Trip intentions

We're on the search for leaders to lead a trip to bag all the huts! 

- please only sign up if you want to lead a trip!

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! 

Leading a trip. What's involved??

You will be in charge of leading and helping organize a group on a specific trip to bag one or more of the 47 huts.

We will provide you with the route and details you will need. 

We will help to organise transport and put people into groups.

All we really need from you is to take charge and help get boots on the ground to go out and bag all the huts!!

Some of the possible routes:

(Subject to change!!)

Cone-Winchcombe loop:

Maungahuka loop:

Dundas loop:

Northern Tararuas chaos loop:

Chris's main-range chaos crossing:

Renata-Kapakapanui loop:

Oauh Rivers loop:

Burn loop:

Mangahao Flats overnighter:

North Mangahao Biv overnighter:

Penn Creek overnighter:

Sorry postponed until later date...

Yo YO 

Planning a sunrise walk to the Brooklyn wind tubine. 

This is dependent on weather so date is not confirmed....! 

Sunrise is currently around 7:30, so to get up there by then we will meet at 6:15 at Kelburn shops, hopefully back in time for 1oam lectures.

Trip: We will be walking to papatahi hut (which sleeps 10) and back on the 6th-7th of April.

Vibe: It is an easy mostly flat walk with a focus on fun. We will go past a bridge and some swimming holes (river crossings), stop for lunch along the way (probably play with a frisbee), and get to the hut for dinner. At the hut we'll drop our bags, go for a swim (bring togs!), explore, and play some board games. 

Getting there (from the doc website): Papatahi Hut is a 3 hr 30 min walk from the Catchpool car park via the Ōrongorongo and Big Bend Tracks. 

From the end of the Ōrongorongo Track follow the marked Big Bend Track for approximately 1 hour to its junction with the Whakanui Track. At this point you enter the riverbed and follow the Ōrongorongo River upstream.

The route contains approximately four crossings of the Ōrongorongo River but this can vary as the river is constantly rerouting in floods. As you move up the riverbed note the Matthews Stream fan and Mount Matthews Track on the true left, and a large slip face on the true left.

Gear requirements - Sleeping bag, head torch, plate and cutlery, warm clothes, rain coat, good walking shoes (they will get wet), togs and towel, not cotton clothing. Optional games/activities. 

Food requirements: Each person coming on this tramp must sort out there own lunch and dinner for the first day and breakfast and lunch for the second day and lots of snacks. Please also being at least 1.5L of water. The hut has water that we can treat/boil for the second day. 
It is smart to pack food for an extra day incase we get stuck in the bush (unlikely as this is an easier trail but still a possibility). 

Transport and Meeting: We will meet at 10am on Sunday the 6th of April at the Hunter car park/gear shed. We've got one car to drive up so far and will need one more car and person with a full license. If no one else with a full licence signs up we will figure out how to public transport some people closer to the trail head and then do two loads of driving people. The drive is an hour so we'll arrive by 11ish at the car park and start walking getting to the hut between 2 and 5 depending on our pace :)

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.

Come explore Wellington on VUWTC's 2025 weekly evening walks. This week is a chill tour of our scenic Botanic Gardens, located near Kelburn campus and shops.

This will be a super social time. We'll walk a 1.5-2hr loop around the gardens. There are pretty flowers, an awesome playground, great views of town, our special Cable Car, and ducks 🌷🛝🦆.

Meet at the Hunter carpark at Kelburn campus at 7pm. Bring good walking shoes, a raincoat, a water bottle and a torch :)

This walkie is free, unless you need to travel via public transport to reach the gardens/home.

Difficulty: Easy-Medium. 4-7 hour days, Great Walk quality track. This is intentionally a beginner multi-day trip, suitable if you are decently fit but have no tramping experience, or limited overnight experience. All are welcome of course - especially if you're a driver with a car!

Max People: 5, up to 10 if we can get a second car. Trip priority will go to drivers.

Accomodation: The Great Walk system requires you to book a space for either huts or campsites, and these aren't transferrable so you have to book your own accomodation. The rates are different depending on whether you are international or if you want to sleep on a bed or camp outside. Book which ever option you want ASAP here, as they book out fast - our skewed start is because every Fri-Sun is booked out near instantly.

