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:

❏     1x breakfast

❏     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

Are you into Rocks, Tramping, and Drinking? Well don't I have the event for you!!

Introducting part one of the Greywacke Series (Patent pending)

What is a Geologists favourite drink? 

Whiskey on the Rocks!!!

VUWTC and the Geology Society are two of VUW's biggest and best societies! We also have lots of overlapping memberships and a shared love for nature and the outdoors. So, we are devising a three-part collaboration with Geology Society, which will take place over this academic year! 

To start, and for everyone to get to know each other, we are organising a pub crawl for Part 1! Expect to mingle, chat, and discuss your favourite minerals and mountains. Come and take part in the CHALLENGE element of the night:

On this trip we will engage in some healthy Pub Bingo at a few of the finest drinking establishments that Courtney Place and Cuba Street has to offer. Pub Bingo is basically where you complete different challenges as a team at different pubs on our planned route. Challenge examples: swap shirts with a team member, start a conga line with strangers, write a short poem for the bartender and recite it to them. Just a bit of fun to break the ice! The plan is:

1. Start at the Welsh (19:00)

2. BL3

3. Dirty Little Secret

4. Rogue and Vagabond 

5. End at JJs

We will be getting pizza when we get to Rogue and Vagabond (Hence the 5 dollar fee) so hopefully thats a good enough encouragement to stick it out.

Watch out for the next parts of the Greywacke Series! We are hoping to organise some rock climbing and a chill tramp.

Sunday, 1 March 2026 at 2:00 pm to Tuesday, 3 March 2026 at 4:00 pm

Organiser: Hazel Murray (hazelamurray@icloud.com)

OUr Second collaboration with Karori Kaitiaki at Birdwood Reserve. We will be helping to restore a steep Gully of native bush in the reserve, and clearing Kaiwharawhara stream of Tradescandia. This is an important site for Karori Kaitiaki, as it's the home of the future Birdwood Reserve track. It's a super fun way to do some practical work outside that creates meaningful and visible change within the native ecology of our city. Come along and be part of the action!

Please bring gardening gloves, a water bottle and jacket, snacks and if possible a spade, shovel or rake. 

If you sign up please also say that you're going through the Karori Kaitiaki Facebook event, linked below. 

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CT1tc6Hm7/

Hope to see you there!

Cost: TBD

Trip Emergency Contact:

Robyn Surcombe

Can't wait to see you there. 

Meet opposite the Zealandia overflow carpark at 1.50pm. 

Come along to hear about a day in the life of a Department of Conservation ranger, and some exciting upcoming opportunities to collaborate with DOC in the Orongorongo Valley (which involve chatting on walkie talkies!).

The Greater Wellington Backcountry Network (GWBN) has tasked VUWTC with delivering maintenance supplies to several huts. This will support their awesome Caring For Our Huts project, which encourages everyone to "do their bit" to look after Aotearoa's treasured huts.

https://gwbn.org.nz/caring-for-our-huts-2/

We'll be looking for leaders to design their own club trips featuring a 5kg orange bucket! Reach out to Justin (hut maintenance officer) or Jack/Robyn (chief guides) if you're keen :)

Available huts (click on green text for more info!):

EASY: Atiwhakatu Hut

Tararua Forest Park, a 2hr drive from Welly. $10-15 per night. This is a spacious 26 bunker, just a 1-3hr flat walk from the Mt Holdsworth carpark. It requires bookings, but is a fantastic spot with a nice river to swim in. Many options: chill overnighter, add in Jumbo and Powell for a loop, go down a poor track to Mitre Flats, even further to McGregor or Mid King Bivs, or something else!

MEDIUM: Kawakawa Hut

Aorangi Forest Park, a 2hr drive. $10 per night. 6 bunks. Could complete as part of the famous Aorangi Crossing over multiple days, or a return trip via Mangatoetoe hut. If you can get permission, a 2hr journey down Kawakawa Stream from the road. Or even a crazy bush bash route? Add in a bonus visit to Cape Palliser lighthouse?

HARD: Arete Hut

Tararua Forest Park. Free to stay at. 2 bunks, but some camping space. North, South, East, West: so many options! Most direct is via Poads Rd and Te Matawai Hut, a 1hr 15min drive and 8-9hr walk. Could alternatively cross the tops from Dundas Peak in the north, or Tarn Ridge in the south. Or the much-loved track from Blue Range and Arete Forks? What about a Carkeek picnic, or the popular Bannister Crossing? There's sooo many choices!

Tramps Tramps Tramps is our annual flat party! Although there is no tramping involved, please come in your best and most creative tramping or 'tramp'-related attire to a centrally-located Wellington flat. In years gone by, costumes have included Donald Tramp, a trampoline, lady and the tramp, a 1940s lady of the night, or even just your lovely bush dwelling tramper. 

Expect good chat, good music (we will have a DJ!), (questionable?) dance moves, and varying degrees of intoxication.

The address will be emailed to those who sign up! If you're not already, you must become a member of the club to attend.

BYOD!

Important: This event will be hosted at a club member’s flat. Please be respectful of the property.

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! (FL need to know numbers).

• 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.