Upcoming Tramps and Events

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• Golden Cross/ Maratoto, Coromandel

  • When
    23 Feb 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
  • Location
    The Strand, Takapuna

  Register

  Golden Cross/ Maratoto, Coromandel
  

  Members please register for this trip by 7pm Friday 21 February.

  Non-members please contact Organiser to register and assess suitability. This is classed as a advanced tramping track, so you may expect some rough terrain.

  Please ensure you have the correct change

  $ 25 members $30 non members

  

  This is in the southern part of the Coromandel, and we will start at Maratoto road end, following the Maratoto Stream which will require several crossings before eventually emerging out into an area known as the Golden Cross, an old mining area which we will explore.

  Between 1895 and 1920 the Golden Cross underground mine produced just over two and a half tonnes of gold. When the mine closed in 1920 the site became farmland.
  
  Seventy years later in 1990 a new mining license was granted. Mining was both underground and open pit and between 1991 and 1998 over twenty tonnes of gold and fifty-two tonnes of silver were extracted.
  
  The mine officially closed for the second time in December 1998 and became the first modern mine in New Zealand to move into planned closure and final rehabilitation. The area is now used for grazing, wetland, and native habitat.

  We will then make our way back to the bus and if time allows, there is a well-used access route to the top of Maratoto a very interesting towering rock formation offering us views of the Hauraki Plains, that we will climb.

  Time:  Depart Takapuna 8am 

  Cost:  $25.00 members, $30 non members.   

  Non-members please phone the organiser to assess your suitability for the tramp  and to register. 

  Organiser:  Chris Peard  021 277 0270

  Driver:  Arletta van den Bosch 

  Gear List: NSTC Gear List- March24.pdf
  

  
  

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• 26 February Social Evening

  • When
    26 Feb 2025
  •  
    7:30 PM
  • Location
    7 The Strand, Takapuna

  26 February Social Evening  7:30pm 

  

  If you did not manage to make our Christmas trip or even if you did, then what better time to come along and join us for a Christmas trip presentation by Antz Rola, Out Party and Carol Grenfell, Home Party.

  There is plenty of socialising to be had and a chance for you to catch up on the latest developments and upcoming trips planned for your club.

  We are hoping to see you all there!

  Cost: Free

  Refreshments and time for individual  conversations, as usual.

  Location: Senior Citizens Hall, 7 The Strand, Takapuna.  See here for how to find the hall.

  Social evenings are held on the last Wednesday of every second month.

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• Matakana – Omaha return

  • When
    2 Mar 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    The Strand, Takapuna or Silverdale Park & Ride

  Register

  Matakana – Omaha  return.

  Sunday 2 March; 8.00am departure
  Members please register by 7pm Friday 28^th February

  Ensure correct cash for payment: $20 Members /$25 Non members

  This 16km return trip makes use of the Matakana Cycle Trail to walk from Matakana Village to Omaha beach and back again.  As we’ll be walking on a cycle path, we will be sharing this with cyclists!  The track is predominantly a gravel surface through farmland and bush with a small amount of on-road walking, mostly flat but with a couple of climbs.  Ceramic markers along the route feature stylised maps of the area’s topography. 

  We’ll have lunch at Omaha Beach, where there’s the opportunity for swim at Omaha Beach, so bring your togs. 

  To Do – Omaha Beach

  There’s a café at Omaha Beach where you can get coffee and snacks. 

  Bring PLENTY of water, a MINIMUM of 2 litres as there will be limited options for topping up.

  If time permits, we’ll call in at the Matakana Village for an ice-cream on the way home.

  Depart

  8.00 am, The Strand, Takapuna

  8.20am Silverdale Park & Ride bus stop.   Financial members please register for Silverdale pick up.

