This trip will require that all participants have some snowcraft experience as weather conditions will dictate which mountain we conquer. More details to follow. We may use private cars so let the club captain know soon if you are interested in this trip.

Date is yet to be decided.

Trip Report

The plan is to tramp around Mt Ruapehu from Ohakune Mountain Rd to Whakapapa Village thereby avoiding any river crossings that may pose problems at this time of year. The route ranges through very diverse landscapes including beech clad valleys, scoria slopes, high waterfalls and the Rangipo Desert. There are excellent huts along the way but many areas of the track are exposed to wind and weather and while there are no major alpine passes on the route we will need to take alpine gear.

Monday 27 Aug Leaving our vehicles at Whakapapa we will be transported to Ohakune Mountain road and set out for Mangaehuehu Hut. We cross alpine wetlands on a boardwalk, pass Waitonga Falls then head thru a mix of tussockland and beech stands on the way.

Tuesday we set out through beech forest then cross Wahianoa Gorge onto the Rangipo Desert to Rangipo Hut.

Wednesday we tramp the wind sculpted sand and volcanic rock of the Rangipo Desert past Ohinepango Springs to Waihohonu Hut.

Thursday we pass through the low point between Mts Ngauruhoe & Ruapehu, Tama Saddle and on past Taranaki Falls to Whakapapa Village.
The extra day??? Well it is there as a precaution, will use it if necessary otherwise can chose our options when we get back to Whakapapa.
Bookings: Transport is always a challenge so if you are interested in coming on any of the trips please indicate this early i.e. at least 3 weeks, preferably more, before the trip date.

We have a handy and local north island version of a bicycling rail trail ride on our back doorstep. There are 3 'legs' to it: Kopu to Paeroa of 27km, Paeroa to Waikino of 14km, and Paeroa to Te Aroha 20km. The grade is 1 – the easiest one and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. 98% of the trail has a gradient of less tan 2º while the rest is 2 -4º. That means hardly difficult at all. The Kopu-Paeroa stretch has a cheese barn at Matatoki, and a cowshed café at Hikutaia should we decide to ride this bit. The Paeroa to Waikino leg includes a ride through the Karangahake tunnel.

This is a fully catered weekend at our newly renovated lodge with awesome accommodation, food, company, views, comfortable and warm bunkrooms in a stunning location. You will be free to do what ever you feel like be it skiing, snow boarding, tramping, taking photos for our up and coming photo competition or relaxing at the lodge.

We will head down on Friday evening by cars and the lodge is a short 15 minute walk from the Top of the Bruce. The fire will be going and we can settle in for a fantastic weekend at one of the best lodges on the mountain. It is so lovely up there that by the end of the weekend you may not want to come home!

Leave Hamilton Saturday 7am. Drive via Thames to Te Puru where we park our bus. Then we head up Te Puru Track and wend our way southward to the newly built Crosbies Hut, about 4 hours. The hut has a new set of saucepans, a non-stick frypan! and plenty of chopped firewood. We will watch the sunset and the sunrise from the deck. In between these events we will have a pleasant evening enjoying our dinner around the fire. Sunday back to Waiomu from where the bus driver will need to walk 2km to fetch the bus. An option for those who want to stretch their legs is to take the Wainora-Karaka route out, 7 hours, to be picked up in Thames

The Waikato River Trails has creating access for walking, biking and tramping along New Zealand's longest river - the mighty Waikato. We will do the Waipapa Section &/or the Maraetai Section. In the very middle of the Waikato River Trails is the Lake Waipapa Section. We will start this section from Waipapa Dam. This section is the most challenging grade of the Waikato River Trails. The distance, however, makes this a very achievable walk for most people. The remote nature of this section makes it very popular. Length is 14.6km.

Highlights - Waipapa Dam, Maraetai Dams 1 and 2, Trails through exotic forest, with soft pine needles as a surface, fantastic native lakeside bush
The Maraetai Section of the Waikato River Trail starts in the north at either the Maraetai Dam entrance road, or Mangakino Lakefront, Lake Road.
This section has the villages of Mangakino and Whakamaru at each end and is a perfect choice for all the family. The 70m suspension bridge, 4km from Mangakino, is approximately 25m above the water. This lakeside Trail is lots of fun with tracks wiggling through a variety of landscapes. Length is 12.2km.

Highlights - Vast views up and down Lake Maraetai, 70m Mangakino Suspension Bridge, The big rock - 4km from Mangakino
There are options to do one section or both.