Bag All The Huts in the Tararuas!

It's time to bag all the huts in the Tararuas!

The goal of this event is to run a ton of simultaneous trips all in one go, with the goal of visiting every single official hut in the Tararuas in one go.
These trips range in difficulty from easy overnighters, all the way to 5-day missions along the main range.

We are running this event over 5 days between Friday to Tuesday.
You can join one of the full 5 day options, or just a weekend trip depending on what suits you!

For this to happen, we need a ton of people and lots of cars!

Here is a taste of a few of the beautiful huts you can visit:

More information will be added soon, especially once we've got some sign-ups and can start organizing people into groups and planning out different routes.

There will be route options available for all ranges of difficulty, like easy trips for complete beginners, all the way to advanced bush-bashes over the full 4 days.
So sign up and come and explore our local mountain range! 

The Routes:

Cone-Winchcombe loop:

Leader: Max Honiss

Difficulty: Medium (exposed ridgelines, moderate river crossing, some rough & steep terrain)

Dates: Friday evening to Tuesday afternoon

An interesting route along the beautiful & rugged Neil-Winchombe ridgeline, plus lots of open tops travel around Mt Hector icluding part of the famous Southern Crossing.

Cone Hut -> Winchcombe Biv -> Kime Hut -> Elder Hut -> Alpha Hut -> Tutuwai Hut

 

Maungahuka loop:

Leader: Zade Viggers

Difficulty: Medium (steep & long climbs, exposed ridgelines, no river crossings)

Dates: Saturday morning to Tuesday aftenoon

A famous Tararua route, visiting several main-range huts spread out over 4 days. Lots of steep ascents & descents, so decent fitness required.

Powell -> Mid Waiohine -> Aokaparangi -> Maungahuka -> Neil Forks -> Totara Flats

 

Dundas loop:

Leader: Vic Roberts

Difficulty: Medium (exposed ridgelines and moderate river crossing)

Dates: Friday evening to Sunday evening

Classic loop of the main northern Tararua huts. This track has been recently cleared so it's nicer than it used to be, but still requires lots of steep climbs.
It also has a very exposed section of open ridgeline between Dundas hut and Herepai hut, and a moderate river crossing between Cattle Ridge and Dundas.

Roaring Stag -> Cattle Ridge -> Dundas -> Herepai

 

Northern Tararuas chaos loop:

This trip is full. Sorry!

Leader: Felicity Wills

Difficulty: Medium-Hard (difficult terrain and exposed sections of steep ridgelines, river crossings, off-track navigation).

Dates: Midday Friday to Tuesday Evening

This route is quite flexible and could be done in a number of ways. This group will be visiting most of the huts in the northern Tararauas. Some notable sections include Pinnacle Spur (very exposed and steep ridgeline, not for anyone scared of heights) alongside the steep Waiohine Pinnacles. The route to Mid-King Biv is off-track and requires compass navigation.

 

Chris's main-range chaos crossing:

Leader: Chris Russell

Difficulty: Hard (will probably do solo unless your fitness is Thomson level)

Dates: Friday evening to Tuesday evening

This route involves a massive crossing of most of the Tararuas. It includes a bit of everything, like ridgelines, rivers, off-track navigation and long difficult days. Only for very serious and keen trampers with a ton of fitness.

 

Waiotaru Overnighter:

Leaders: Justin Atkinson and Liam Baldwin

Difficulty: Medium (some off-track navigation, easy river crossings)

Dates: Saturday morning to Sunday evening

Leaving from akatarawa saddle and ending at the kapapanui entrance. This route involves heading up a 4wd road, then down to Waiotaru hut. The next day is a steep off-track bush bash up to join the track to Kapakapanui. There are some small river crossings at the very end before reaching the carpark.

Renata Hut -> Waiotaru Hut -> Kapakapanui Hut

 

Ohau Rivers loop:

Leader: Tommy Thomson

Difficulty: Medium (river travel, short section on exposed tops, some rough muddy terrain)

Dates: Sunday morning to Tuesday afternoon 

A mix of river travel and traditional tramping tracks to vist the two river huts of North and South Ohau. You must be confident with tramping up rivers and crossing waist-deep pools for this trip. The section between Te Matawai and Waiopehu also has some muddy steep climbs around Butcher Saddle. The track from Waiopehu Hut to the roadend is very easy and chill.

North Ohau -> South Ohau -> Te Matawai -> Waiopehu

 

Burn hut overnighter:

Leader: Vita Jerram

Difficulty: Easy (short section walking along a creek bed)

Dates:  TBA

A loop which involves a small climb and a short section of river travel (just following a creek bed) at the end. This hut is on the open tops and has great views. This is a good beginner option.

 

Mangahao flats hut overnighter:

Leader: Rewa Walker

Difficulty: Easy-Medium (no river crossings)

Dates: Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon

A classic Tararua overnighter return trip alongside a river. This is a typical "tramping" track and involves some ups and downs but nothing too large. A good beginner friendly option.

 

North Mangahao Biv overnighter:

Leader: Jack Huygens

Difficulty: Easy-Medium (some off-track navigation, some river travel) 

Dates: Friday mid-day to Saturday afternoon

A short off-track trip up a river and up a small spur. This trip involves some basic navigation and does not follow a DOC track. You need to be comfortable with off-track bush bashing.
North Mangahao Biv is a very small "hut" so additional people will need to bring tents.

 

Penn Creek overnighter:

Difficulty: Easy-Medium (no river crossings, some steep sections)

Leader: Eder Lee

Dates: Saturday morning to Sunday evening

The track to Field hut is very easy, though becomes rough and steep down to Penn Creek hut, but nothing too hard.
This trip is quite beginner friendly.

Parawai Lodge -> Field -> Penn Creek (return trip)

 

Sayer Overnighter:

Leader: Harry Smith

Difficulty: Easy

Dates: Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon

A short overnighter up and over a small hill to get to Sayer hut, quite beginner friendly.