Trips

Day Trips:

Day trips depart from and return to a convenient point on the side of town near to the destination. See maps. Non-members are asked to phone the trip leader in advance. If you doubt your suitability for a day-trip, or if the weather is turning bad, contact the trip leader beforehand. A phone inquiry does not oblige you to go on the trip.

Weekend Trips:

Weekend Trips may leave on a Friday night (usually for base camps) or Saturday morning. Please book with the trip leader by the closing date. Be certain you want to go on the trip when booking, as it is not fair on the leader to withdraw after the closing date (good excuses excepted). Numbers on some weekend trips are limited, so book promptly.

Bike Trips:

For up-to-date details of any biking trips highlighted below please contact Chris Leaver 03 322 6445, or newptc75@gmail.com

To see planned trips further ahead, click here for the annual Trip List 2023-2024 (PDF)

Trip details

Note - clicking on the trip destinations shown in blue will show the location on a map.

7 Sept Saturday ●

Mt Charon - Dumblane

Peter Umbers 359 9118

A moderate trip to the summit of 1540m Mt Charon from Jacks Pass. Along the way we take in 1303m Dumblane.

Meet 7am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

7-8 Sept Sat-Sun ●●

Avalanche Peak--Crow Hut

John Cook  027 253 7458

A popular, moderate crossing from Arthurs Pass village to Crow River via 1833m Avalanche Peak. People wanting an easy-moderate trip could take the Klondyke Corner, Crow River route.

Book by 1 Sept

10-Sep Tuesday ●

Lyttelton - Urumau Reserve - Crater Rim

Helen Harkness 384 2890

From Lyttelton, an easy-moderate walk through Urumau Reserve, past gun emplacements and along the Crater Rim Walkway, returning to Lyttelton down Major Hornbrook Track.

Meet 10am cnr London and Canterbury Streets, Lyttelton

15-Sep Sun ●

Mt Harper/Mahaanui

Awaiting leader

A moderate-hard 1200m climb in the Lake Clearwater area. We take a vehicle track to Balmacaan Saddle and climb the spur to 1829m Mt Harper/Mahaanui. Take ice-axe and crampons.

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

17-Sep Tuesday ●

Bridle Path--Lyttelton--Stan Helms Track--Bridle Path

Awaiting leader

From the Bridle Path car park we will walk up the pipeline “track” to the Summit Road, drop down the Bridle Path to Lyttelton, take the Stan Helms Track to the Summit Road then back to the gondola base on the official Bridle Path. Two hill-climbs make this a moderate tramp.

Meet 10am at the start of the Bridle Path track, near the gondola base

21-22 Sept Sat-Sun ●●

Three Mile Stream - McMillan Stream

Kerry Moore 359 5069

Longish days make this a moderate tramp in Lake Sumner Forest Park, starting from Windy Point, up the Hope River and Three Mile Stream to Three Mile Hut. Day two goes down McMillan Stream, past Lake Sumner to Hope Kiwi Lodge and out to Windy Point.

Book by 15 Sept

21-Sep Sat ●

Big Ben Saddle

Graeme Nicholas 027 504 7766

An up-and-back trail near Oxford. An easy-moderate 6hr route with a gentle climb of 750m.

Please contact Graeme the day before if you plan to join.

Meet 9am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

24-Sep Tuesday ●

Kaiapoi—Pegasus Bay Walkway

Hilaire Campbell  022 085 9501

This is a flat, easy walk along the Kaiapoi River to meet the Waimakariri River, then to Kairaki and along to Pines Beach.

Meet 9am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

28-Sep Sat ●

Castle Hill Peak

Awaiting leader

A moderate climb, with a height gain of 1056m, from Porters Pass to the highest peak on the Torlesse Range at nearly 2000m. Fine views all around. An ice axe may be useful if snow remains. Some may choose to go only to Foggy Peak.

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

1-Oct Tuesday ●

Charlesworth Reserve--Heathcote--Ferrymead

Helen Harkness 384 2890

An easy, flat circuit walk from near the Ferrymead Bridge, through Charlesworth and Ti Rakau Reserves along both banks of the Heathcote River, then to Ferrymead Park and back to the cars.

Meet 9.30am Scotts Reserve car park near the Ferrymead bridge

6-Oct Sun ●

Mt Oxford - Oxford Hill - Ashley Saddle

Merv Meredith 322 7239

A moderate circuit from Mountain House carpark up Mt Oxford, then turning east to Oxford Hill, down to Ashley Saddle and descend the fenceline spur back to the cars.

