2026-03-25 < Weekly activities >
Activity summary: Wednesday 2026 April 01 to Tuesday 2026 April 07
Zealandia/Makara/East Porirua – Whitby Walkways/Catchpool – Turere Spur/ Waitatapia Peak/ Waerenga/Rees - Dart Circuit
Wednesday:
Lunch ‘Zealandia’, led by John Hill, Wed 01/04 9M/1NM
It was a pleasant gathering of our old and infirm TTCs in the best bush setting you could find.
E Trip ‘Makara’, led by Lois Kluger, Wed 01/04 9M
We enjoyed a perfect sunny windless day as we walked up to the Gun Emplacements down the fenceline into Opau Bay. We then trudged back up the road to be rewarded with stunning views walking down the walkway.
EM Trip ‘East Porirua – Whitby walkways, led by Janet Dobbie, Wed 01/04 11M/1 NM
On a beautiful sunny day, twelve sun-hatted trampers gathered at the lower Bothamley Park car park, Cannons Creek to follow leafy walkways through Porirua and Whitby. The various painted stones of the Fairy Walk that lined the trail took our interest as we ambled up to Aotea and along a track above Papakowhai to a lookout for morning tea. We could see over to Mana Island over Porirua Harbour and other points of interest, enjoying cake whilst lying on freshly mown grass in the sun.
Moving through Waitangarua and into Whitby, in mature manuka bush we discovered a red marker Pluto (now a dwarf planet). We lunched first in a Japanese garden before ascending the summit to search for more planets in our solar system that have been positioned to scale in the neighbourhood. Following more shady paths off the summit and back up to Ascot Park, we rejoined Bothamley Pathway following the Park Run route back to the Bothamley car park. We took a steady 5 hours about 16km, and those who came by train to Porirua enjoyed an extra 1.5 km each way along another pathway to the start.
M Trip ‘Catchpool – Turere Spur’, led by Mary Kane, Wed 01/04 12M
We enjoyed a lovely, long and leisurely day in calm sunny weather walking up then down Turere Spur. The foot pad was soft leaf cover and the bush offered some spectacular tall beech trees, healthy lowland Horopito and varied brightly coloured fungi which Rachel photographed. Lunch was at the top of the Spur in dappled shade and afternoon tea was at the bridge beside Turere Stream. However there was no time for a dip, although one member did wade in and found it quite warm. 7 ½ hours.
MF Trip ‘Waitatapia Peak’, led by Franz Hubmann, Wed 01/04
Cancelled due to lack of interest.
Weekend:
All Trip ‘Easter at Waerenga’, led by Jenny Olsen, Fri 03/04 – Sun 05/04 3M/1NM
Three of us went up to South Saddle on Saturday and 1 went up Mt Mathews. Great to hear lots of bird song on our way back to the Catchpool.
Multi Day:
M Trip ‘Rees/Dart Circuit’, led by Gerald Leather, 25/03 – 01/04 5M/1NM
Five members and one non-member (Masterton Tramping Club member) defied forecast rain from the pre-Easter tropical storm to complete a very enjoyable and successful 6-day trip up the Rees River over the Rees Saddle and then up the Dart River to Dart Glacier and Cascade Saddle. As the Dart Track has been closed by a recent slip, the party came out via the Rees River. Despite adverse weather forecasts we only had to walk in light rain on one day. The huts (Rock Shelter and Dart) provided very comfortable accommodation. Highlights of the trip included great views of the Dart Glacier, sighting one of the recently released Kakapo in the lower part of the Rees valley and magnificent alpine scenery.
Total 49 members and 4 non members