Great Walk Booking: New Zealand - DOC Booking Service - Great Walk

• Book Mangatepopo Hut/Campsite on Sun 30/3/25
• Book Oturere Hut/Campsite on Mon 31/3/25

Costs: Around $150ish in fuel split among your car. Campsites are around $20ish, hut spaces are around $50 per night. Group dinners are a possibility, will aim to be cheap. 

Bring: You must bring everything on the overnight tramp list, your own lunches and breakfasts, and plenty of snacks. Warm and waterproof layers are a must, the Northern Circuit is an alpine desert environment that is cold and windy at night. We'll have tents for those who are camping. Bring some togs for the hot pools at the end.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Sunday Depart from the Hunter Carpark early to make the 5 hour drive to the Whakapapa Visitor Centre. We'll walk 3 hours to the Mangatapopo Hut.

Day 2 - Monday Mangatapopo Hut over the Tongariro Alpine Crossing to the Oturere Hut - the highlight of the trip.

Day 3 - Tuesday Big walk today - We finish the circuit going from Oturere back to Whakapapa, approximately 7 hours, but its also very flat. There's a waterfall swimming hole along the way. We'll drive to a nearby hot pool to soak in, get a feed in town, then camp at Whakapapa Holiday Park, Mangahuia, or Mangawhero for the night.

Day 4 - Wednesday Drive back to Wellington in the morning, and arrive back around midday. If we have people that absolutely need to get back to Welly asap (e.g. for exams or work), we can leave earlier and arrive late Tuesday night, but I prefer to avoid that for road safety reasons.

Meet up at the Hunter Carpark at 4:45pm Friday (to leave at 5), then we will take a 5-6 hour drive up to the Kaweka Forest Park where we camp out friday night.

Saturday is a 4-5ish hour medium hike into the bush, where we will camp for the evening, and relax at the hotpools.

Sunday we Hike and drive out.

Cost will likely be around $60ish for fuel there and back depending on how full cars are. Currently planning on own dinners, but depends on what others are feeling like and dietary requirements.

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Currently we are limited on car space. If you are interested in coming, please join the wait list even if the cars are full just in case we have people drop out once spots are assigned after the meeting on the 25th. Priority will be given to anyone who is bringing a car, and then will be filling spaces based on first come first serve as more cars are available.

Welcome to Wednesday Climbing Nights!

We bounce between Hangdog Adventures in Lower Hutt and Faultline Climbing on Willis St!

There are grades for everyone: people who prefer to test out the basic climbs to those who love a good challenge, so come along! No matter how much climbing experience you've had, you are welcome.

This week: Hangdog- plz bring ur cars/ $ for your driver

Schedule:

• Sign up! ( So I have time to sort out transport).

This week, we will drive to Hangdog from the University to the climbing gym. 

• We will meet at the Hunter Carpark (in the Same area as the Club Gear shed) around 5:45 pm (no later than 5:50 pm, please). We will leave at  6 pm ON THE DOT.
• Travel to the Climbing Gym by car (FIRST IN, FIRST SERVED): Those who don't get a car seat will take a bus or, if the train systems work, a train. 
• CLIMB! Return to the university carpark after 9 pm/closing (unless discussed with your driver.)
• (We may have an earlier group head leaving at 4.30 but only if numbers are really high)

IMPORTANT 

If you find out or decide you cannot make it and have a seat in a car, please withdraw from the event OR let me know BEFORE 4 pm on Wednesday. x

Entry costs $15 + $3 for gear 

This is not paid for through the club—there is no piking fee if you pull out. Let me know if you cannot make it on the night !!!

To get the VUWTC entry price, you have to be with the group or let me know if you are arriving late. Our discounted price is only from 6 pm onwards on Wednesdays.

https://www.kiwicanyons.org/little-akatarawa-river-v3a2ii/

This is a step up from Dry Creek, so it's only suitable for people who have done canyoning before, or if you're very confident tramping in streams and abseiling ect.

Meet at the Hunter Carpark at 1pm on Sunday with all the same gear from the dry creek event. https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/Event/12171