  Driver: TBC

  Organiser        Amber 027-838-9483

  Gear List: NSTC Gear List.pdf

  Non-members: Please phone the organiser to check suitability of the tramp

  Cost:  $20 Members

              $25 Non members

  
  

  
  

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• Waima Forest, Northland

  • Start
    7 Mar 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • End
    9 Mar 2025
  •  
    6:18 PM
  • Location
    Como St, Takapuna
  • Spaces left
    8

  Register

  Waima Forest, Northland

  Friday 7th March to Sunday 9th March

  Come visit Frampton’s Hut, situated in the western end of Northland's Waima Forest.
  
  The bus leaves Como Street - 6.00pm Friday 7th March.
  
  TENTS to be carried.  Frampton's Hut has 6 bunks - first come first served.  No cost. 
  
  Friday
  Leave Friday night and drive to Trounson Kauri Park Campground. Sleep in bus or tent.
  
  Saturday
  Leave early Sat morning and drive to start of Taita Bridle Track where we drop off the Fit Party. The bus will then drive to Waiotemarama Falls where the Medium Party will start from.
  
  Sunday
  Both groups return to bus at Waiotemarama Gorge Road via Hauturu Highpoint Track.
  
  Fit Party – Max 6 people - 7hrs
  Taita Bridle Track – 2 hrs
  The track starts by passing through farmland and pockets of native bush as it heads up the valley of the Oraora Stream. As the track continues it becomes a dense, mature forest, it turns progressively rougher and wetter as it follows the Ora Ora Stream. The track ends at the Ora Ora Saddle where it connects with the Waima Main Range Track.
  
  Waima Main Range Track - 4.5 – 5 hrs
  Turn North onto Waima Main Range Track and climb to the high point at 781. Continue along the track to Frampton’s hut.
  
  Medium Party – Max 8 people – 4 - 4.5hrs
  Waiotemarama Waterfall Walk / Hauturu Highpoint Track. 4 – 4.5 hrs
  Start along Waiotemarama Waterfall Walk to reach the Hauturu Highpoint Track. Climb to 679 m then descend to the Waima Main Range Track. Turn left and continue to a junction with a 4wd track, turn right across a stream then continue uphill on the 4wd track to Frampton’s hut, return Sunday the same way.

  If time permits on our return we will stop and view the magnificent giant Kauri  'Tane Mahuta' the Lord of the Forest! 5 minutes easy as walk.

  Cost $115.00 - $50 deposit on booking please

  Organiser:  Garry Brooks 021 269 2196

  Driver:  TBC

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• Karangahake Gorge

  • When
    16 Mar 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    The Strand, Takapuna

  Register

  Sunday  16 March 2025 8am

  Members please register for this tramp by Friday 14 March 7pm.

  Please ensure you have the correct cash 

  The Karangahake Gorge will need no introduction for most members, it is one of our favourite regular tramps. The gorge lies next to SH2 between Paeroa and Waihi and combines spectacular natural beauty with interesting historical remains of the area’s gold-mining past, including long tunnels (some of which we traverse).

  Departure: 8 am sharp from the Strand

  Equipment: in addition to the normal equipment for a day walk, bring a head-torch (for the tunnels, which are not illuminated) and swimming costume and towel.

  Cost: members $25, non-members $30

  Organiser: Peter Wortman  021 996 242

  Driver:  TBC

  Gear List: NSTC Gear List.pdf

  Non-members: Please phone the organiser to check suitability of the tramp

  Short Route

  From Talisman carpark, cross the Ohinemuri suspension bridge. Immediately at the end of the bridge turn right and follow a rough, unmarked track towards the Crown Battery. On reaching the road, turn right, cross the footbridge over the road and walk through the long railway tunnel. On leaving the tunnel, turn left and follow the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway westwards. Make a short diversion to Owharoa Falls (good spot for lunch and a swim), then return to the walkway and continue to Waikino Station, where you will be picked up.

  Medium Route

  From the Talisman carpark, cross the Ohinemuri suspension bridge, turn left and cross the Lower Waitawheta Gorge Bridge and follow the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway to the west. After about 1 kilometer turn left to cross the Eastern Portal Bridge and walk through the old railway tunnel. Cross the Western Portal Bridge and turn left, back towards the Talisman carpark. Walk up Scotsmans Gully Track and follow Number 7 Level Track, Dubbo 96 Track; cross a footbridge and return via Crown Track (also known as Waitawheta Pipeline Walk). This will bring you back to the start.

