Trip intentions

Classic main range loop. I'm mainly doing this so I can visit the steel ladder, but am also generally just keen to check out the Hector-Maungahuka traverse.

None of the days should be particularly long or arduous. We'll get lots of tops though, so this is very weather dependent. Dates are subject to change based on arbitrary metrics determined by me.

You need to be a competent tramper, etc.

Cost = petrol + very basic breakfast and dinner. Feel free to bring more interesting stuff to add!

Rough plan:

Walk into Kime in the afternoon of day 1.

Wake up early and pop up to the top of Hector for the sunrise, then back to Kime & spend the day crossing to Maungahuka.  Hopefully we'll have plenty of time left in the day, and can continue through to Aokaparangi.

Day 3 zoom past Anderson memorial (maybe a cheaky side mish to Jac's Biv?), and sleep at Waitewaiwai.

Day 4 easy walk out along the valley.

This year we've decided to put together a team to take part in Relay for Life on the 30th/31st of May at HNRY Stadium 

For those who don't know. Relay For Life is a yearly event run by the Cancer Society across the country to raise money for those in our community suffering from cancer and also for the Cancer Society’s support services, health promotion programs, and cancer research. It's a great way to help give back and remember all our loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

Pricing: Tickets are priced at $25. Late sign-ups are $30, so sign up quickly! - MAKE SURE TO SIGN UP ON THE RELAY FOR LIFE WEBSITE!! 

To Fundraise: Reach out to your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors, and anyone else to sponsor you and support our team!! You could even promise to do a number of laps for however much you raise. 

The event runs all night and your team members take turns holding a baton while they run, walk, dance, or jog around the field competing for the most laps (or not!). HOWEVER, if you don't feel like pulling an all-nighter you can stay for a couple hours or come back to join us in the morning! 

Join our team at - https://wellington.relayforlife.org.nz/t/victoria-university-tramping-club

Please check out Relay for lifes FAQs here: https://relayforlife.org.nz/faqs

If you have any other questions or want to help, feel free to email me at hazelamurray@icloud.com

We're staying the night at Atiwhakatu Hut in the Tararua forest park! Situated in the Wairarapa Dark Sky Reserve, you are almost guaranteed incredible views of the night sky. This event was postponed from International Dark Sky Week, but we can still appreciate the night sky and collect data for scientists!

Along with carrying a heavy telescope, we'll also be delivering hut maintenance supplies in a 5kg orange bucket. This is a Greater Wellington Backcountry Network project covering all Wellington region huts!

Route:

It's a 1hr 45min drive from Wellington to the Mt Holdsworth carpark. We'll then walk 1-3hr to Atiwhakatu hut, where I've reserved 4 bunks (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.

Atiwhakatu 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.

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

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

Food:

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

Cost:

- Roughly $20 fuel per person

- $10 for your reserved bunk

Hey hey hey party people!!

Do you know the difference between a rock and a boulder? Well I dont! But thanks to our kind friends at the GEOLSOC we might be able to find out!

On Wednesday the 27th, instead of a normal climbing night, we will be doing a joint bouldering session at Faultline with members of GEOLSOC and then once we have finished that, we will be on to JJ's for some drinks!

Deets:

- Meet outside Faultline at 5:20pm, head inside at 5:30pm. 

- Cost: $15 + $3 for shoe hire (this is a special discount for members of VUWTC and GEOLSOC). Let staff know you're a member of one of the clubs when you're paying. 

- Is this your first time at FL or hangdog? Fill out this waiver before you arrive: https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/w/v3kb6qbyfvel6rtnjazoja/web and wait by the desk after checking in for your safety induction by FL staff. 
 

I really cannot tell the difference between this Boulder and ROCK - Hopefully GEOLSOC can point it out to us!

For the long weekend we will be heading up to Kawakawa Bay on lake Taupo. It's a 5 hour drive then a 2 hour ish walk to the campsite.

We'll climb sat/sun/Monday morning and then drive home in the arvo to be back Monday night. We will be camping on the lake  

Only sign up if you know how to lead belay/climb safely. 

