Heretaunga Tramping Club

18/09/2026

There was a day trip to Sunrise Hut near the end of August. Here we were treated to very strong winds along with a bit of rain. The wind was too strong was to venture out on to Armstrong Saddle but it was a good experience for all, especially for those who hadn't been to Sunrise before. Two weeks later there was another trip into the eastern Ruahine Range, this time an overnighter at Parks Peak Hut. Most accessed the Big Hill Road end - Parks Peak track by climbing Golden Crown, taking them to 3.30 PM to get to the hut. There, 2 other members were already ensconced, one having come up from Yeomans and the driver who had come up Sentry Box ridge after moving the van. The Club has been donating annually to the HB Rescue Helicopter for 29 years and up to this weekend we had used their service 6 times. This weekend made it 7 times, as one member had sustaineed a knee injury making downhill travel almost impossible. After watching him being winched into the bright red helicopter (the first rescue with the new winch) they headed back to the Sentry Box track which they descended . Part way down they met up with 2 members who had spent the night at Sentry Box hut and had spent time checking out the Sentry Box scenic reserve and Mangleton area. There were two mid week tramps during this period; one to the Waipukarau area (Gum Tree Farm and Peka Peka) and one to the Maraetotara (Maraetotara Falls & Mohi Bush) area returning via Waimarama Beach.

04/09/2026

August started with a Sunday tramp to Gold Creek Hut. It was a chilly day with snow evident on the higher hills, but none on the track up Gold Creek ridge. The hut provided good shelter for lunch after which it was back up the steep track to the top of the ridge and then down the ridge track and across the farmland back to the van. The following Wednesday we drove down to Porangahau and Te Paerahi Beach. Here we walked north the to river mouth, returning back to the van for lunch. On the ride home we dropped in to the Forest of Memories below Pukeora Hill, Waipukurau and enjoyed walking the tracks there. A fortnight later our mid week trip was to the coast. Here we walked down the Clive River and then south along the coast, past the Muddy Creek wetlands to the Tukituki River mouth. We were pleased to see a number of NZ dotterells along the way (which we made sure we didn't disturb). We returned back to the van a drove the short distance to the Waitangi Regional Park, After a short circuit past the astral compas we crossed the main road and walked along the wetlands where we were lucky enough to see a bittern.
Early August there was a weekend tramp to the southern slopes of Ruapehu. Three stayed at Blythe HUt while another 7 went to Mangaehuheu. It was a good weekend but there was not enough snow to practice alpine skills. The chocolate eclaire shop was a welcome stop on both the trip to the mountain and from the mountain.

25/07/2026

The 3 day Matariki weekend saw our group go to Pureora and enjoy brilliant weather (while HB suffered from mist and cloud). Based at the Pureora cabins they checked out the short walks close by on the first day. Saturday they followed the Timber Trail for a while and then climbed to the summit of Pureora. Sunday was a walk to the centre of the North Island followed another and then the Arataki track (Link Road end) to the suspension bridge before they drove round to the Waihaha carpark to pick up a couple of members who had walked the West - East crossing. Mid July we spent most of a Wednesday walking the Taradale Hills; Otatara, Dolbels and Sugarloaf. Utilizing the Rotary pathways to link the hills, we only spent about 2 km walking along streets.

25/07/2026

A wet and cold weekend time to catch up with what we have done in the last month or so.
Mid June we visited 3 small reserves in the Puketitiri area: William Hartrees, Balls Clearing and Little Bush, spending 1 to 2 hours in each. At the end of the month we ventured to sunny Taupo for walks and a hot swim. Our first walk on the Saturday was the Whangamata Stream track (and a fairy dell) this was followed with a walk along the Kawakawa track to the lookout. That night we visited De Bretts for a warm up. Sunday started with the Rangatira Point walkway past Acacia Bay after which we drove to Huka Falls where some walked to the Aratiatia rapids carpark while the rest drove there in time to see the release of water down the rapids. On our way home we did a quick walk around the Opepe North track. On the 1 July we swapped our usual Wednesday walk to help HB Wilding Pines Trust out by pulling pine trees from the Comet area,

15/07/2026

16/06/2026

Our Kings Birthday weekend tramp was way up north into the Kaimais. Leaving from the Te Tuhi track, east of Matamata, they ascended 400 m to the tops and along to the North-South Track. From there it was only a short walk south to the Te Whare Oki Oki Hut where they spent two nights. Sunday most did a 8 hour return walk north along the North South track to the top of the Wairere Falls. On Monday most returned back to the van via the Mangamuku loop while the others retraced their Saturday route. Our first Wednesday walk in June was to the Tutira Regional Park. We initally started up the Kaitaratahi track just south of the camp ground hoping to make it up to Peras Track but blackberry decided otherwise. Returning to the campground we made our way up to the summit by the Table Mountain Track. Lunch was had on the tops before returning down; some back down the Table MountainTrack and some via Peras Track. Mid June saw us head down to Norsewood and the Apiti Track. This was a return tramp though a variety of vegetation and past many pest traps. The track was reasonably good for the 5 - 6 km that we walked (to not far short of the unmarked track into the upper reaches of the Makaretu Stream). It then seemed to deteriotate so it was lunchtime and then time to return. We were back at the van by 2 PM so we did a quick detour to Ormondville to view a small mixed forest then home.

