To celebrate the 105th anniversary of VUWTC's founding, we'll be carrying a hut-themed cake and hut maintenance presents (in an orange bucket!) to our old haunt Penn Creek Hut. We used to be the caretakers, so we'll take a trip down (and up) memory lane to celebrate the volunteer work of VUWTC and others who have cared for the hut (such as exNZFS and the Backcountry Trust) 🥳

Route:

NOTE: This trip is medium difficulty. It involves 1000m ascent in the first few hours, before descending 833m. Penn Creek has 6 bunks, so trip is capped at 6.

Day 1 (Fri 10 July: Matariki!) - We'll meet at Kelburn campus at 9am and leave shortly after. We'll drive 1hr 30min to Ōtaki Forks carpark. We'll bag Parawai Lodge! We'll then walk 3-3.5hr (5km) to Field hut. After lunch, we'll depart for Penn Creek which is another 3-3.5hr (3km). Arrive about 5pm.

Day 2 - We can have a chill morning and leave at 10. Current plan is to return to carpark the way we came via Field hut (6hr or so). We can take a chill pace.

We may stop in Ōtaki for fish and chips on the way home?! 😉

Field Hut info

Penn Creek Hut 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.

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

Full gear list here.

Food:

Please bring 1 breakfast, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, snacks, drinks (NO glass please!), and at least 1 day's emergency food in case we get delayed.

Cost:

- Roughly $13-16 fuel per person

- Hut payment ($15 for a blue DOC hut ticket, you can buy at outdoor stores eg Bivouac, Macpac) - also can use DOC hut pass, or camp for free if you bring a tent

NOTE: standard hut tickets increased from $10 to $15 on 1 July 2026.

Previous VUWTC visits to Penn Creek:

"A dedicated team of Victoria University Tramping Club members..." - Wilderness mag

VUWTC 2022 trip: "Two small trips to repaint Penn Creek"

"VUWTC are the nominal caretakers of this hut..."

Article discussing BCT, exNZFS, VUWTC efforts

Penn Creek reference @ VUWTC's 100th party

VUWTC is sending a group of mystery shoppers to the Ōrongorongo Valley to give DOC anonymous feedback about their booking system and the experience of using Ōrongorongo huts/tracks/carparks.

To assist this, DOC is kindly giving us a free night's stay at one of the Ōrongorongo huts (which we get to ourselves!). Other perks are amazing swimming holes, a short 45min drive from Wellington, and the chance to see/hear North Island Brown Kiwi!

Exact hut/date TBC by co-leaders Hannah and Max.

Ōrongorongo Valley tracks/huts info

Welcome to Wednesday Climbing Nights!

Want to try indoor climbing for the first time, or meet some like-minded climbers? Come along to our weekly climb nights! We climb at Hangdog (Bouldering & Top roping) in Lower Hutt, and Faultline (Bouldering) on Willis St. 

This week, we'll be climbing at Faultline, which is a bouldering gym. This = no ropes/harnesses & no belaying. There are grades for every level of experience, so no matter how much climbing experience you have you’ll have plenty to get stuck into! 

IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME CLIMBING AT FAULTLINE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE (https://www.wellingtonclimbing.co.nz/first_visit_fl/) AND SIGN THE ONLINE WAIVER BEFORE WE LEAVE FOR THE GYM! 

This week: Faultline 

Schedule:

• Sign up! (Even if you are meeting us down there)

• Meet outside Faultline at 5:20 p.m.
• CLIMB!
• You can leave whenever you like (We usually finish up around 7:30-8:00 p.m), return to your flats and halls by bus or walk from the gym.

Entry costs: $15 + $3 for shoes 

This is not paid for through the club—there is no piking fee if you pull out. Pay at FL when we arrive.

To get the VUWTC entry price, just let the front desk know you are with VUWTC. Our discounted price is only from 5:30 pm onwards on Wednesdays.