A rare chance, given the distance from Auckland, to enjoy the splendour and majesty of the birthplace of organised tramping in New Zealand. It will require Friday the 23rd Oct off work.
$50 deposit required by 31 August with full payment due by 1 October please.
Thursday 22 Oct: Drive from Auckland to Turangi and stay overnight at Turangi Holiday Park. (13 Te Reiti Tamara Grove Turangi)
Accommodation options are to sleep on bus or Holiday Park cabins ($5.80 pp - $24.00 pp). Select your choice when registering your tramping party option.
8am Friday 23 Oct: Depart Turangi for Masterton.
2 km south of Masterton turn off State Highway 2 onto Norfolk Road. Follow Norfolk Road for 15 km to the Holdsworth Road-end.
Easy / Medium Party
Classic Holdsworth-Jumbo loop
Maximum party size is 11
Base cost $155
Select your Doc Hut accommodation options - Club Booked or Self Booked when registering
If Club books on your behalf $35
Self Book/ Backcountry Pass $0
Friday: Arrive ~mid- day Mt Holdsworth road end.
Starting from Holdsworth Lodge, carry on along the gravel track, cross the Bridge over the Atiwhakatu Stream and follow the Gentle Annie track to Mountain House Shelter. A well graded track offering several lookout points to Mounts Holdsworth and Jumbo - for a short side trip follow the signpost to the Rocky Lookout, which offers good views over the Wairarapa. Past Mountain House Shelter the track climbs steeply through dense bush and out onto the open tops.
Powell Hut is located on the bush edge. Powell Hut via Gentle Annie Track. (3 ½ - 4 hrs)
Powell Hut: Serviced, 28 bunks. Bookings Required. No camping available
Saturday: From Powell Hut Over to Jumbo via Mt Holdsworth. (4 hrs). Follow the track leading north-east along the main ridge to the Mt Holdsworth trig (1470m).
For even more expansive views a small side trip (1/2hr) can be made across to Isabelle (1385m).
Follow the exposed ridge north to Jumbo Peak (1405 m). The track then descends east along a spur to Jumbo Hut.
Jumbo Hut: 20 Bunk Serviced hut. Bookings required.
Sunday: If conditions on tops favourable explore north up the Holdsworth-Girdlestone Range to Angle Knob or further to the aircraft wreck site on Shingle Slip Knob.
From Jumbo Hut south down the Raingauge Spur track to Atiwhakatu Hut. (~1 ½ hrs).
Atiwhakatu Hut: 26 bunk beds. Bookings required.
Alternatively if weather on tops poor: explore the track continuing up the Atiwhakatu Valley to Pinnacle Saddle. 670m (2-3hrs return)
Monday:
Atiwhakatu Hut to bus at Holdsworth road end (2hrs), drive back to Auckland
Distance Party
Maximum party size is 11
Base cost $155
Select your Doc Hut accommodation options - Club Booked or Self Booked when registering
If Club books on your behalf $30
Totara Flats Serviced Hut Ticket $15 (or use your own)
Self Book/ Backcountry Pass $0
Friday: From Holdsworth camping area, walk in to Atiwhakatu Hut (1.5-2hrs), then from Atiwhakatu Hut up Rain-gauge Spur past Jumbo Hut. (2Hrs)
Jumbo Hut: 20 Bunk Serviced hut. Bookings Required.
Saturday: From Jumbo Hut if conditions on tops are favourable explore north up the Holdsworth- Girdlestone Range.
• Investigate site of the old Angle Knob Hut blown off the tops in 1980.
• Angle Knob or further to the aircraft wreck site on Shingle Slip Knob and MacGregor Bivy. Return to Mt Jumbo intersection to Mt Holdsworth track. (~3hrs return to Mt Jumbo and further 2 1/2hrs to Mt Holdsworth )
• Head south down the Holdsworth-Girdlestone Range to Mt Holdsworth summit with a slight deviation to take in the summit of Mt Holdsworth. (1470m). Drop down to Powell Hut.
Powell Hut: Serviced, 28 bunks Bookings Required. No camping available
Sunday: From Powell Hut drop down past Mountain House Shelter and to Totara Flats Track. (1/1/2hrs). This winds its way through forest above Totara Stream to finally reach the swing bridge over the Waiohine River Totara Flats Track to Totoroa Flats Hut: 3 ½ hrs
Totara Flats Hut :26 bunks: Bookings not required - first come, first served
Possible Side trip from Totara Flats to Sayer Hut
Monday: Totara Flats to bus at Holdsworth road end (4hrs), drive back to Auckland
• Both trips involve travel on exposed tops. Full storm gear required.
Depart: Thursday: 22nd October 7pm: Como Street, Takapuna
Organiser: Kevin Osten Ph. 0274 577418
Drivers x 2 : Chris/Arletta
As there is still a possibility of COVID-19 in the community:
- Only come out with us if you are well
- Bring warm clothing as we will endeavour to keep the bus well ventilated
- You are welcome to use your face mask and hand sanitiser on the bus
- There will be a COVID-19 QR code available for scanning
Maps for both parties
Map for Med party: Online / Printable / GPS
Map for Distance party: Online / Printable / GPS
To access the printable maps, download the zipped file, and either:
· open the zipped file, then drag the files to a new location OR
· press and hold (or right-click) the zipped file, select Extract All, and then follow the instructions.