31/05/2026

We had great weather on 3 of our 4 tramps in May. Right at the beginning of the month we ventured down to the carpark at the western end of the Manawatu gorge near Ashhurst where the party had the choice of 3 options. One group of 4 walked the Manawatu Gorge track, another four walked the track beside the new road to Woodville and then headed into Woodville for a coffee. The last group of 4 took the track under the eco-viaduct to the wetland area. After a return walk to the first lookout on the road they followed the old maintenance track through to the Saddle Road and then returned. All enjoyed their walks. Three days later a group of 11 traveled up the Taupo Road to Telinnoe on the Old Coach Road, just short of Te Pohue. We had last been there in Spring 18 months previously so hoped for a good Autumn show - we were not disappointed. On our return we stopped at the Esk Hills and walked the Kotare track. Mid May the tramp started at the end of Wakarara Road where 12 of us set off down to the old Yeomans Mill site, crossed the Makaroro River (it was low) and on up to where Wakarara Raod starts again (a forestry road now). Here 7 headed off to Leatherwood Road and on up to Poutaki hut (not without some difficulty in navigation as the start of the track is now different to what is shown on the topo map). This was the not fine day and pushing through wet vegetation and constant drizzle was somewhat dampening. Lunch was had at the hut before returning back. , The clearing Poutaki Huts sits in has been decimated by pig rooting. Meanwhile the other 5 took the "closed" Yeoman Track which, due to the great bush it travels through, was not so wet. The track has been closed since Cyclone Gabrielle because some of the bridges have been washed away and no one seems keen to fix it. However, while bikes would have difficulty it is still better than many of our tracks to walk. Sure the are some bridges missing but the streams were easy to cross, thanks to tracks presumably made by the group responsible for maintaining the trap line there. We, however, turned round about 1 km before the end of the track because another bridge had gone and it was quite a drop down to the creek to cross to the other side (but do-able as one of our group showed). The last tramp of the month was a Wednesday one to Middle Stream. After driving through fog most of the way we arrived at the Sunrise Hut car park to a cloudless day. Seven were on this tramp and we walked through to the clearing above Middle Stream before returning back to the cars via the Swamp Track.

15/05/2026

Poor weather cancelled a couple of our April tramps but we still managed 3 outings over 8 days The first was our Easter tramp which was to Mount Taranaki. A short detour to Rotakare Lake was made before arriving at Konini Lodge at Dawsons Fall, our accomodation for three night. On Friday, as well as the walk around Rotokare they walked the Dawsons Falls track and other tracks around the lodge. Saturday there were tramps up from the Plateau towards the summit while others walked the Enchanted walkway and/or the Waingongoro Track back to Konini Lodge. Sunday, Kapuni Lodge and/or Symes Hut were the main objectives. Before heading home on the Monday they walked the Cardiff Walkway near Stratford. The only Wednesday walk in April was at Napier. We started at Park Island and walked the 2 hills there before descending to the Ahuriri Estuary walkway at the Taipo Stream bridge on Prebensen Drive. This track follows the stream to the Main Outfall Channel. We checked out the bird hide by the stream mouth, spotting quite a few Spoonbills, and then followed the track on to SH 2, and then made our way to Mega 10 for a coffee.Refreshed we made our way back to our cars via the streets. The final April tramp was over ANZAC where they headed to River Road in the Whirinaki Forest. Here they did the Mangamate Loop Track, staying the nights at Mangamate and Central Whirinake Huts. On day 2 there was a side trip by some to Upper Whirinaki Hut.

08/05/2026

The final 2 tramps in March were to the north of Napier. Firstly a Sunday trip to the QEII covenanted Pakuratahi Bush and a few days later to the Kamahi Track in Boundary Stream. We spent around 3 hours exploring the Pakuratahi Bush where there is a good variety of native plants and some of these are rare plants. On our return to the cities we dropped into the Ken Ross Reserve walkway behind Whirinaki mill from which we could get good views out to the bay. The Kamahi Track passes through dense, tall and spindly Kamahi forest much of the way. The track does a loop around the top half or the reserve. At it's furthest point the side stream becomes a chasm and drops suddenly out of sight to the valley floor well below. Morning tea was had on the ridge overlooking the Boundary Stream valley, just past the closed track to Shines Falls. Early lunch was had a bit further up the track by the deer enclosure where we enjoyed the sound of Bellbirds all around. After lunch we took the Tumanako Track to get back to the van.