tramping program August 2025 to December 2025
On a cellphone view this page in landscape mode.
Click here to download a one page summary of the next set of trips, to print and post on your noticeboard or fridge
|
TRIP DETAILS |
BOOKINGS |
|
|
31st August |
Waiorongomai Lowland Track G1 - G2 8am start |
Leaders: Roger & friends Bookings: Dianne Open: Monday 18th August |
|
14th September |
Omokoroa Ramble
|
Leaders: Dianne, Pam & Barbara Open: Monday 1st September |
|
28th September |
Arapuni Ramble |
Leaders: Roger & friends Open: Monday 15th September |
|
12th October |
Waikino Gorge Train to Waihi – walk back
|
Leaders: Barbara & friends Open: Monday 29th September |
|
21st October |
|
Chartwell Co-operating Church 7.30pm start
|
|
26th October |
Kauri Loop Track Huntly
|
Leaders: Alison & friends Open: Monday 13th October |
|
9th November |
Blue Lake – Mountain Bike Carpark
|
Leaders: Dianne, Pam & Barbara Open: Monday 27th October |
|
23rd November |
Papamoa Beach Walk
|
Leaders: Alison & friends Open: Monday 10th November |
|
7th December |
Christmas Social Function - Distinction Hotel Hamilton |
Details to follow – save the date! |
Sunday 31st August Waiorongomai Lowland Track Grade 1-2
We will head to Te Aroha having a comfort stop and making our way to the Waiorongomai Valley Carpark where we will have morning tea.
From here we go up the stairs to the left of the concrete ruins and then follow the signposted Low-Level Loop to the right. The track winds up the valley through regenerating bush across a few small streams and passes a small tunnel and a pipeline. It has a lot of history attached to the area around gold mining. It is a well-graded undulating track and has interesting information boards and relics along the way. Walking approx. 2-4h.
After about an hour, the loop turns back south at the signposted junction and joins the Piako County Tramway at the base of Butlers Incline. The rail is still in place, which gives a sense of how the tramway worked. We follow the tramway to the top of the Fern Spur Incline, with views to the south where will plan to have lunch. It is a short walk down the hill from here to the car park via a slight detour to look at a mine and some shafts.
A bit of history on the Goldfields
- A prospector, Hone Werahiko found gold in the Waiorongomai Valley in 1881. The goldmines were never very successful – expensive engineering projects failed due to low yields from the unexpectedly hard rock of the enormous gold bearing reef.
- The Tramway - The Piako County Tramway was built in 1882-83 to shift ore carts. It is New Zealands oldest bush tramway with the original rail still in place. It features three self-acting inclines, of which Butlers Incline is 400 m long and at 25 degrees is very steep.
- Butlers Incline - Butlers Incline is 400m long and rises steeply at 25 degrees. From the bottom of the incline the loaded ore trucks were hauled along by horses, through tunnels, and on down the valley.
- At the bottom of Butlers Incline an aerial ropeway connected the tramway to the Bendigo Battery.
Depart: 8am Return: 4pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Roger & friends
Bookings Open: Monday 18th August
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
Sunday 14th September Omokoroa Ramble – Katikati Grade 1+
The club has not been here is quite a while, so it’s new to all of us.
We are going to make our way to Omokoroa through Katikati and park near the Boat Club where we will have morning tea overlooking the estuary (depending on the weather)
We will make our way to walk the track through the Gerald Crapp Historic Reserve which has trees dating back as far as the 1870s. This reserve is located on a coastal strip around the headland of Omokoroa Point on fairly flat land at the top of steep cliffs. We then loop back on roads with great views to the scenic Omokoroa Walkway where we will have lunch. This part of the walk is along the coast where a boardwalk takes us through the estuary. It is a beautiful walk where we are sure to see plenty of birds if it is low tide.
We can walk as far as we want to before retracing our steps and continue around the estuary back to the van.
Depending on time we may be able to stop for a coffee at the end of the day.
Depart: 8am Return: 4-5pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Dianne, Pam and Barbara
Bookings Open: Monday 1st September
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
Sunday 28th September Arapuni Ramble Grade 1+ & Grade 2
We are planning on making our way to Arapuni Village where we will park and have morning tea.
This walk crosses the Arapuni Suspension Bridge, an impressive structure that spans the Waikato River gorge. The bridge was built in the 1920s to provide access for workers on the Arapuni Power Station, a huge project that transformed the river and the surrounding landscape. The track continues on the other side of the gorge through beautiful native bush, with awesome views of the river and the power station. You’ll be surrounded by towering tawa and rimu trees, with a lush undergrowth of ferns. Keep an ear out for the calls of native birds like the tūī and the bellbird/korimako.
We are hoping to complete a figure 8 on this walk, if not then it will be an in/out walk to the Arapuni Dam.
There may be a chance of a coffee in the village if time permits.
