tramping program February 2025 to April 2025
Click here to download a one page summary of the next set of trips, to print and post on your noticeboard or fridge
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TRIP DATE |
TRIP DETAILS |
BOOKINGS |
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2 February |
Raglan |
No booking required Be at Collingwood Street carpark ready to leave by 8am |
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16 February |
Rotorua
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Dianne Lee Phone/Txt : 027 272 6617 Email : leedi444@gmail.com Open : Monday 3 February |
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2 March |
Te Aroha
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Margaret Standing Phone/Txt : 021 253 1105 Email : standings@xtra.co.nz Open : Monday 17 February |
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16 March |
Kawhia |
Carol Phone/Txt : 027 3190852 Email : grandmacarol@xtra.co.nz Open : Monday 3 March |
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18 March |
Trip Planning Meeting |
All welcome – 7.30pm St Albans Church Comries Road, Chartwell |
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30 March |
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Pam Cornforth Phone/Txt : 027 278 0690 Email : pcornforth@xtra.co.nz Open : Monday 17 March |
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13 April |
Papamoa Hills Cultural Park + Swim
Papamoa |
Dianne Lee Phone/Txt : 027 272 6617 Email : leedi444@gmail.com Open : Monday 31 March |
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27 April |
Ruakuri/Natural Bridge/Marakopa Falls
Waitomo |
Dianne Lee Phone/Txt : 027 272 6617 Email : leedi444@gmail.com Open : Monday 14 April |
Sunday 2 February Raglan Grade 1
Raglan Beach Ramble
For the first trip of the year, we are going to the beach so meet at our usual car park at the Community Living Trust on Collingwood Street. Just turn up as we are going to carpool. Recommend you bring a change of clothes, shoes and your togs as we might have time for a quick swim if the weather is good plus our usual ice cream.
We will park at the Raglan campground and walk on the beach as far as we want, this could depend on tides of course. There are toilets and a café nearby. I think last time we stopped and had hot chips at the campground shop as a treat.
Remember to slip, slop slap. Bring and wear sun protection - including a hat.
Depart: 8am Return: 4pm approx
Cost: $15.00 as we will be carpooling
Leaders: Dianne and friends
Bookings: Not required - just turn up
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
Sunday 16 February Rotorua Grade 1+
Hongi’s Track – Rotorua
We will make our way to Lake Rotoiti, near Rotorua and have morning tea by the lake before we start. There are toilets available. We last did this trip in 2022.
From here will start the track which goes through the bush between lakes Rotoiti and Rotoehu. It was originally known as Te Ara-o-Hinehopu (the pathway of Hinehopu). A famous ancestress, Hinehopu, used it to travel between her two homes. Midway along the track she met her future husband, Pikiao III. The spot is now marked by a tree known as the Wishing Tree. The name ‘Hongi’s Track’ recalls the time in 1823 when Hongi Hika and his army of Ngāpuhi warriors hauled their canoes along the track, enabling them to attack the Te Arawa people on Mokoia Island in Lake Rotorua.
This is a lovely walk through great bush and bird life. We will be walking for approx. 3-4 hours on an easy, well-formed track. Hopefully, if time allows a swim in Lake Rotoiti and coffee/ice cream on the way home.
Depart: 7.30am Return: 5pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Dianne and friends
Bookings Open Monday 3 February @ 6pm
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
Sunday 2 March Te Aroha Grade 1+
Te Aroha Wetlands plus a Surprise
We will make our way to Spur Street (by the sports clubrooms at Boyd Park), Te Aroha where we will park and have morning tea. This wetland is also known as the Howarth Memorial Wetlands and is approx. 1-1.5h (3.2km), easy walk mostly flat on track/ boardwalk with bird watching and great views of the wetlands. There is an additional walk which will be a surprise. Coffee/ice cream on way home.
Depart: 8am Return: 4-5pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Roger McGirr and friends
Bookings Open: Monday 17 February @ 6pm
Contact: Margaret Standing Phone/Txt 021 253 1105 Email standings@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 16 March Kawhia Grades 1+ & 2
Devlin's Route, McKenzie Route, Fort Route, Sheep Track, Waikuku Track, Warikanui Route, Manuka Track
These tramps are in the Te Kauri Scenic reserve on the road to Kawhia.
