This is a cycle trip from Paeroa to Matatoki on the Hauraki Rail Trail. We will
meet at the band rotunda at Paeroa at 9:15am for a 9:30am start. This section
is 22km and the former railway lines make excellent flat, elevated lanes for
easy cycling. We will be pedalling through dairy country and over numerous
waterways for two hours before we reach Matatoki. Lunch will be at The Cheese
Barn, Matatoki which is a cheese factory / café / gift shop / animal farm. People
may like to bring their own lunch which is fine, however the café facilities are for
patrons only. Then begins the pedalling back to Paeroa. We will be using private
cars as it makes it easier to transport the bikes. Bikes can be hired for $40 a day
from the L&P Café at Paeroa.
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?

We will have transport arranged at midday to take us from St Arnaud to the
western end of Harpers Pass Track. People joining us for this leg of the tramp
only need to join us at St Arnaud on Friday night. Again this is beautiful tramping

through an alpine valley, not so many ups and downs as the Richmond Range.
We will progress down the valley stopping at huts or camping on the way. The
sun will be hot so many swims in the river will be called for. We should exit on
Friday afternoon and bus down to Hanmer Springs. Onward transport from here
will be your care.
I need names of those interested please, ASAP.

This was a very popular trip we did a few years back and we will repeat it. We
leave on Saturday morning and head for the boat ramp at Lake Tarawera. If you
have your own kayak or canoe we will need to make extra arrangements for their
transport. It will be possible to hire kayaks, so please advise when making your
booking what you need. Some basic instructions before departure will be given
for beginners.

We will paddle our way across to the Hot water beach. If you wish to sit in the
warm shallows for a wee while and have a cup of tea, feel free. Those who want
to can trail a fishing line behind them can do so too. Just remember to have a
valid fishing licence. And what goes on tour stays on tour - all trip participants
will help devour any catches! Camping is at the Tarawera outlet. If you are quick
enough it may be possible to take a walk to the Tarawera Falls and back before
heading out on the homeward leg to the starting point. The track around the lake
is not completed so we will park the boats and take a short walk towards Lake
Okataina sometime during the day on the homeward stretch.

This will be a Saturday morning start (8.00am).  We will travel to the Kaniwhaniwha Bridge on Limestone Loop Road.  The track starts by following along the true right of the Kaniwhaniwha River for approximately thirty minutes out in the open before entering the bush and then continues along (mainly flat ground) beside the Blue Bull Stream.   Eventually we will cross the Blue Bull Stream via a swinging bridge and climb, steeply at first and then more gradually, through a series of clearings to a rest stop at an old hut site.  Those on Paul’s Oparau Crossing trip a short while ago will remember this spot!  From here it is a gradual climb for some while until eventually the Cone hoves into view and the going gets steeper.  Great views from the top in all directions.  The initial drop off from the Cone is steep but soon flattens out and we should find a new boardwalk waiting to introduce itself to us.  Easy going over this as we make our way over what was once a notorious muddy section of track to the Pahautea Hut.  Bring tents as the hut is often full.  There are good campsites close to the hut.
Sunday will be a short day (3-4 hours) – out and over the Pirongia Summit and then down via the Tahuanui track to complete a circuit back to our starting point.

There are a couple of entry and exit routes possible for this trip. These will be used for the trip either individually or in combination and will dictate the final trip cost. This wind farm is also the site of a Mountain bike track so cyclists may be interested in this day too. However, it is planned as a tramping trip to those great white turbines you see on the skyline from Hamilton and from the road to Raglan. There are magnificent views up and down the west coast and perhaps even to the Tongariro National Park peaks if the weather is really kind. Come prepared with lots of water, sunscreen, and a camera.

Planning is now underway for this trip. It will be a 5-day Canoe/Kayak trip down the Whanganui River. The plan is to start at Taumarunui and end 147km later at Pipiriki. There will be lots of wonderful highlights to see on the journey down the river such Nui Poles at Ohura Falls, Te Tieke Marae, Taniwha Rock, old houseboat landings, man made rock weirs, old maori village sites, Kirikiriroa lookout, Bridge to Nowhere, Pururoto caves, and hidden waterfalls. For more information visit DOC http://www.doc.govt.nz/upload/documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/wanganui/whanganui-journey-brochure.pdf
This is classed as a Department of Conservation Great Walk so we will need to book huts/campsites, which I would like to do by end of October 2012. Numbers will be limited to about 11 so be in quick.

This will be more of a social activity and one to be leisurely enjoyed on whatever era your deadly-peddly represents. We will make it a bit of a treasure hunt for you to solve along the way and there will be rewards at the end - wherever we decide that should be! At the end of our visit to the endpoint, it will be time to pedal your way home again or get someone to come and pick you up.

The plan is to travel down to New Plymouth on Friday 25th January and stay in a back-packers.  Saturday will have us up the mountain, driving to the North Egmont visitor centre where we will leave the van. Depending a little on the weather as to which way round the circuit we go, we will probably head up the razorback and then saddle around the causeway to the top of the circuit and head to the Holly Hut for Saturday night.  Sunday will start with an early morning run up The Dome – a mere pimple beside the hut. Then cross Ahukawakawa swamp and up the ridge to the Pouakai track. There are some detour trips including climbing Pouakai peak and an adjacent peak, then back and around to the Pouakai hut for Sunday night. Monday will have us cross back along the Kaiauai track and back up to the visitors centre and the van. Or we could do it the other way round…..
The days are not long, and the climbing isn’t too strenuous so this is a good Medium fitness level tramp for those who wish to do some overnight trips.