  Distance Route

  From the Talisman carpark, cross the Ohinemuri suspension bridge and follow the Crown Track to the south. Cross the Waitawheta Bridge and follow the Crown Track along the Waitawheta River to Dickey Flat campsite. Continue along Dickey Flat Track to touch the road, then turn south along the North South Track. Turn right (ie to the west) onto the Mangakino Pack Track, then Karangahake Mountain Track. Take the side track to Karangahake peak (544m), return the same way and via Scotsman’s Gully back to the carpark.

  Maps:
  

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• Cosseys Dam traverse to Wairoa Dam, Hunua

  • When
    23 Mar 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
  • Location
    The Strand, Takapuna

  Register

  Cosseys Dam traverse to Wairoa Dam, Hunua
  

  Sunday 23 March 2025 

  8.00am departure

  Members please register and ensure you have $20 cash, non-members $25 cash

  Easy and Medium options!

  From the Falls carpark we will all take the shorter Cosseys Gorge track up to the Cossey Dam, this track can be muddy at times. From the Dam we head in a Southerly direction on the well graded Wairoa Cossey track in which you can expect a reasonably steepish climb of just over a kilometre to the intersection of the Massey track, but for the fitter or more energetic we will continue on the recently reopened  section of the Wairoa Cossey track, it’s a little after this that the track turns from a well graded track to an advanced tramping track, so you can expect tree roots, mud and a undulating track which will eventually after you go past the halfway mark starts to ease off in difficultly and eventually we will arrive at the Suspension bridge track taking us down to the Wairoa Dam, from there it’s a short trip out to the Otau crossing and road to the bus.

  For those of us not so much up to the energetic stuff we will continue onto the Massey track and complete the Cosseys Dam loop back to the bus with a side trip to the Hunua Falls, before picking up the other party.

  Please ensure all footwear and gear are clean as Kauri are in the area. Also ensure you have a dirty boot bag. 

  Gear List: NSTC Gear List- March24.pdf
  

  Members, please register by 7pm Friday 21 March

  Cost:    Members $20.00, Non-members $25.00,

  Please ensure you have the correct cash for payment

  Organiser:  Kevin Osten 027 457 7418

  Non-members please phone the organiser to assess your suitability for the tramp (pls phone after 4pm, no texts please).

  Driver: Chris Peard

  
  

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• Kaimai Track Clearing to Wairere Falls - Lower Kaimai Ranges

  • Start
    28 Mar 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • End
    30 Mar 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • Location
    Como Street, Takapuna

  Register

  Kaimai Track Clearing  to Wairere Falls - Lower Kaimai Ranges

  Start: 6.00pm: Friday 28 March

  Depart:     Corner 6 Auburn Street & Como Street carpark, Takapuna

  Return: Sunday, 31 March

  Tents are required            

  Come and support our Club's Kaimai Track Clearing Party with this FREE Weekend.   

  As part of our Club's commitment to support the Kaimai Ridgeway Trust’s initiative to maintain tracks in the Kaimais, we have undertaken to clear the track from Aongatete Junction to Wairere Falls.

  • Includes a tramp in pristine river valley and forest   
  • Great comradeship                   
  • Only work as hard as you feel able
  • No pressure to finish any length of the track                                           
  • Full complement of quality tools provided
  • Good water supply
  • Safety taking seriously                                                                             

  Several previous trips undertaken by members have enabled most of the track to be cleared between the top of the Wairere Falls to the junction of the North South Track near Aongatete.

  The severe weather during 2023 left an area of windfall damage covering about 500 metres near the saddle, on the Wairere Falls side of the track.

  We will travel down and sleep in the bus on the Friday night, parking up at the Wairere Falls Carpark located at the end of Goodwin Road, off Te Aroha-Okauia Rd.

