Leader:  Selwyn June                         Ph:  8433066                                                     John McArthur                          Ph:  8564394                              

Cost: To Be Advised

Grade:  E

Cost: To Be Advised

Bushcraft is the ability to move knowledgeably through the bush and be able to recognise good and bad signs while doing so. Aspects of  river crossing techniques may be alluded to during the weekend but not the practical steps. Navigation training teaches you to be able to read a map correctly, identify where you are, and how to use a compass properly. In this day and age the use of devices such as GPS, Personal Locator Beacons, and Mountain radios will most likely also be discussed. This will be a weekend with a difference. We plan to conduct all the training in the bush not too far from Hamilton. On the first day we will learn about bushcraft and on the second day we will learn about navigation but the weather may dictate which topic is covered on which day. Transport will be returning to Hamilton at the end of the first day if there are sufficient people who require it and bring out the next group the next morning- in other words we will have 2 day trips. For those who wish, we will camp out for the night in the area to  give you an opportunity to discuss the merits or otherwise of tramping equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, food & cooking gear, what and how to pack into a weekend pack, and socialise with experienced trampers.

Once the Sunday arrivals are on site we will continue with developing your skills for moving about in the bush.

Leader:  John & Jean Wilson                         Ph: 8536464                     Grade: M   Hut fees: There is a $5 per adult rate                                   Cost: Private transport

This trip will be based at Mangaiti Hut near the Ohakune Mountain Road, from where we will do some interesting day trips. There are lots of waterfalls dropping over the edge of old lava flows on this side of the mountain and we will visit about a dozen of them, ranging in height from 9 to 56 metres. We'll see if a natural fountain is spouting at this time of year and drop in on Lake Surprise. I'll also show you a little-known section of the old Blythe Track.

Mangaiti Hut is self-contained for gas cooking, pots, crockery and cutlery, has electric lighting and an efficient pot belly stove. Hut fees are $5 per night. It sleeps 6 to 7 or 8 at a squeeze.

We are off to Mt Ruapehu for a weekend of mountain activities.  You can ski, snowboard, tramp, go climbing, or just relax at Waikato Hut with your friends, then enjoy Apres-ski drinks by the fire on Saturday night. Sunday will see us out on the slopes again before returning to Hamilton Sunday night.  Food is provided by the club for this weekend.  We will depart Friday night at 7 pm by cars or Bus

Leader:  Graeme King                    Phone:  8295644                   Grade:  E/M

Cost: Senior mem $140                  Senior non-mem $190

Costs include transport, hut fees and food.

Leader: John McArthur                        Phone: 8564394                              Grade:  F

Cost: To be confirmed- depends upon destination.

There are many suitable destinations for this tramp and the main prerequisites are that you are fit, and have some basic snowcraft knowledge. We have yet to set a specific destination so trip participants can propose ideas closer to the date if so desired. Tongariro National Park or Egmont National Park are our usual scenes for executing this trip-with-a-challenge . Whereabouts within these parks will remain to be decided.

Leader:  Jacqui Dick               Phone:  8252045                               Grade:  M

Cost: Senior mem $15-20           Senior non-mem $20-25        Junior mem $10-15 

We will begin this walk at the Waterworks road access in Ngaruawahia, climb many steps to the top, and head south along the ridgeline to the southern end of the Hakarimata range. The bus will be waiting here to take us to the Waingaro hot pools to finish the day off. This will be a good day to stretch your legs and enjoy some exercise regardless of the weather. It is not a long trip and within the capabilities of everyone. It seems that quite a few of our trips are including a soak in a hot pool this year so lets' keep the momentum going!

Leader:  Selwyn June            Phone:  8433066                                            Grade:  M

Cost: Approx Senior mem $60-70          Senior non-mem/Junior mem   TBA 

Food Costs: TBA

This is the first club trip planned for the winter season. If you would like to learn more about how to recognize dangerous snow conditions, how to use ice axes and crampons, and put the theory into practice, this is the weekend for you. It is an introductory training to basic snowcraft and you must have some experience at this level to be able to go on the winter tramp in August. When making your booking please advise the trip leader whether you have organised your own supply of ice axe and crampons. Experienced club members will begin on Saturday with a theory session in the comfort of the lounge. After lunch you will go out onto the slopes near the hut and put it all into practice. This is always lots of fun- watching how others put theory into practice, and then promptly doing the same thing yourself! The day finishes with a convivial evening around the fire and a comfortable sleep in those lovely new bunkrooms.

On Sunday you will head out for bigger and better places to consolidate your knowledge.

For those who wish to relax for the weekend, feel free to come along and enjoy the comfortable surrounding that is Waikato Hut - our lodge on Mt. Ruapehu. Others of you may wish to go skiing or snowboarding- you can do these too.   

Leader: Mike Nightingale     Ph: 8562934                              Grade: E/M

Cost: Private transport

After a unanimous decision from the leader it was decided that this is not the right time of the year for the sloggers not bloggers to be walking up the river to Koranga Forks Hut or to climb Mt Hikurangi. So, after reading an excellent article on the "Timber Trail" (NZ TODAY Apr/May 2013), we are going to cycle this over two days, possibly leaving Hamilton on the afternoon of the 22nd July.  We plan to be in place for an early start on the 23rd. We will start from the Pureora end of the Trail and camp (weather permitting) at Piropiro campsite half way along the track, where there are toilets and a shelter.

This should be a great mountain bike ride on some historic bush tramways.

Leader:  David Cumming                  Phone:  8397850                           Grade:  E/M

Email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     Cost:  Private vehicles

This is a cycle trip from Te Aroha to Paeroa on the Hauraki Rail Trail.  We will meet at the Te Aroha Railway Station at 9:15am for a 9:30am start.  This section is 21km and the former railway lines make excellent flat, elevated lanes for easy cycling.  This section will take two hours and will include some aspects of local railway history.  Lunch will be at the L & P Café at Paeroa.  People may like to bring their own lunch which is fine, however the café facilities are for patrons only.  We will then make our way back to Te Aroha for a swim in the hot pools.

We will be using private cars as it makes it easier to transport the bikes.  Bikes can be hired for $40 a day at Te Aroha.

If you would like to come on the trip could you please advise:

1. Do you have your own bike?
2. Do you have a bike rack and if so; how many bikes could you carry?