Costs will be determined later depending on how many people want to come and how many cars we take. Currently we have one full car but if someone else signs up with a car we can make it bigger.

we will send an email closer to the time to figure out a more accurate plan. Also email me if you have a question. 
 

Plan: 

• We will all meet at 8:25 at Courtney Place Stop A. From there we will catch the 83 all the way to Eastbourne and get off at Muritai/ Kowhai Rd Stop in Eastbourne, 
• Follow route along gollans stream from the map above.
• catch 83 back from Kowhai road or the Ferry from days bay. Depends how we are feeling
• SUCCESS

I wanna splash about like an Eel. So why not go do a tramp that accomadates this wish of mine

Also, since this is serviced by a bus we wont need any cars, just a snapper card. So Eco friendly.

No cost for this trip, just paying for the bus or ferry.

Gear:

- Shoes you dont mind getting wet.

- lunch and snacks.

- Warm clothes and wet weather gear.

This is a pretty chill day walk, youll just most likely get wet on it. But it will be a good chance to get out there and shake off mid-term blues. 

Also im pretty sure there are some cool orchids(if theyre in bloom), and other cool plants. Also hopefully we see some Tuna (Eels) and Koura (Freshwater Crayfish).

Further details about this track below: 

https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/trip/gollans-stream-route-east-harbour-regional-park/?srsltid=AfmBOoqhGv8fc-zjtMAagGatlwaLb_dvM-2Vm4h7gfPXYpAT_OxL4TK6

https://wtmc.org.nz/trip-report/breaking-free-of-lockdown/ 

Come hike one of the Wellington region's most famous day walks, the Escarpment Track! It follows the Kāpiti Coast from Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki, with stunning views of Kāpiti Island and the coastline!

The Escarpment is a 9.1km medium difficulty walk that takes 3-4 hours. It involves lots of stairs and steep, narrow pathways (so be mindful if you have vertigo). There's a total ascent of 200 metres. The stairs to the walk's summit are nicknamed the "Stairway to Heaven"! 😇

Plan:

We'll start walking from the Muri Road end at 11am and should reach the Paekākāriki track end by 3pm. We'll then head home on the Kāpiti train (it comes every 30min)!

Along the way, we'll help the Te Araroa Wellington Trust with a cool project. They are building new information signs on the track, and have tasked VUWTC with transporting some concrete/timber from 2 pickup areas to two drop-off spots ((this will only be a small part of the walk):

1. From the start of the track to about 1km in

2. From the summit (halfway along the walk) to a short distance away (the top of the summit stairs)

Cost:

- Train fare for several fare zones

Kia ora, 

As you're likely well aware, the tramping club has a long standing tradition of Tuesday tacos nights.

This year my flat has committed to buying all of our grocieries plastic free, and we'd love for you to give it a go too. So, in the easy and managable form of tacos, I challange you to avoid buying ingredients in plastic packaging for this Tuesday tacos. Perhaps you can take it as an oppurtinity to prepare something extra exciting beforehand. 

My very kind and generous flatmates have offered to cook bulk flatbreads in the hour beforehand, but if anyone else wants to make some to bring as well, as your ingredient contribution, that could be great. 

Cheers!

(address will be shared in the meeting on the 19th)

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. 

Hope to see you there!

Back by popular demand!

Tomorrow's weather is looking rather fine, so come and join us for a dip at Oriental.

We will meet outside the changing block at 07:00.

Bring:

- Togs

- Towel

- Warm comfy layer

- Thermos/$ for coffee after !?

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.

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.

Bronze Wings - By Hayden

Like a seabird

Flowing flying — shining

Wings of bronze

Salt stings the nose

Clouds offer a comforting embrace 

Always a journey

freedom can be so enticing

is freedom really found far from home

or is it found where the salt mets sand 

bush meets grass

between stepping out the door or staying in

catch an uplifting wind

carrying to shore

salt tarnishs the soul

returned to the same place

never the same