  Saturday we tramp up the Wairere Falls track to an idyllic camp site ~1 1/2 hours from the top of Wairere Falls, just below the saddle where we will start track clearing.  

  Are you able to help on this trip?  The work is not difficult.  All you need is some good garden gloves.  The Club has a full complement of tools to tackle the job. 

  As there are no huts, tents are required (available for loan from the Club if required for current financial NSTC members).  There is an abundance of clean water available in nearby streams.

  

   

  Depart:  6.00pm Friday 28 March

                 Corner 6 Auburn Street & Como Street carpark, Takapuna

  Return:    Sunday afternoon:31 March

  Cost:         Free

  Organiser:  Garry Brooks 021 269 2196

  Driver(s):  TBC

  More information:   See http://www.kaimairidgeway.nz/

   

  
  

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• Bay of Plenty Mini Weekend

  • Start
    5 Apr 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • End
    6 Apr 2025
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • Location
    Como Street, Takapuna

  Register

   Orokawa - Homunga Bay, Day 2 Waihi & Wentworth Valley Whangamata.

   Mini weekend, Saturday 5^th April to 6^th April

  Medium options and medium fit. Daylight saving ends this weekend!

  Tents will be required but not carried if you are not intending to sleep on the bus!

  Saturday: Leaving Como Street 8.00 am. Our destination will be the northern end of Waihi beach to begin the Orokawa and Homunga Bay tracks Enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean and Waihi Beach and view bays with mature pōhutukawa trees, the track then leads on and winds around the headlands north of Orokawa Bay, leading to the popular fishing location of Homunga Bay and meeting the bus at Ngatitangata Road. For those wanting an extra side trip will divert from the Orokawa track and head up to the William Wright Falls track and then return to the Orokawa track.

   NOTE Orokawa Bay beach is not considered safe for swimming due to the steep gradient of the seafloor.

  This is classed as an advanced tramping track, expect some steep hill climbs and about 5 hours tramping to do all 3 tracks.

  From Ngatitangata Roadwe will drive to the Wentworth Valley in Whangamata and camp the night at the Wentworth Valley campground, which will give you the option of tenting or sleeping on the bus.

  Sunday: We will head up the Wentworth Valley visiting the popular Wentworth Falls and onto the Whangamata track (Note some of this track about 1.5 Kl is a 4-wheel drive track so you can expect a deeply rutted clay track at times and possibly vehicles) It’s from here we will pick up the famous Wires Track named after the telephone line which used to run through the Maratoto area, remnants of these old telephone poles can be seen along the track.  This line was the last to be completed in the Auckland to Wellington telegraph route and the last link in the national telegraph network, before construction in 1872 messages came by couriers across the rangers. The track is well marked and gives lovely views across the Maratoto area, once you have completed the Wires Track you will have traversed the Coromandel range to the waiting bus to return you to Takapuna.

  This also is classed as an advanced tramping track about 5-6 hours.

  Cost:  $110.00   

  Organiser:  Chris Peard  021 277 0270

  Driver: Chris Peard 

  
  

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• Pukekohe – 5 Summits Circuit

  • When
    13 Apr 2025
  •  
    8:00 AM
  • Location
    The Strand, Takapuna

  Register

  

  Sunday 13 April

  Please register for this trip by the preceding Friday 6pm

  Please have the correct cash

  $20 members/$25 non members  

  Pukekohe Club set this track up with the official opening at the end of 2019.  This circuit covers 5 summits in the Pukekohe area, starting and finishing at the train station.  Each summit has very interesting history and lovely views and a few have some really nice heavily tree'd tracks.    We will pass through many parks and a few tracks along the way.  

  The circuit is about 21.5kms that our large group completed on the open day in just over 5 hours.  
  
  It is a reasonable distance, so PLEASE ensure you have plenty of WATER with you!!!   And plenty of sunblock or covered sleeves etc as we'll be in the open most of the day.
  