Grade 1+
The tramp is made up of several short tracks of varied terrain. We will start on the Manuka track, across the road from the Te Kauri Junior Naturalist Lodge. This takes us down steps to beautiful bush and a level track alongside the Waikuku Stream. We will stop in an open camping area for morning tea before a gradual climb takes us to the Fort Route. This track is level for some time and then goes down to the stream where we will have lunch. We head back up to the ridge and along the McKenzie track to the vans. Expect to walk 4 - 5 hours.
Grade 2
Depending upon the weather, may elect to walk all of these tracks (about 9 km). Starting on Devlin's Route, descending through amazing bush and limestone bluffs followed by an ascent up the McKenzie Route to near Highway 31, with possible views to Kawhia. There may be an option to walk and return along the Fort track (which will put a further 1.5 hours on the total walk).
Carrying on through some farmland we then descend the pretty Sheep Track followed by a walk alongside the Waikuku Track leading to the Warikanui Route. After crossing a swing bridge, a steady climb up the Manuka Track will return us to the vans. Expect to walk 6 to 9 km.
Depart: 8am Return: 5pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Carol Davies, Alison Orchard and Ron Clarke
Bookings Open: Monday 3 March @ 6pm
Contact: Carol Phone/Txt 027 319 0852 Email grandmacarol@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 30 March Pirongia Grade 1+
Sainsbury Reserve Walk – Pirongia
This Reserve is on Sainsbury Road, Pirongia and is a mountain bike, horse riding activity and walking area. The Reserve is on a working farm and is a network of tracks on a large farm block. So please be aware of horses as walkers are not allowed on the mountain bike tracks and also leave gates how you find them.
Walking approx. 3h with coffee ice cream on way home.
Depart: 8am Return: 3pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Roger McGirr, John Sheat and friends
Bookings Open: Monday 17 March @ 6pm
Contact: Pam Cornforth Phone/Txt 027 278 0690 Email pcornforth@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 13 April Papamoa Grade 1+/2
Papamoa Hills Cultural Heritage Regional Park + Welcome Bay hot swim
We will make our way to the Regional Park on Popular Lane to the cultural heritage car park which has a new toilet block and heritage signage, where we will have morning tea.
This park is in the Western Bay of Plenty near Te Puke and is a 182ha property which has on it the most significant historical and archaeological landscapes in Aotearoa which has several iwis dating back to 1350 and the arrival of the Arawa canoe.
The summit is 224m above sea level and offers sweeping views of the Bay of Plenty coastline, well worth the climb. There are several well-formed gravel tracks through the park plus numerous archaeological features and ancient pa sites sign posted.
Please note this is an operational farm and it is a “hill” where the track can be steep in places with 80m of steps in one area, but doable so take your time. This park is very popular with the locals. It is open to the elements so wind, rain and sun, be prepared and take your time as the views are worth it. Bring lots of fluids.
From here we are making our way to the hot pools at Welcome Bay for a well-deserved soak, there is coffee and ice cream available for those not partaking of the waters. The Swim is $10 for gold card or $15 for adults. Bring your togs and change of clothes.
Depart: 7.30am Return: 5.30pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) + optional swim $10-15 $30.00 (non-members) + optional swim $10-15
Leaders: Pam and friends
Bookings Open: Monday 31 March @ 6pm
Contact: Pam Cornforth Phone/Txt 027 278 0690 Email pcornforth@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 27 April Waitomo G1+
Ruakuri Bush, Mangapohue Natural Bridge, Marakopa Falls
We have three walk options today and depending on time we might do them all or just a couple.
Ruakuri Bush Walk - is a real highlight of the Waitomo area. It is a spectacular loop walk through a forested gorge, past natural sculpted cliffs and under low limestone arches. The track follows a stream and then winds up around a network of limestone bluffs and outcrops before descending to the Ruakuri Natural Bridge viewing platform. The walk is an easy 1.6km.
The Mangapohue Natural Bridge Walk – The track is boardwalk through an impressive limestone gorge that takes you underneath a natural bridge formed from two rock arches. The 17m high limestone arch which spans the stream is all that remains of an ancient cave system. The walk is easy 1km.
Marakopa Falls Walk - The Falls are 35m high and often described as the most beautiful and impressive in the country. Here the Marokopa River cascades over the undercut greywacke basement rock. A beautiful forest walk approx. 1km.
Depart: 8am Return: 5pm approx
Cost: $25.00 (members) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Glenys and friends
Bookings Open: Monday 14 April @ 6pm
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
