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Scheduled Trips for Jan-March
TRIPS PROGRAMME Unless otherwise stated, ALL trips leave at the stated time from outside 125a Brooklands Road. Passengers are to pay their drivers before leaving for the tramp. Please bring correct change. Trip Grading. Please check the guide given for Trip Grading on page 4 and do not hesitate to contact the leader for additional information.
Sat 7th January No club tramp scheduled
Sun 8th January FIT EASY Pouakai Trig via Mangorei Track The first Club trip for the new year into the National Park. John will lead a leisurely tramp up from Mangorei Rd end for snack refreshments at Pouakai Hut on the way up to the Trig. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $4. Tramp time: 6 hours Wed 11th January EASY Maketawa Hut Last time Nettie planned this tramp it snowed. Surely she will be safe in January. This is a lovely, lower mountain tramp to burn off the seasonal excesses. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 4 hours
Sat 14th January MODERATE Waipuku Caves Loop via Nth Egmont This circuit mountain trip hasn’t been attempted for several years, so those members unfamiliar with it who intend to come, should diary this date. A bit of up-hill and down-dale, and a scramble to the caves. Bring your torch if you don’t usually carry it. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 7 hours
Sun 15th January MOD HARD Fanthams Peak Loop via a western ascent From Dawson Falls, weather permitting, we ascend the Summit Track and staircase to follow the Upper Lake Dive and Brames Falls Tracks. Mike will choose a suitable ridge route to climb up to Rangitoto Flat. After a short rock climb to gain the Peak’s plateau we can, hopefully, appreciate spectacular close-up views of the features on the mountain’s southern-western face while we lunch at Syme Hut. Leader: Mike Hutson 758 5261 Leave: 7.00 Cost: $15 Tramp time: 7+ hours
Wed 18th January FIT EASY Goat Rock via Wairau Road Leave: 8.30 Cost: $5 Tramp time: 5 hours
Sat 21st January No club tramp scheduled This trip starts from Ihaia Road end and follows the Ihaia Track to connect with the Oaonui Track. West across on that to the Kahui Track and out to Kahui Road end. A car plant there allows the drivers to be taken to the start for their cars and return for their passengers. Minimum 2 cars required on this tramp to pick up the car left at the Ihaia road end. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $14 Tramp time: 5 hours Wed 25th January EASY Westward Ho! Discover the byways and lesser known paths of the west side of New Plymouth. Meet at Ngamotu Beach. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $0 Tramp time: 4+ hours Sat 28th January Closing date for Kaimanawa Forest Park Overnighter Sat 28th January No club tramp scheduled Sun 29th January FIT EASY Mangorei Track to Holly & return We start from Mangorei Road end, checking out the DOC contracted work of the final section of the Mangorei Track on the way up and on to the Pouakai Range. We can also inspect the recent track improvements on the route down to the swamp. Over to Holly for a lunch stop, then returning by the way we came. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $4 Tramp time: 7 hours
Wed 1st February FIT EASY Matapeka Falls, Mohakatino River This is a scenic gem. An interesting day and not too hard, but you will get wet feet so bring a towel. Leave: 8.15 Cost: $23 Tramp time: 5 hours Wed 1st February Closing date for: Summit from The Plateau Car Park
Sat 4th February HARD Summit from The Plateau Car Park Climb East Ridge to the Sharks Tooth. Cross to the summit via the Chimney and descend via the Lizard and RMT to the Plateau. Closing date: Wed 1st February Leave: 4.00 Cost: $13 Tramp time: 8+ hours
Sat-Sun, 4-5th Feb HARD Kaimanawa Forest Park Overnighter A round trip in the Park involving an ascent on to the Umukarikari Range and an overnight stay at the Waipakahi Hut. Next day we will descend following the Waipakahi River reaching the junction to climb up and over Urchin Peak and return to the cars. Contact Lee before closing date for her finalised trip arrangements. Closing date Saturday 28th January. Leave: TBA Cost: Shared travel + Hut tickets. Tramp time: 6-8 hours each day Wed 8th February EASY Tiramoana Helen and Doug have a wonderful network of interesting farm walks. This one in the Tiramona area is a new one for us and promises to be a beauty. Helen and Doug don’t ‘do’ flat so expect a few hills. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $15 Tramp time 4+ hours
