My friend and I will be in South Island over the April break. We are planning to do this tramp and if anyone is able to join us, please let me know ASAP! I am able to take 3 people in my car, so ATM that is the trip capacity. This might change if anyone else can also bring a car.

The Greenstone and Caples Track is an intermediate-level tramp in the Otago region of South Island, with the start of the track located near Glenorchy. See the DOC page here. 

The plan is as follows:

13th April: Pick people up from Queenstown in the morning. We will be at the road end by midday (1.5 hour drive from Queenstown). Greenstone road end to Mid Caples Hut (9km).

14th April: Mid Caples Hut to McKellar Hut (22km) 

15th April: McKellar Hut to Greenstone Hut (18km)

16th April: Greenstone Hut to road end (12km), an early start to make sure we can get back to Queenstown in good time for any flights/buses/long drives home.

At the moment there is good availability at each of the huts and campsites, but this will likely change as the break approaches so I would like to get this locked in fairly soon. 

We will be passing through Queenstown before and after the tramp. If you aren't yet planning to be down south or cannot drive yourself to join us, we are able to pick you up from Queenstown airport or the bus interchange. Ideally, this would happen early on the morning of the 13th. We can then drop everyone back to Queenstown on the 16th. It is up to you to book transport to/from Queenstown. Flights are looking quite expensive, so if you do need to fly you might want to look at this ASAP. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about these logistics.

Cost Breakdown

• Huts are $25 per person per night 
• Campsites by the huts are $10 per person per night
• Share of fuel - who can say what this will be nowadays, hopefully <$20 per person...
• Food - it would be nice to do a group meal
• Transport to/from Queenstown

Gear

You will need standard gear for a 4-day tramp for this trip (pack, sleeping bag, layers, waterproofs, etc. We can share out things like cooking equipment). I will send out a specific gearlist to those who sign up well in advance.

Please email me or find me at a Tuesday meeting if you are keen to join or have any questions! :)

To celebrate International Dark Sky Week 2026, we're staying the night at Kawakawa Hut in the Aorangi forest park! Situated in the 'dark core' of the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, you are almost guaranteed incredible views of the night sky!

https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/these-huts-have-some-of-the-best-views-of-the-night-sky/

Route:

It's a 2.5hr drive from Wellington to the Mangatoetoe hut carpark. We'll then walk 4-5hr to the hut. Trip capped to 10 people due to limited bunk space (some will need to tent outside).

Mangatoetoe hut info

Kawakawa hut info

Gear:

You need basic overnight tramping gear. Please bring reasonable outdoor footwear (eg tramping boots or trail runners, NOT jandals!), and an overnight tramping pack. Bring a pot/cooker if you have them. You can borrow club gear (eg packs, sleeping bags), but please let us know in advance. If you have any questions about gear, send a message to the club insta and we'll get you sorted.

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

Food:

Have breakfast on Saturday before arriving at Kelburn. Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks and drinks, and some emergency food in case we get delayed in the valley. Re drinks, cans and plastic only please, no glass!

Cost:

- $20-25 fuel per person

- Hut payment ($10 for a blue DOC hut ticket, you can buy at outdoor stores eg Bivouac, Macpac, Kathmandu) - also can use DOC hut pass, or camp for free

Along with carrying a big heavy telescope, we'll also be lugging a big heavy orange bucket in solidarity with Max Honiss's Arete hut trip 🧡

This is a tramp for all girls and gender minorities, NO BOYS ALLOWED!!!

When: We are leaving on the 14/04 and returning on the 16/04.

Where: We are walking into Waitewaewae Hut from the Ōtaki gorge road on day one (10km). On day two, we will go for a day walk, a swim, play some cards and hang out! On day three we will walk back out to Ōtaki gorge road. This will be an easy/medium trip. 

Cost: Will cover shared dinner and transport. $22

What you need to bring:

- All your basic and overnight gear: https://www.vuwtc.org.nz/resources/gear-list 

- Togs! (And maybe a small towel)

- 2 Breakfasts,  3 lunches, and plenty of snacks

- Hut passes. We will need two standard hut passes for two nights at the hut. We will stop and get these on the way. 

