Previous Tramps (2024)

Monday 3 June

Lake Catherine

Grade: Easy

Drive to Lake Selfe, park the cars and follow the track which takes us to Lake Ida and onto Lake Catherine. Return the same way.

Sunday 9 June

Stony Bay Banks Peninsula

Grade: Moderate

From Cabstand car park hike over Stony Bay Peak and down to Stony Bay beach via Opatuti Track. Return to Stony Bay Saddle may go up the road from Pikimai Zigzag, option to have a look along Misty Peak track as time allows.

Sunday 16 June

Port Hills Mystery Tour

Grade: Moderate

Expect a classic Vesna trip of considerable distance and it is the Port Hills – so lots of ups and downs.

Sunday 23 June

Onawe Peninsula and Curry Reserve

Grade: Easy

Planned to catch the low tide, our first walk will be to the end of Onawe peninsula to enjoy the great all round views of Akaroa Harbour. We will then drive up Long Bay Rd to Heritage park to explore the trails.

Sunday 7 July

Bealey Spur

Grade: Moderate

A steady gradient ridge climb in Arthurs Pass to Bealey Spur hut for lunch. Expect spectacular views of the snow covered ranges in the headwaters of the Waimakariri River. Return the same way.

Sunday 14 July

Ghost Creek

Grade: Easy-Moderate

The trip starts just past the Porters Pass ski field turn off and at the base of Castle Hill Peak with a crossing of the Porter River within 20 minutes of the car park ( bring sandals and a towel) this is riverbed travel day.

Sat 20- Sun 21 july

Mid-Winter at Hawdon Hut

Grade: Easy-Moderate

We will be tramping into the comfortable Hawdon Hut to celebrate a midwinter Christmas with the usual Pot luck dinner. A flat tramp up the Hawdon River but with a few river crossings.

Sunday 28 July

Te Oka Reserve Track

Grade: Easy-Moderate

This track is on Banks Peninsula and starts from the Bossu Rd. It descends 532m to sea level to access Te Oka Bay and Tumbledown Bay. A long climb to return to the cars!

Sunday 4 August

Quail Is Planting

Grade: Easy

As the hut is fully booked this will now be a day trip possibly followed by takeaways at Chris and Sally's place after.

Sat10 - Sun 11 August

Unknown Stream Hut

Grade: Moderate

Unknown Stream Hut is up the Wilberforce Valley. We will walk up the braided river requiring numerous river crossings. The hut has four bunks. Bring tents, cookers etc.

Sunday 25 August

Woolshed Creek loop

Grade: Easy-Moderate

Starting at the Jig Rd carpark carpark we will set off up the Rhyolite Track, then at the junction turn off on the track towards the picturesque Bus Stop rock overhang. Descend to Woolshed Creek for lunch.

Sunday 1 September

Ohinetahi Reserve

Grade: Easy

This is a round trip through the reserve above Governors Bay, covering eight different tracks. Initially some steady climbing but easy going after that.

Sunday 8 September

Mt Barrosa

Grade: Moderate

Plan is to climb Barrosa the return to cars by a different ridge in an anticlockwise circuit.

Sunday 15 September

Conical Knoll

Grade: Easy

Easy day trip along the Dry Acheron Track near Lake Coleridge. Across farmland and riverbed possibly a bit of a climb at the end to get a view then back the same way.

Sunday 22 September

Flag Peak & Brasnose (Akaroa)

Grade: Moderate

We will start from the central township and walk anticlockwise towards Aylmers Valley road. From the end of the road we will take Frank Worsley track ( steep but short) towards Mistery Peaks ( Flag peak and Brasenose) where we would be rewarded with spectacular views.

Sunday 29 September

Kowai river

Grade: Easy

We will follow an old vehicle track along river terraces beside the Kowai river to a private hut. As it is a fairly short distance and mostly flat so there may be time to explore further up valley before returning the same way.

Sat 5 - Sun 6 October

Crow Hut

Grade: Moderate

Crow hut is a lovely trip from Klondyke corner Arthur's Pass promising a chilly crossing of the Waimakariri River. Then up the Crow River flats to we get to the nice warm modern Crow Hut with a walk up to the Crow Glacier.

Saturday 12 October

Mt Guy

Grade: Moderate

NOTE: Change of date Climb from the shore of Lake Clearwater up Mt Guy (1319m). Some steep and rocky sections, but spectacular views from the broad summit.