Meet 7.30am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

8-Oct Tuesday ●

Kennedys Bush--Gibraltar Rock--Omawete/Coopers Knob

Awaiting Leader

An easy walk along part of the Crater Rim Walkway, to 500m Gibraltar Rock then to 573m Coopers Knob and back to Kennedys Bush. A more ambitious group could venture into Omahu Reserve to see Annes Falls.

Meet 9am opposite PMH on Cashmere Rd, near Fairview St

12-13 Oct Sat-Sun ●●

Double Hut and Mt Taylor

Awaiting Leader

Starting at Lake Heron, an easy walk to Double Hut. Those wanting a moderate-hard trip will climb 2333m Mt Taylor.

Book by Sun 6 Oct

12 Oct Approx Date ●●●●●

Kepler Track

Raymond Ford fordrm@snap.net.nz 022 318 0872

An alpine adventure with stunning panoramas. This Great Walk takes you from Lake Te Anau to Luxmore Hut (1085m) high above the clouds. We traverse the ridgelines of the Kepler Mountains, drop down to beautiful Lake Manapouri, before heading back through peaceful beech forest. Moderate or harder depending on snow depth.

Book by Sun 6 Oct

13 Oct Sun ●

Mt Somers Crossover

Awaiting Leader

A moderate crossover between Sharplin Falls and Woolshed Creek via the South Face and Rhyolite tracks. Takes in Hookey Knob and Staveley Hill.

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

15 Oct Tuesday ●

Godley Head Walkway

Awaiting Leader

An easy-moderate walk from Sumner to Godley Head with superb coastal views.

Meet 9am at the Scarborough Clock Tower

19-20 Oct Sat-Sun ●●

Mt Peel

Kerry Moore 359 5069

Moderate-hard ascent of this 1743m landmark in South Canterbury, passing through podocarp forest and subalpine scrub then 7km along the tops beyond Little Mt Peel. We will drive down Saturday afternoon to camp at Peel Forest to make an early start on Sun for a long day.

Book by Sun 13 Oct

22 Oct Tuesday ●

Dunes and Wetlands, Chch 360

Awaiting Leader

This 16km sector of the Christchurch 360 Trail will commence at Pages Road and finish at Lower Styx Road.

Meet 9am at the corner of Pages and Wairoa Road, by the Pages Road bridge into New Brighton

26-28 Oct Sat-Mon ●●●

Black Hill Hut

Merv Meredith 322 7239 or glendamervm@orcon.net.nz

Moderate trip to this hut in Oxford Forest. Three days so we have a full day for a side trip to Chest Peak. Less energetic people could be content with a walk to the top of 1300m Black Hill.

Book by Sun 20 Oct

27 Oct Sun ●

Cass River--Point 1912

Awaiting Leader

A moderate-hard trip in the Black Range. Starting up the Cass River Track to Long Valley Stream, we sidle the waterfall on the true right and circle around the head of the basin up to peak 1912m for views all around. We exit using a great scree run down to the track and out.

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

29 Oct Tuesday ●

Birdlings Flat - Magnet Bay

Awaiting Leader

Easy-moderate trip along the coast from Birdlings Flat to Oashore, Tokoroa, Hikuraki and Magnet Bays. Returning the same way.

Meet 8am opposite PMH on Cashmere Rd, near Fairview St

2-4 Nov Sat-Mon ●●●

Carroll Hut--Dillon Hut

Awaiting Leader

From near Otira, a short steep, moderate forest climb to stay at Carroll Hut just above the bushline. Those wanting an easier trip could do a 2-day option back to Kellys Creek car park. For the three day option we cross Kelly Range and descend to the Taipo River to stay at Dillon Hut, then on day three, a short walk to SH73 .

Book by Sun 27 Oct

3 Nov Sun ●

Diamond Harbour--Charteris Bay

Awaiting Leader

An easy circuit from Diamond Harbour, up to Bayview Road and along to Charteris Bay then return to Diamond Harbour on the low Cliff-top Track.

Meet 9.15am opposite PMH on Cashmere Rd, near Fairview St or at Lyttelton to catch the 9:50am ferry

5 Nov Tuesday ●

Governors Bay Foreshore Track and Heritage Trail

Awaiting Leader

Two trails for an easy three hour loop with great views and a bit of history along the way.

Meet 9am opposite PMH on Cashmere Rd, near Fairview St

9-10 Nov Sat-Sun ●●

Lake Man

Awaiting Leader

A moderate trip to this attractive alpine lake in the Lewis Pass area. Starting near the Engineers' Camp, crossing the Boyle and up the Doubtful and Kedron Rivers to camp at the biv or by the lake. A track up to the Doubtful Range and along the ridge is a good return route back to the highway.

Book by Sun 3 Nov