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 :)

Date is TBC but quite likely.

Plan is to visit the Eastern Hutt Hut (and camp in tents/flys), then walk out the next day down the river (and visit the Hydrology tower!!)

Shouldn't be too outrageous, but please be somewhat fit.

Conditional on a driver signing up - you will get priority!

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 opportunities to collaborate with DOC in the Ōrongorongo Valley (which involve chatting on walkie talkies!).

Bring along any questions you have!

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 Hangdog, which is a bouldering and top-roping gym. This = ropes/harnesses & 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! 

This week: Hangdog (bring cars + $3 for your driver)

Schedule:

• Sign up! (Even if you are meeting us there - they need to know numbers ahead of time)

• Meet at the Hunter carpark at 5 p.m, leaving at 5:10pm on the dot.

• CLIMB!

• You can leave whenever you like - but drivers need to have the same number of people in their cars that they brought out (and make sure people you drove out know when you want to leave!)

• PAY YOUR DRIVERS

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.