The hut sleeps 16 people, and we will also bring a couple of tents in case there's other groups there.

We currently have 2 drivers on this trip, so we can take 9 people! If you are on the waitlist and want to come, find someone who has a car! If any drivers do have to pull out, please email grace asap. 

Psst - don't tell the run club, but the tramping club is now also doing the odd run and swim.

The Details:

Meet at Freyberg pool for a 5km run up towards the airport around the bays. 
Finish up with a cheeky dip at oriental bay.

Get some coffee afterwards for the hell of it.

Beginner's Bushcraft: Your Tramping Basics Intro!

Come along to Beginner's Bushcraft! This is suitable for anyone, no matter your experience: but will be aimed at absolute beginners. If you've never been tramping or camping or before, come along and we'll show you the ropes.

Before we go, we'll talk about some skills a Tuesday meeting like:

• What gear and food you'll need
• How to pack your bag
• How to pick the right track for you

Then we'll spend a weekend at the Orongorongo river (easy 2ish hour walk) sleeping under a fly & learning some basic bushcraft things such as:

• How to use a map
• How to cross a river
• How to light fires
• Some basic first aid
• Whatever else we want to learn

We need plenty of drivers! The more we get, the more people we can fit on the trip. 

Gear list:

Clothing

❏     A tramping backpack that fits all your gear in it

❏     Tramping boots or trail runners. No converse/air force 1s/jandals.

❏     2 pairs of socks, preferably wool/merino to keep your feet warm and dry

❏     Shorts + tee-shirt for walking in (not cotton or denim)

❏     Fleece/wool jumper (not cotton)

❏     Clothes for camp and sleeping, including a thermal top and bottom (polypro or merino)

❏     Warm hat

❏     Sunhat 

❏     Raincoat

Other:

❏     A warm sleeping bag

❏     Comfortable sleeping mat

❏     Toothbrush + toiletries

❏     Bowl and cutlery

❏     Headtorch + spare batteries

❏     Sunscreen

❏     1L+ water bottle

❏     Toilet paper + hand sanitizer

❏     Some basic first aid eg plasters and any personal medication you might need.

Important: Bring a notebook and pen for some of the lesson.

Food:

❏  personal addition to breakfast e.g. fruit, peanut butter (we are providing oats as a base)

❏   personal addition to dinner e.g. dried meat, pesto, cheese (we are providing pasta)

❏     2x lunches 

❏     Snacks 

 A little poem written by me (Jack)

Why were you lost in the bush

Was it your compass broke

Or abandoned by your hope

Mayhaps the light of the morn will guide your way

Through glistening ferns - they won’t lead you astray

Across rivers, like arteries that feed the sea

Oh, how forlorn the great forests feel

But if only you knew some tricks

Perhaps you'd be joyous and free

At home in the forest amongst the trees

Heya, 

I am going to be heading to Mt Ruapahu over mid trimester break. from sunday 5th april to thursday 9th. 

itenerary: 

sunday 5th: Leave Welly and drive to Whakapapa early and walk from whakapapa to Waihohonu campsite  ( will be tenting this night as huts are full) 5 1/2 hours according to DOC - 14.3KM - option to head to Tama Lakes 

Monday 6th: Waihohonu to Rangipo Hut - 5hr with optional 1 hour side quest - 12.5km 

tuesday 7th: Rangipo hut to Mangaehuehu 5 hr 30 8.5km 

wednesday 8th: mangaehuehu hut to Ohakune Mountain road 3 hours - will leave hut early for walk out. If we have 2 cars, one car will be there waiting for us, other wise we will need shuttle/ hitchhiking. we will pick up other car at Whakapapa, then potential for some exploring, maybe some geology rock exploring or bouldering if people are keen for wednesday night/ thrusday. 

Thursday 9th: drive back to welly. 

We will probably do shared breakfast and dinner. 

Trip will be limited to 5 as we only have one car. but if someone with a car signs up we can take up to 10. 

Costs: fuel, 2x hut passes, food and accomodation for wednesday night. 

will need overnight tramping gear. 

Feel free to reach out with any questions :)