Sunday 20 October

Hinewai (The Stones)

Grade: Moderate

Start at the carpark above the Lodge, to Jule Knob, Kereru Track to the valley floor, Stones Track to the ridge for the views, then around the valley starting on the Lisburn Track and onwards back to the carpark.

Fri 25 - Mon 28 October

1000 Acre Plateau

Grade: Moderate

Leaving Christchurch early, we will drive to Murchison. After a 1 hr 30m track to Lake Matiri Hut we will continue on to Poor Pete's hut a further 3hrs away. Sunday will take us to Larrikin creek hut.

Sunday 3 November

Linda Woods Reserve

Grade: Easy

This is a Port Hills round trip on a route the start of which is not well trodden. It will be a shorter than a usual day out but bring lunch. Grading is Easy - we will be taking our time on the climbing so a good trip if you’re not feeling fully fit.

Sunday 10 November

Methven Walkway

Grade: Easy

This is a really nice easy walk across paddocks, through the enchanted pine forest and along the canal. Approx 12km all flat.

Fri 15 - Sun 17 November

Mole Tops

Grade: Moderate

Camping at the old hut site at the bushline on Friday night. Saturday explore tops and choose the camping site around the Northen tarns below Mole Tops. Sunday out by either Mole track or Jameson ridge.

Sunday 24 November

Blowhard - Garry River

Grade: Moderate Hard

This trip starts with a climb up the Blowhard Track then down a track to the Garry River. We splash down the Garry River to the cars. Approx 8-9 hr trip. Map BV23

Sunday 1 December

Diamond Harbour to Charteris Bay

Grade: Easy

An easy and interesting coastal walk along this coast and return via road above Diamond Harbour. Maybe continue on to Purau Bay if time permits.

Sunday 8 December

Double Hut

Grade: Easy - Moderate

We will drive to Lake Heron and park the cars at the start of the Swinn River track. An easy walk up a flat open river. About 9km each way.

Sunday 19 January

Mt lyndon and Cloudy Hill

Grade: Moderate

Starting from Lake Lyndon, a round-trip climb and ridge traverse across Mt Lyndon and Cloudy Hill.

Sunday 26 January

Knowles Tops

Grade: Easy- Moderate

After starting on a farm track we traverse an area of bush (off track) until we break out on to the open tops (500m climb). A nice track through beech forest takes us down to join the Ashley gorge loop track.

Sat 1 - Sun 2 February

Carroll Hut, Kelly Range

Grade: Easy - Moderate

A relatively short but steep climb from SH73 to the hut for the night. During the day we will explore the ridge above the hut. Return the same way.

Sunday 9 February

Okuti Valley - Hilltop

Grade: Easy - Moderate

A steady climb from the Okuti Valley through the saddle below French Hill and down to Hilltop. Return the same way.

Sat 15 - Sun 16 February

Crow Hut

Grade: Moderate

A lovely trip from Klondyke corner, Arthur's Pass. Crossing the Waimakariri River then up the Crow River flats to Crow Hut, nestled in behind Avalanche Peak.

Sunday 23 February

Lyttelton Round Trip

Grade: Easy - Moderate

A round trip into Lyttelton via Bridle Path and return via Urumau Reserve and Crater Rim Tracks.

Sat 1 - Sun 2 March

Lake Stream

Grade: Moderate

Lake Stream is just over the Rahu Saddle. The track criss-crosses Lake Stream a number of times. There are excellent campsites by the lake.

Sunday 9 March

Stairway to Heaven

Grade: Easy - Moderate

An interesting route (with lots of stairs) through the back blocks of Cashmere to Latters Spur track and around Sugarloaf and return by a different route.

Sat 15 - Sun 16 March

Mid Taipo Hut

Grade: Moderate

We follow a 4-wheel drive track to the Dillon Huts and then proceed up the Taipo River. Mostly river terrace travel with some rainforest sections, a river crossing at Seven Mile Creek and a 3-wire bridge at Scotties.

Sunday 23 March

Mt Alford

Grade: Easy-Moderate

Mount Alford (1171 metres) near Methven offers views across the Plains and Inland Mountains including Mount Hutt. The route goes through native bush & sub alpine vegetation.

Sunday 30 March

Estuary walk

Grade: Easy

An easy flat walk following the Avon River and including sections of South Brighton beach and the estuary. The circuit will be completed via Bexley red zone land.