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 2022-2023 (PDF)

Trip details

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

5 Mar Sun ●

Mt Oxford - Ashley Saddle

Merv Meredith  322 7239

A moderate circuit to Mt Oxford then east over Oxford Hill, Ashley Saddle and down a handy spur to the cars.

Meet 8am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

March ●●●●

Serpentine Range

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

A moderate-hard four-day trip starting from the Routeburn track over Sugar Loaf Pass to the Rockburn Valley. Up to Park Pass along the ridge to Lake Nerine, then traverse the range to Lake Wilson and Harris Saddle and return via the Routeburn Track.

Book NOW

11-12 Mar Sat-Sun ●●

Hunts Creek - Mt Barron

Sonja Risa 028 8517 3969  or  sonja.risa@gmail.com

A moderate-hard circuit up Kellys Creek Track and over Hunt Saddle to stay at Hunts Creek Hut. Exiting Sunday over Mt Barron to Otira.

Book by 5 Mar

12 Mar Sun ●

Vulcan

Kerry Moore 359 5069

An easy-moderate walk starting on Motunau Beach to this low 412m hill.

Meet 8am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

19 Mar Sun ●

Mt Tripp

Bill Templeton 354 2277

New territory for us, inland from Mayfield, on the north bank of the Rangitata River. Start, end of Chapmans Rd taking the South Hinds Track, up the fence-line to top of Moorhouse Range to Brown Saddle then up to 1368m Mt Tripp. A moderate-hard 8 hour tramp.

Meet 7am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

●●●●●

Mt Owen

Awaiting leader.  Names to Di Mellish, mellishdiane@gmail.com

A moderate trip from the Wangapeka, Granity Pass end to this prominent marble mountain.

Book early, by 12 Mar

26 Mar Sun ●

Nikau Palm Gully

Dan Pryce

This bush-clad gully is quite a dramatic spot, and the plentiful nikau palms there are notable for being the southern-most limit of this species in New Zealand.  This is an easy tramp towards the eastern heads of Akaroa Harbour.

Meet 8am Cashmere Rd, opp PMH, near Hackthorne Rd

1-2 Apr Sat-Sun ●●

Jolliebrook – Gabriel

Awaiting leader

Easy-moderate round-trip in lake Sumner Forest Park. Taking in the open river flat of the Hurunui, the beech forest of Gabriel Stream, going over a very low bush saddle to Jollie Brook and to Jollie Brook Hut. Downstream from the hut the valley becomes a bit more open and there are a few stream (brook) crossings.

Book by 25 March

1 Apr Saturday ●

Sumner Tracks

Wendy Wallace 338 0550 or 027 841 2051

An easy-moderate walk up the Captain Thomas Track to Evans Pass, then to Mt Pleasant, returning via the Bluffs track.

Meet at Wakefield St opposite Van Asch School for the deaf 9am

2 Apr Sun ●

Mt Winterslow

Merv Meredith  322 7239

A moderate autumn ascent of Mt Winterslow starting on the Sharplin Falls track near Mt Somers then using Dons Track up the spur.  From Mt Winterslow at 1700m there is a grand view of the Old Man Range to the north.

Meet 7:30 am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

8-10 Apr Sat-Mon ●●●

Mt Brown - Newton Range

Peter Umbers 359 9118

A moderate circuit from Lake Kaniere to Mt Brown Hut, along to Newton Range Biv then down to the Styx River

Book by 2 Apr

9 Apr Sun ● (Note changed date)

Halswell Quarry - Governors Bay

Merv Meredith  322 7239

An easy-moderate walk through Halswell Quarry and up to the summit along Kennedys Bush Track then visiting Ohinetahi Reserve on the harbour-side.

Meet 8am Halswell quarry carpark (near the Coffee cart Toilet Block)

15-16 Apr Sat-Sun ●●

Bealey Spur - Blind Spur - Bruce Stream

Kerry Moore 359 5069

A moderate circuit camping at or near Bealey Spur Hut then continuing up the spur and dropping into Bruce Stream to return to the cars

Book by 9 April

16 Apr Sun ●

Mt Cass

Awaiting leader

Easy-moderate circuit, seaward from Waipara, beside this impressive limestone scarp to 525m Mt Cass. The farmland we walk on is notable for its self-shearing Wiltshire sheep.

Meet 9am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

22-28 Apr Sat-Tues ●●●●●●●

Rees River--Dart River

Dan Pryce 027 384 7065

A classic valleys and passes moderate circuit from Glenorchy. Date likely to slide in response to weather and river conditions.  Dan needs people to commit by the end of March. Five days plus two on the road.

Commit by 31 March

22 Apr Saturday ●

Manuka Hut

Graeme Nicholas 027 504 7726

An easy, flat walk to this hut on the Te Araroa Track

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

29-30 Apr Sat-Sun ●●

Harper River--Hamilton Hut

Awaiting leader

A pleasant, flat, easy-moderate 18km walk up the Harper River from the Coleridge area to this comfortable hut. On the way back a slight detour will let us visit the Harper Pinnacles

Book by 23 April

30 Apr Sun ●

Whitewater Stream - Thomas Stream

Honora Renwick 942 8368

An easy-moderate circuit from Castle Hill village via attractive streams and a steep climb to a low saddle just west of Leith Hill.  Great variety of terrain.

Meet 8am Church Corner, 20 Yaldhurst Rd

30 April to 4 May ●●●●

Old Ghost Road

Sonja Risa 028 8517 3969  or  sonja.risa@gmail.com

The old gold miners’ trail that has been revived as a popular mountain bike and tramping track connecting Lyell to the Mokihinui River in the north. We plan leave the cars at Seddonville and get a shuttle to Lyell and walk the route. Because we need to book the huts, please contact Sonja by the end of March. We will require payment in advance.

Early booking needed

6-7 May Sat-Sun ●●

Hope Kiwi Lodge

Graeme Nicholas 027 504 7726

Easy-moderate tramp in Lake Sumner Forest Park, overnighting in Hope Kiwi Lodge. Good track all the way through beech forest and river terraces

Book by 30 April

7 May Sun ●

Doctors Hills

Awaiting leader

So-named because a local doctor used to wander there, this easy-moderate trip inland from Waikari gives views of Pyramid Valley and Moa Swamp

Meet 8am Placemakers, 319 Cranford St

May ●●●●●●

Milford Track

Di Mellish  mellishdiane@gmail.com or 027 413 6468

Three nights, four days on this spectacular “great walk”. This will be in May, early in the off-season, hopefully before the bridges are removed. Please contact Di as soon as you can, no later than the end of March.