternoon as possible and drive through Opotiki to the road end. There are camp sites and amenities at the road ends and we will camp (or cottage) there for the night. The usual route is up the Pakihi river to the Pakihi hut – good track, watch out for bikes. Then there is the climb (grunt) up onto the ridge line which has a maximum height of 605m and then “undulates’ along until an equally steep descent into the Waihaatua stream. The next stage down this river to the Te Waiti hut is reported to have a slip taking out the track and I will have further info on this before the trip. A further few hours will get us to the Te Waiti hut which is quite an unusual design. From there is is a couple of hours walk out a well benched track (watch to bikes) to the road end.

Because the two huts are only 2 to 3 hours from their road ends I would prefer to camp out at Stag Flat and equalise the days – weather permitting.

We came down the Wiahaatua stream in Labour Weekend 2010 and some will remember the goats. These have been eradicated and the regrowth has been significant. Should be a great adventure.

Transport cost:

Special General Meeting. Notice is hereby given of the intention to hold a Special General Meeting of the Waikato Tramping Club on Wednesday 4 December 2013.

Tonight will be an information evening on a major item of business that will be concidered at the the Special General Meeting

The proposed major item of business to be concidered at the Special General Meeting,  will be finalised after the Information evening, when the Committee has received and considered feedback from members.

All members are welcome and encouraged to attend both meetings to have your say, as this is your Club.

Trip 2491 Wanaka: Motutapu Alpine Track

Slogger's Week 17th to 22nd November

This is a 6 day tramp, allowing for 1 rest day somewhere along the way, between Wanaka & Arrowtown,  and is the section of  Te Araroa Trail that crosses land owned by Shania Twain & her husband. We plan to stay 4 nights in huts that they funded and camp 1 night in a designated camp site.  The track standard is described in the trail book as a Hard Tramping Track and earlier this year we meet up with a couple of ‘Through Walkers’ who described it as the highlight of their Te Araroa experience.

We will be using a shuttle service to and from Queenstown Airport.

Transport cost: private transport arrangements