This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 94, no 4, May 2024
Grandparents’ trip to Holdsworth Lodge
15 – 18 April 2024
During the first week of the April school holidays, 17 assorted people descended on Holdsworth Lodge. The trip had been extended to anyone who might want to come, and to our surprise, as well as four grandparents and seven grandchildren, we acquired two ‘aunties’, a parent and a family of mum and two boys from the Hutt Valley Tramping Club.
After they had been cooped up for the ride over the Remutaka Hill, we unleashed the kids on the relatively new Donnelly Flat Loop Walk. Instead of a leisurely stroll through lovely bush, it was Mach 4 speed and we were back at the lodge in no time at all. Those kids have ENERGY!
With a good weather forecast, the goal for day 2 was a trip to Powell Hut and back. We weren’t sure that all the kids would make it. Eddie, who is only five, was going to Rocky Knob and despite tripping over and getting a wee bit sad, he stoically marched on and reached his destination. In the meantime the big kids had taken on the climb to Powell. Although windy and a little chilly, they appreciated the view while they had lunch and, of course, it was a fast non-stop race back to the lodge.
Day 3 and Celia Wade-Brown had offered to meet us at Holdsworth Lookout and take us on a route down to her house. The HVTC family stayed behind as one of the boys was not well. Eddie reached the lookout to great applause before returning to the lodge. It was all off-track travel down to Celia’s house. We had such a lovely time. We sat in the sun on her deck to eat our lunch. The children fed the eels and held the two-week-old chicks. The route back was very steep and we all enjoyed a break back at the lookout. As we neared the lodge someone suggested a swim and within minutes nearly everyone braved the painfully cold water for a quick dunking except for the Whites’ grandchildren who continued playing in the river using the rope swing to jump into the deep pool.
It was a very happy time in the lodge. There were many battles of chess, Uno and Connect 4 and a vast quantity of food was consumed. The kids all helped out and mention must be made of Molly (14) who cooked our last meal of chicken chow mein ably assisted by Harry (11). All up a very happy and successful time away.
The July school holiday trip will be to the lodge on Ruapehu, probably in the first week. Everyone is welcome to join us.
- Party members
- Peggy Munn (scribe) and Lynne White (co-leaders), Nikhil Ahlawat, Poonam Ahlawat, Sanchit Ahlawat, Christine Ben-Tovim, Flossie Bisley, Molly Bisley, Phoebe Bisley, Eddie Foo, Harry Foo, Helen Foo, Cato Fraser, Mila Fraser, Chris Munn, Jane-Pyar Mautner, Warren White.