Sat 11th February FIT EASY Hydro Road to Lake Mangamahoe & return This trip can be started from cars parked at the Meeting of the Waters or from Hydro Road. It is possible that the farmer will accompany us on a ridge climb across farmland to the heights giving us views of the countryside and the Lake’s dam and spillway that feeds into the Mangamahoe Stream. We may cross the Stream over the old dam or near it’s outlet into the Waiwhakaiho River. Once across we follow along the forest track and cross back on the wooden footbridge and main dam. We return from the head of the lake on tracks through recently felled forest, across a stile and along a paper road through farmland back to the cars. Leader: Hugh Alexander 757 9341 Leave: 8.30 Cost: $2 Tramp time: 4-5 hours
Sat 11th February Reserve date for Summit from Plateau
Sun 12th February FIT EASY Kahui Hut via Puniho Track We will go up the Puniho Track to the old Round the Mountain Track and go on to the Kahui Hut for lunch. We will return by the same route. Leader: Barbara Garrett 757 2435 Leave: 8.30 Cost: $10 Tramp time: 5-6 hours
Wed 15th February FIT EASY Porangi Valley The Porangi Valley near Whangamomona featuring a swing bridge, abandoned farms, lovely old trees, and of course, the Whanga Pub. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $26 Tramp time: 5+ hours Sat 18th February HARD Summit from Holly Track A different route to the summit going up a lava flow. Leave from North Egmont and return via the Lizard. Leave: 4.00 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 8+ hours
Sun 19th February FIT EASY Nth Egmont-Holly Hut-Mangorei Track/Road This is a public-invited event advertised in the NPDC summer walks programme 2012 and is organised and led by DOC staff. Our members are invited to assist with managing the group of public participating on this trip. Bus transport for the public and any interested members departs for Nth Egmont at 7 am from the Ariki Street Bus Centre. A provisional arrangement is for NPTC members to leave from Brooklands Road at 6.30 allowing time for a car plant at the Mangorei Road end, and then join the main bus party at Nth Egmont. We begin our journey up the Razorback and thence onto Holly Track. We negotiate its rocky stream bed crossings, Boomerang Slip, Minarapa Stream crossing and the track diversion up its far bank before arriving at Holly Hut for lunch. Leaders: DOC staff
Wed 22nd February EASY Weld Road Goldmine Were you aware that there were gold prospectors in the Oakura region? Christine will lead us to a disused, dream-shattering mine accessed from the end of Weld Road. There will be some rocky terrain over a stream bed. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $5 Tramp time: 4+ hours
Sat/Sun 25/26th Feb FIT EASY Leitch’s Clearing Overnighter An easy two day walk staying at Leitch’s Hut by the upper reaches of the Awakino River. This abandoned sheep station surrounded by limestone hills is a beautiful spot and after a hot day’s tramp you can cool off in the river. One end of the track is accessed from Gribbon Road, Mahoenui and the other from Leitch’s Road west of Piopio. If we get numbers we can take two or more vehicles and tackle this from both ends, key swapping when we meet at the Hut. Closing date: Mon 20th February Leader: Mike Hutson 758 5261 E:mike.hutson45@gmail.com Leave: TBD Cost: TBA Tramp time: 5-6 hours each way
Sat 25th February Reserve date for Summit from Holly Track Sat 18th Feb
Sun 26th February MODERATE Goat Rock & Kaitake Peak from Wairau Rd We head up the Wairau Track then turn off onto a marked track to check out the views from Goat Rock. After refreshments we follow the Mander’s Spur Track going on up to Kaitake Peak for lunch. Return the same way
Wed 29th February Closing date Summit from south side Saturday 3rd March
The ever popular loop walk from the Stratford Plateau Car Park, past Jackson's Lookout to the new Waingongoro swing bridge via the Enchanted Walk. Return via the Waingongoro Track up to the RMT and back to the Plateau Car Park. Leader: Isabel Walter 753 2565 Leave: 8.00 Cost: $13 Tramp time: 5+ hours
Fri-Mon 2-5th March MODERATE Ruahine Forest Park Involves 3 nights and 4 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday). 1st day; Past Sunrise Hut, Armstrong Saddle (1369 m) and down to Top Maropea Hut for the first night. 2nd day; Downstream to Maropea Hut for lunch (3.5 hours). Then climb Piringa (1317), stroll along a ridge and down to Wakelings Hut for the second night (3 hours) Leader: Mike Guthrie 755 0086 Leave: Early Friday Cost: Shared Tramp time: 5-6 hours per day
Sat 3rd March HARD Summit from south side A climb to the top from Dawson Falls. Closing date: Wed 29th March Leave: 4.00 Cost: $15 Tramp time: 9+ hours
Sat 3rd March FIT EASY Whitecliffs-Waipingao Strm-return via beach Members are invited to assist DOC staff guiding members of the public on this popular coastal walkway. Leaders: Department of Conservation, Leave: 8.30 Cost: $13 Tramp time: 4+ hours
