Leader:  John McArthur  Ph: 8564394                         Grade: E/M    Hut fees: There is a $10 per adult rate or a block $160 booking rate so this cost will be divided according to the number of participants.       

Cost: Senior mem $55-70           Senior non-mem $65-80        Junior mem $35-45 

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This has been a popular weekend in the past at the Auckland Tramping club hut in the Waitakere ranges. It is very suitable for newcomers to weekend tramping as you have to pack almost all the usual things like food and clothing, but no tent, cooking gear, plates or cutlery. This means there should be room in your pack for a few luxuries. This could be a weekend to celebrate things French (14th being Bastille day) but of course we will also be there to participate in at least a couple of day trips. A popular one is via a loop track down to Piha beach and back to the hut. There are many other walks and we could do and these will be decided upon closer to the time. Be prepared for winter weather - we walked in snow here in 2005! The hut has 2 wood burning stoves and gas hobs cook on, the bathroom has hand-basins, there is an outside toilet, and the 24 bunks surround the large dining area. Mattresses are provided, but you should bring your own bedding, preferably a sleeping bag. Cooking pots, crockery and cutlery are provided.This makes for a very convivial atmosphere. The more the merrier - this will also make the trip cheaper.

Leader:  Ian Fraser                           Ph: 8563857                              Grade: E          

Cost: Senior mem $30-35         Senior non-mem $35-40          Junior mem $20-25 

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To celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the birth of John Neaves a trip is scheduled to Neavesville, here’s a bit of history for you:
On Saturday, 10 April 1875, the Thames Advertiser carried the headline "IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES: NEW GOLDFIELD PROCLAIMED: RUSH TO TAIRUA". The report recorded that "for some years past, Messrs Preece and Graham, who own the sawmill at Tairua, and who have leased a large extent of the splendid kauri forests of that district, have kept a man named Neaves prospecting there. This man some time since found a reef from which a number of specimens were taken, and which was richly gold bearing".
The reef discovered was high above the upper reaches of the Tairua River, not far from a peak called Pakirarahi. Neaves pegged out his claim illegally on 8 April 1875, the day before the new goldfield was officially proclaimed, but he pegged again on 9 and 10 April, to be on the safe side. A rush followed and within eight days of the proclamation, a shareholder’s meeting had been held and the Tairua Gold Mining Company was formed.
Two distinct settlements quickly sprang up. One, centred around the previously deserted gum diggers’ huts earned the name "Measletown", because of an epidemic which struck it. This settlement was threatened during a severe storm by the danger of falling trees and was soon abandoned. The other settlement was named "Upper Township". On 4 June 1875, the following report was published in the Thames Advertiser:
FROM A CORRESPONDENT
“A meeting of the residents of Pakirarahi was held at the Tairua Company’s claim on Saturday, the 29th May, at which a large number were present. Mr. W Sully was voted to the chair, and explained the object of the meeting, viz., to christen the township now forming on the Tairua Company’s (the prospector’s) claim. After several names had been suggested, Mr J B Beeche proposed, and Mr J Whitby seconded, "That the name of the above township be ‘Neavesville’, in honour of Mr John Neaves, to whom the public are indebted for the discovery of this valuable and extensive goldfield." The motion was carried unanimously. After drinking "success and prosperity to the field", a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the meeting terminated.”
Our trip will start from the top of the State Highway 25A Thames to Tairua Road following the Old “North/South “ Track until we get to the Neavesville Road. Neavesville itself has a number of relics that post John’s mining efforts including an old 1910 Boiler and Minnie's Grave. In the last 20 yrs the area has been milled to remove the remaining kauri stumps left behind. The trip will continue downhill on the Stadia 4WD track to meet the bus at the bottom of 25A.
So what became of John? Well the records show, Death Certificate: John Neaves, died 17 November 1910 at Mental Hospital, Avondale, verdict, senile decay.
Please bring a 175th Birthday Cake to share with the leader.

Leader:  Chris Kay    Ph:  07 872 7795                      Grade: E/ M/F         Cost: Senior mem $40-50        Senior non-mem $ 50-60          Junior mem $30-40 

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This trip has been changed to a trip to Mangamuka Hut, located at the southern end of the Kaimai Range. This is a cosy basic 4 bunk hut with a fire. As this is just a week after the shortest day, it will be good to be at a hut for the night with a fire. This will be a great mid-winter tramp in a nice part of the country relatively close to home. We will leave Saturday morning to start our trip into the Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park. We have 3 options as to how we get to Mangamuka Hut. 

1. A Loop starting from Te Tuhi Track, Matamata. (Short) Easy
2. A loop from Whakamarama Road. Omokora. (Medium) ($5 extra for transport).
3. From Kaimai Summit on SH 29 through to Wairere Falls (Long) Fit

The decision as to which option we take will be made after discussion with participants on the trip and transport considerations. We could probably cater for option 1 & 3 at the same time, depending on transport. Please feel free to contact me for a chat about the options and your preferences.