Depart: 8am Return: 5.30pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Roger & Friends
Bookings Open: Monday 15th September
Contact: Pam Phone/Txt 027 278 0690 Email pcornforth@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 12th October Waikino to Waihi Train Trip Grade 1 & 2
We will drive to the Waikino Railway Station where we purchase our train tickets.
There will be time for a cuppa in the cafe and to look at the old gold mining displays, before boarding the Goldfields Heritage Train to Waihi. The train departs at 10.45am.
From the Waihi Railway Station we will walk along the Hauraki Rail Trail back to Waikino, a distance of about 8km.
Shortly after leaving Waihi we see a weir on our right. The trail leads us alongside the Ohinemuri River, which is usually tranquil and beautiful with its rapids, although it can be really impressive after heavy rain.
This area is rich in history, including historic gold mining. As we near Waikino we pass by the site of the Victoria Battery which was erected by the Waihi Gold mining Company in 1897 to process ore from its Martha Mine in Waihi.
There is an option for anyone who does not wish to walk back to Waikino, to purchase a return ticket on the train. On arriving back at Waikino you may wish to take a walk to the battery site and have a wander around there.
Train fare Adult $25.00 return - $20.00 one way Seniors with Gold Card - $20.00 return - $15.00 one way (Eftpos is available at the station)
Depart: 7.30am Return: 5.30pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Barbara & Friends
Bookings Open: Monday 29th September
Contact: Barbara Phone/Txt 0212392995 Email bdurrant7@gmail.com
Tuesday 21st October Annual General Meeting Notice
The Club will be holding our AGM on Tuesday 21st October 7.30pm at Chartwell Cooperative Church, 126 Comries Road, Chartwell Hamilton
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MEMBERS ATTEND THE AGM
We will be discussing how the club may be run moving forward, so please come and have your say.
With this bulletin a document is enclosed regarding the current situation of the club and thoughts on how to move forward. This will also be emailed out to all members.
So please come and have your say. It is important as we want to keep the club going but maybe the format needs to change in the background.
Supper will be provided by the current committee.
Sunday 26th October Kauri Loop Track (Huntly) Grade 1 +
The track starts at Parker Road just south of Huntly on the west side of the river.
It starts with steps to the track junction of the loop walk. We turn right here and walk past an old pa site through regenerating bush to a large kauri which is estimated to be over 1000 years old. A walk through a young kauri grove takes us to a lookout with views of the forest. The track then follows steps down through nikau palms to the car park. Expect to walk 2–2.5 hrs.
Trampers can then consider having lunch at Lake Puketirini in Huntly which is a man-made lake formed out of a disused open coal mine as a place of water recreation.
A further walk around this lake is an option for interested members.
Depart: 8am Return: 4-5pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Alison & Friends
Bookings Open: Monday 13th October
Contact: Sue Phone/Txt 027 4402448 Email rongee@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 9 November Blue Lake to Mt Bike Carpark – Rotorua Grade 1+ & Grade 2
We are driving to the Blue Lake at Rotorua where we will have morning tea and comfort stop.
From here we head for Dianne’s track which is up hill through bush on an uneven, rough track so, you will need poles and is about 2.5hrs as we will not be rushing. This track is shared in places with mountain bikes so be careful, we will have high viz jackets at front and back or group.
We are aiming to end up for lunch at the mountain bike park area known as Forest Hub 2 car park where there are toilets and changing facilities.
We will return the same way with a slight detour to Keith’s nature walk about 30 -40mins. Then back to the van at the Blue Lake.
Depending on time we will stop on our way home for an ice cream at Tirau.
Depart: 8am Return: 4-5pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Dianne, Pam and Barbara
Bookings Open: Monday 27th October
Contact: Dianne Phone/Txt 027 272 6617 Email leedi444@gmail.com
Sunday 23 November Papamoa Beach Walk Grade 1
This is a coastal, wetlands walk.
It starts at the Papamoa Surf club on Papamoa Beach Reserve and walk on the beach towards Mount Maunganui as far as Parton Road. We leave the beach then and walk up the track to the Gordon Spratt Reserve.
The track follows a stream to Domain Road where we join the beach and head back to the start.
Depart: 8am Return: 5-6pm approx
Cost: $5.00 (members - Club is subsidising $20) $30.00 (non-members)
Leaders: Alison & Friends
Bookings Open: Monday 10th November
Contact: Pam Phone/Txt 027 278 0690 Email pcornforth@xtra.co.nz
Sunday 7 December Christmas lunch
The committee are currently working on this Christmas lunch to end our year. The plan is to have a special lunch at the Distinction Hotel in Te Rapa (near Spotlight). No tramp this day.
Keep this date free as this is still being sorted, more info will be given closer to the time.
The club will be subsidising members to enable more to attend.
Any questions contact Dianne: Ph/txt 027 272 661 email: wandererstrampingclubnz@gmail.com