Sun 4th March FIT EASY Kokowai Circuit From North Egmont, down the Ram Track, then up the Kokowai Track and back to North Egmont. Come and walk the new track that has been cut at the bottom end of the Kokowai. There is no river to negotiate now. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 6+ hours Wed 7th March EASY Lake Rotorangi This is a biennial, popular tramp where we walk over the farm of Mathew Francis, border Lake Rotorangi, and arrive at a musterer’s hut for lunch. We return by the same scenic route. Leave: 8.00 Cost: $15 Tramp time: 4 hours
Sat 10th March FIT EASY York Road across to Maketawa Hunters Hut We will try to reach our destination this time. On the last trip (1st Oct 2011), it was found the Maketawa Stream was running too high for us to enter and seek the track markers leading downstream to the Hut. A marked hunting track is our route from the upper section of the former York Track to reach the Stream. We will return by this same track after lunch at the Hunter’s hut. Leader: Hugh Alexander 757 9341 Leave: 8.00 Cost: $10 Tramp time: 6-7 hours Sat 10th March Reserve date for Summit from south side Sat 3rd March
Sun 11th March EASY Public Tramp to Mangakotukutuku Falls From the end of Maude Road up the attractive lower section of the Maude Track to the Falls for lunch and return. Leader: Dave Stewart 758 4446 Leave: 8.00 Cost: $5 Tramp time: 3-4 hours
Wed 14th March FIT EASY Humphries Castle from Nth Egmont A steady pull to get there but the view is fabulous. Leave: 8.15 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 5+ hours Wed 14th March Closing date for Summit via Carrington Ridge 17th March
Sat 17th March HARD Summit via Carrington Ridge Leave from North Egmont to connect with track near Holly Hut. Closing date: Wed 14th March Leave: 4.00 Cost: $7 Tramp time: 9+ hours Sun 18th March FIT EASY Ngatoto Road-Pouiatoa Forest-Purangi From Ngatoto Road our trip begins by leaving that just before the Purangi bridge, to follow the Waitara River around river flats. We climb up from there to enter and explore the Pouiatoa reserve before returning back the way we came. Leader: Isabel Walter 753 2565 Leave: 8.00 Cost: $15 Tramp time: 6 hours
Tues 20th March Closing date for Around the Mountain in 2 days
Wed 21st March EASY York Road Kay will extend the York Road loop track which features the remains of a railway track last used in the 1940s to take rock from a mountain quarry to build the New Plymouth to Wellington railway line. Leave: 8.30 Cost: $10 Tramp time: 4+ hours
Sat-Sun, 24-25th March Around the Mountain in 2 days The good news is that you need to carry only a day pack, with your energising tramping fare and lots of water. The tramp starts at Kahui Road end and goes clockwise around the mountain to reach Konini Lodge for a well-deserved hot shower, meal and happy drinks. A volunteer will transport your other gear and sleeping bags from New Plymouth. These two full summer days of tramping offer plenty of daylight, so there will be no need to rush our pace. Bookings are necessary for this trip’s arrangements; please make these by closing date. Closing date: Tues 20th March Leave: 7.00 Cost: TBD Tramp time: 7-8 hours each day Sun 25th March FIT EASY Mohakatino Station Circuit We will follow the left bank of the Mohakatino River inland from its mouth and take the track leading up to the ridge tops and along that in an easterly direction to overlook the Mokau River. From there the Mohakatino Station farm tracks route descends by steep grades to the river. Our return is along the river banks back to the highway. On the way we pass through an area of native bush and over gentle rises on farmland hills. Leader: Isabel Walter 753 2565 Leave: 8.00 Cost: $23 Tramp time: 5 hours Wed 28th March Closing date for Waitotara Conservation Area Overnighter Wed 28th March FIT EASY Ngatoro-Veronica Loop Track Up the Ngatoro Track to Nth. Egmont from the Mangaoraka Car park, then back via the Veronica Track. A day in the bush and shade. Leave: 8.15 Cost: $6 Tramp time: 6 hours
Sat-Sun, 31stMar-1stApril MODERATE Waitotara Conservation Area Overnighter Our trip is in the upper Waitotara River valley, following the River by a benched track through farmland to the old homestead at Kapara, and then continuing on to overnight at Trains Hut. Bring your own food and important drinks. This Hut sleeps 8 only, so if this is full a tent may be needed. [Bookings please, by closing date for finalising this trip’s arrangements] Closing date: Wed 28th March Leave: 8.00 Cost: Shared travel & hut pass Tramp time: 4-5 hours Sat 31st March Moderate Kirihau Peak from Carrington Road We travel in from Carrington Road via the Rawson Track & Falls, then a climb to Kirihau Peak. Leader: Isabel Walter 753 2565 Leave: 8.30 Cost: $5 Tramp time: 6+ hours
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