  Please ensure all your gear is clean, in case we pass any Kauri'd areas and as always ensure you thoroughly clean your gear afterwards. 
  
  Most suitable footwear will be running shoes or tail runners.  We'll either be on gravelled tracks or footpath surfaces.  Boots will be too hard.

  Gear List: NSTC Gear List.pdf

  Non-members: Please phone the organiser to check suitability of the tramp - not after 9pm thanks 

  Depart:

  • 8am The Strand, Takapuna   

  Organiser:  Ilva 021 213 2975

  Driver:  TBC
  

  Cost:  $15 members, $20 non-members, $5 juniors

  Maps   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

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• Mt Hikurangi King's Birthday - Expressions of Interest

  • Start
    30 May 2025
  •  
    8:30 AM
  • End
    2 Jun 2025
  •  
    7:30 PM
  • Location
    Como St, Takapuna

  Mt Hikurangi/East Cape

  30 May – 2 June 2025 (King’s Birthday)

  Expressions of interest invited

  Mt Hikurangi (1752m) in the Raukumara ranges, is the tallest non-volcanic mountain in the North Island, and the first part of mainland New Zealand to greet the rays of the new day’s sun. It is a place of immense spiritual importance to the Ngati Porou people.

  This trip was scheduled last year but had to be cancelled because of heavy rain and flooding. The club last held this trip in 2019 and, in view of the challenging logistics, it might be another five years before we do it again. If you have ever wanted to climb Mt Hikurangi or explore East Cape, now is your chance!

  http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/east-coast/places/raukumara-conservation-park/things-to-do/mount-hikurangi-te-ara-ki-hikurangi/

  Program

  Friday 30 May

  Note: this is NOT a public holiday, you will need to take a day off work.

  08:30   Depart from our bus garage, Akoranga Drive, Takapuna. The drive to Te Araroa near East Cape (travelling via Tauranga and Opotiki). Spend the night at Te Araroa Holiday Park and Motel; camping, sleeping on bus or (for a slightly higher cost) in a cabin.

  Saturday 31 May

  8 am: drive to Ruatoria, then via Tapuaeroa Valley Road to Pakihiroa Station.

  The walk up to the Hikurangi Hut is mostly on a 4-wheel drive track next to open farmland and takes about 5-6 hours. Yellow poles indicate the route. Just before the hut we will encounter nine whakairo (carved sculptures) representing Maui and his family, erected to commemorate the new millenium. The hut sleeps 10 people and is described on one website as very rustic. Others camp in tents next to the hut.

  Alternate Programme if the weather is very bad: drive south to Tolaga Bay and walks to Cooks Cove and the Hole in the Wall (3 hours return). Many participants will also want to walk out to the end of the wharf (650 meters). If time permits, the group can also stop at Anaura Bay where there is a 3.5km walkway. Return to Te Araroa.

  Sunday  1 June

  Walk up to the summit (2 hours). The last 400 meters is a steep scree slope. If the weather is kind to us the views will be spectacular, extending to Mt Ruapehu. Return to bus at drop-off point by 3 pm and return to Te Araroa Camp. Depending on time, we might drive out to end of East Cape Road and walk to the lighthouse.

  Monday 2 June (public holiday)

  Drive back to Auckland, with one or two short stops along the way depending on weather/interest. Arrive back at Akoranga Drive around 7 pm.

  Organiser

  Chris Bilham, widgeon1913@gmail.com, 022-657 3837.

  Cost

   To be confirmed, probably about $200 - $250  (this includes $15 per head for the hut). There will be a small supplement for those who want a cabin (sharing) at Te Araroa.

  Numbers

  In view of the high transport cost, we need a minimum of 12 people for this trip to go ahead.  

  Booking

  At this stage we are inviting expressions of interest. If you are seriously interested please notify the organizer by email or text.

  Maps

  NZTopo50-BE44 Te Puia Springs (includes Mt Hikurangi)

  BD45 East Cape

  BF45 Marau Point (Tolaga Bay)

  
  

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