Powell and Jumbo Huts – Tararua Range

23 – 25 April

Saturday morning the Anzac weekend expedition with 7 club members set off to the Tararuas. It was a three and a half hour drive from Hastings to Basecamp at Holdsworth campground just west of Masterton. From here we visited the beautiful double glazed Powell Hut for our first day. It was a 5.5 hour return trip because we had missed out on bunk bookings. Very busy foot traffic.  Most trampers we spoke to were from Wellington which makes sense since as its only a hop skip and a jump away.

We slept in tents Saturday night at the Holdsworth campground and froze  to a popsicle.  (So pleased the campsite had flushing toilets). The next morning we were grateful to see the sun as this was an overnighter at Jumbo hut.  It was a pleasant 3 hour walk to Atiwhakatu hut for lunch and then a vertical walk up steep terrain to Jumbo hut.  Not for the faint hearted!  We had a blast in Jumbo hut with the fire going and 20 other people bunked in the not very big hut.  This hut had surprisingly good cell reception.

Monday morning, due to foggy conditions and time constraints, we decided to walk out the way we came in, unfortunately back down the steep terrain.  But we all got out in good time and were back to Hastings by dinner time. 

Tramping in the Tararua ranges with was an amazing heart pumping experience and highly recommend it.

Party: Anthea C, Paula K, Lex S, Greg S, Jude H, Derek B and Murry A

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