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Leader:  David Payne                         Ph:  8532381                                 Grade: E          

Cost: Private transport

This is a sloggers not bloggers trip. We plan to car pool leaving Hamilton about 8 am in time to meet up with a shuttle bus at Whakapapa Village. We will be transported round to the Desert Road and from there will make the 3 hour walk into Waihohonu Hut. This is a magnificent hut, a testament to the efficiencies of double glazing & extreme insulation combined with good architecture, a great place to relax.
We will do day trips from here to Oturere Hut one day and towards Rangipo Hut another day. On Thursday 27th we will tramp back to Whakapapa Village approx. 6 hours straightforward walk.
Costs will include petrol contribution for car pooling, shuttle bus to Desert Road and Hut fees [covered by annual pass at this time of year].

Leader:  Fiona Green                         Ph:  8558335                                 Grade: E        Cost: Senior mem $30-40          Senior non-mem $40-50         Junior mem $20-30

 
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This is another of those options one can take advantage of around Auckland city. We will follow the Mangemangeroa and Awaroa Walkways, down Mangemangeroa Stream (Howick) and along the coast to Music Point. This is best done at low tide so we can follow the coast. The walk is estimated to be 4 – 6 hours. Assuming we did it in 4, we could follow it with the Rotary Walkway from Pigeon Mountain along Tamaki River, possibly as far as Panmure Basin, about 1½ hours.

Leader:  Chris Kay          Ph: 07 872 7795 or 0272946562                    Grade: M  Email: chkay@xtra.co.nz                  

Hut Fees: $15 adult/night, $7.50 child /night  Cost: Senior mem $40-50       Senior non-mem $50-60            Junior mem $30-40

If you are a beginner to weekend tramping, this is the one for you!

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This track is steeped in Kauri logging history. Remnants of the logging days can be seen on the track and in fact, the track itself follows the old packhorse track that took supplies up to the kauri loggers working and living in the hills. Giant kauri stumps, abandoned logs, kauri dams and old tramlines can also be seen on this walk. The highlight of the trip is the last section of the track which is a short steep climb leading to the jagged summit of the Pinnacles. Walkers are rewarded with magnificent panoramic views of the Coromandel region.

We will leave 8.00am Saturday morning & head toward Thames & the Kaueranga Valley (about 2hrs). At the start we cross the river at the swing bridge, continuing alongside it to Webb Creek, then follow the historic packhorse route (steep in places) used by kauri bushmen in the 1920's to travel to logging sites in the upper Kaueranga Valley. After crossing Webb Creek we will climb steps cut into rock to make the journey easier for the packhorses to Hydro Camp. The track from the Hydro Camp climbs and sidles around a hill before following a more open ridge with spectacular views of the east coast, before dropping down along a signposted side track for about 10 minutes to Pinnacles Hut.(3.5-4hrs). This is an 80 bunk hut & must be booked in advance. On Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning we will do the walk to the pinnacles. (Ed comment: don't have to carry the whole weekend pack with you tho!). It’s a steady climb, steep in places, follows a well constructed stepped path 1 km in length to the summit (759 metres). Here there are spectacular views of the bush, mountains and coastline (1.5– 2hrs return).

Sunday we will head back to Hydro Camp and take the Billy goat track where a steady 30 minute climb leads to a saddle with excellent views down the Kaueranga Valley to the Hauraki Plains. We drop down into Billy goat Basin, cross Billy goat Stream before passing through a clearing with basic camping facilities and then 5 minutes further on, a 50-metre side track overlooks the site of the collapsed long trestle bridge, once part of the bush tramline. Back on the main track, we follow the tramline past the Short Trestle and Billy goat Falls (180 m) before emerging at the Kaueranga River. It’s then just a short walk back up the road to the carpark (3.5-4hrs)

Local Waikato walk ...

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KAWEKA MOHAKA RIVER   

The starting and finishing point for this tramp is at the Makahu Road end right by the Mangatutu Hot Springs.  As it is only a half day walk from there along the picturesque Mohaka River to our Saturday evening camp (tent) site, we will probably leave Hamilton very early on Saturday morning and hope to start walking immediately after lunch.  The Saturday evening camp is at another hot spring where we will be able to luxuriate in the hot tubs that are there.

Sunday will involve a walk up the Makino River (another half day) and then a steepish climb in the afternoon to the top of a ridge and along to the Makino hut (six bunks). 

On Monday we will follow along this ridge in a northerly direction past the old Makino bivi and eventually out to the Makahu Road along which we will bash for two to three kilometres back to our starting point for lunch and another swim before leaving for home.

This is a perfect three day tramp involving some river work and some steepish climbing.  Those who would prefer something a little easier could stay on the Mohaka River and walk out and along it as they came in.  Mohaka River is a particularly beautiful river and the track alongside it is “easy as”.  There is also a hut along the way!

DoC says ... 

Mangatutu Hot Springs is a popular camping, picnic and fishing spot, and a starting point for tramping, hunting or day walks up the Mohaka River and further into the Kaweka Forest Park. 

Mangatutu hot springs

 There are barbecues, picnic tables and toilets located in secluded clearings among the manuka surrounds, and there are access tracks descending to the Mohaka River. The main feature here is the thermal springs.

Thermal water issues from a deep, undercut, steaming hole on the top terrace. The water trickles down a riverside bluff and after a short way is channelled into two pools.

 At the very end of the road, 500 metres from the hot springs and shelter, is “The Gums” parking area. The track to Te Puia Lodge, Makino River and Mangatainoka Hot Springs begins here.

 Leader:  John Davies                      Ph: 8237388                                       Grade:  M      Cost: Senior mem TBC      Senior non-mem TBC         Junior mem TBC