Trip Gradings:
EASY (E) 4-5 hours tramping – suitable for beginners
MEDIUM (M) 5-7 hours tramping – suitable for those with some experience
HARD (H) 8 hours + tramping – more experience and a high level of fitness and confidence, including coping with adverse conditions is necessary.
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5 May Waewaepa Range (E-M)
Heading in from the Coonoor end to the saddle then south along a track
18 – 19 May Upper Te Hoe (M)
A loop trip along main Whirinaki track to Taumutu Stream bridge,turn right at bridge and follow stream to the Mangamate/Upper Whirinaki track junction. Follow markers to Upper Whirinaki Hut(9) for the night. Sunday walk out along the ridge track to Plateau road car park
1 – 3 June Kaimai Area (M)
A circuit of the southern end of the Kaimai Forest Park, staying at Te Whare Okioki for 2 nights .
16 June: Galbraith Hut (E)
Galbraith Hut is a private hut accessed from the Waitara Road on Waitara Station. The historic farm hut is a 2-roomed building, with walls lined with 1950s Weekly News articles, including the Royal family. The walk is over farmland to the hut nestled amongst trees under the Maungaharuru Range.
28 – 30 June Upper Makaroro Hut via Aranga Hut (M-H)
From Mangleton Road up Golden Crown and along to Aranga Hut for the night. Saturday, climb on to the main range, head south and descend Totara Spur to spend the night at Upper Makaroro Hut. Sunday, climb up to Parks Peak Hut then head north along the range to Golden Crown and out.
14 July Mackintosh (M)
Down to the Tutaekuri River, over the bridge and up the new / old track, to the Mackintosh Plateau and on to the hut. This is an opportunity to see the ravages of Cyclone Gabrielle. Mackintosh Hut, which is located on a wide plateau at the edge of a beech forest in Kaweka Forest Park, was built in 1959 by the NZFS to assist with deer culling operations, it is now one of the oldest huts in the Kaweka Forest Park
27 – 28 July – Mid winter near Taupo (E)
A cruisy mid winter trip, hopefully staying at a motor camp with hot pools. On Saturday we walk to Castle Rock (and great views of the volcanoes) from the Desert Road following the Southern Access Corridor. This is a 5 hour return walk.
Sunday we walk up Tauhara, the large hill that can be seen in the NW as you pass Iwatahi on SH 5. The return tramp takes about 21/2 hour and there is a wonderful view at the top. We will have lunch at Opepe Bush and then walk one of the Opepe loop tracks
11 Aug: Te Puia Loop Track & Mangatainoka Hot Springs (M)
The walk to the Te Puia Hut follows along the Mohaka River. A really nice track to walk on with lovely views of the river. Once we arrive at the hut we can then walk up the Makino track and then back down to the carpark. Those they do not wish to do the loop can perhaps take a dip in the hot springs and return back via the same track.
24-25 Aug Rangiwhahia Hut & Whanahuia Range (M-H)
The hut sits above the tree-line facing west. Great views of: picturesque arched track bridge, the rolling hills to Ruapehu & Taranaki, beautifully painted long-drop toilets, Mangahuia Peak behind to the east with snow. It is a 2 hr climb from road end (825m) to Hut (1327m) For the more adventurous (7 – 9 hr), climb a further 256m to Mangahuia Peak and on Sunday possibly return to the carpark by the Deadman’s loop track.
8 Sept Coppermine Creek / Wharite (E-M)
Coppermine Creek is in the SE Ruahine Range behind Woodville. From the picnic area at the road end it is a 30-minute walk to a track junction, part of this track is officially closed due to a slip but believe it should be navigable. From here we can climb to Wharite Peak and hopefully get great views [three hours to tops]. Alternatively, some can explore the creek upstream of this junction for evidence of the copper mining that occurred here in the late 19th century before returning to the road end via Coppermine Loop track (2-3hrs).
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