Stargazing at Atiwhakatu Hut 🔭 #orangebucket

We're staying the night at Atiwhakatu Hut in the Tararua forest park! Situated in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, we're almost guaranteed incredible views of the night sky. We'll have a late celebration of International Dark Sky Week by carrying in a heavy telescope and collecting data for scientists!

We'll also deliver a 5kg #orangebucket full of hut maintenance supplies. This supports GWBN's "Caring for our Huts" initiative, which encourages all hut users to do their bit to prolong the lives of the Wellington region's (and Aotearoa's) precious backcountry network! More details here: https://gwbn.org.nz/caring-for-our-huts-2/

Route:

I've reserved 4 bunks at Atiwhakatu Hut (it's a standard hut, but it must be booked). Trip is capped to 4 people, as only a few spaces were left when I booked. This trip is easy-medium. The walk is 2-3hr (7.2km) each day, with lots of steep but short ascents/descents.

Day 1 (Sun 31 May) - We'll meet at Kelburn campus at 9:30am and leave shortly after. We'll drive 1hr 45min to Mt Holdsworth carpark (near Masterton). We'll walk to Atiwhakatu Hut along the Atiwhakatu Track, which is 2-3hr. The track is steep at times to ascend/descend several bluffs, but overall it's mostly flat. There are lots of streams and narrow swingbridges to cross. There is an active slip we'll have to navigate carefully by crossing the adjacent river. We should arrive at the hut by 2-3pm, where we'll stay the night.

Day 2 (Mon 1 Jun) - We'll leave the hut by 10-11am latest and return to the carpark via the Atiwhakatu Track. We'll get to the carpark about 1-2pm. It's the same 1hr 45min drive back home. Potentially stop in Masterton or Greytown for coffee and shopping?! We should arrive in Wellington by 4-6pm.

Atiwhakatu Hut info

Atiwhakatu Track info

Gear:

Please bring overnight tramping gear. Key things are a tramping pack, warm clothing, a windproof raincoat, tramping boots or trail runners, a sleeping bag, a bowl/cutlery, a headtorch, a big water bottle, and a first aid kit/personal medication. Bring a pot/cooker if you have them. I also recommend a towel/togs, as there are nice swimming spots at the hut and carpark.

You can borrow club gear (eg packs, sleeping bags), but please ask in advance :)

https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/resources/gear-list

Food:

Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks, drinks (NO glass please!), and some emergency food in case we get delayed. Have breakfast on Tuesday before arriving at Kelburn.

Cost:

- Roughly $20 fuel per person

- $10 for your reserved bunk