2026-01-28 < Weekly activities > 2026-02-11
Activity summary: Wednesday 2026 February 04 to Tuesday 2026 February 10
Zealandia Café/Up Waddington Winder, down Te Whiti Riser/Mt Albert, Sinclair Park & bush tracks/Waiohine Gorge to Dalefield Road, Carterton/Whakatikei River/Otaki Forks/Southern Crossing
Wednesday
Lunch ‘Zealandia Café’ co-ordinated by Barbara Ogilvie, Wed 04/02 10M
E Trip ‘Up Waddington Winder, down Te Whiti Riser’ led by Anne & Hadley Bond, Wed 04/02 5M
EM Trip ‘Mt Albert, Sinclair Park and bush tracks’ led by Dave Reynolds, Wed 04/02 12M
12 members enjoyed a good day in fine and surprisingly dry conditions.
M Trip ‘Waiohine Gorge to Dalefield Road, Carterton’ led by Rob Handyside, Wed 04/02 10M/1NM
Ten members and one prospective member commenced this trip from Waiohine Gorge Road walking up a disused forestry track. There had been heavy rain in the previous 24 hours which was easing to drizzle. As forecast the weather steadily improved. By afternoon we were finishing with a brilliant view from Mt Dick Lookout on a clear, sunny afternoon. The first hour involved an easy climb to pt 532 where we paused for morning coffee. It is from here that we entered a magnificent stand of forest with black beech trees being a particular feature. The walk from here over pt 632 and through several gullies to pt 582 took two and a half hours including the lunch break on a vibrant section of the track.
At the fork in the track we took a right turn and had easy walking for an hour down to Mt Dick Lookout. Our pre-arranged supporter met us at the carpark and couriered the drivers back to collect cars from Waiohine Gorge while the rest of us spent 45 minutes walking down to Dalefield Road to wait for our trip back to Wellington.
Rob Handyside (Trip Leader), Alison Smith, Felicity Steel, Howard Symmes, Susan Guscott, Angela Vanderpoel, Sokha Mei, Nina Sawicki, Chris Ward, Jane-Pyar Mautner, Helena Weller-Chew
MF Trip ‘Whakatikei River’ led by Robin Chesterfield, Wed 04/02 6M
Due to the previous heavy rainfall, a downriver trip was not an option and the second option that involved a river crossing was also not feasible. Instead the trip headed North on 4wd tracks and then down to Paddys creek and waterfall. The return route involved a stream supplejack climb out and back by other 4wd tracks. Hope to do the river trip later if a dry spell happens!
Weekend:
‘Camping at Otaki Forks Camp Site’ led by Jenny Olsen, Fri 06/02 – Sat 07/02 5M
One big tent and 3 small ones worked well, especially having vestibule space to sit in when it rained in the morning. Most of us walked the Arkus Loop near the track that goes up to Field Hut. We also enjoyed 2 river swims; cold but refreshing. Hoping to possibly make this an annual event as there is lots to do. The camp ground is great too with lots of space, clean facilities, a friendly Ranger and happy campers and many pooches.
Stu Hutson reports that the Youth Group completed the Southern crossing last weekend. There were 7 students on the trip and 2 instructors. Friday was a beautiful day and the group reached Kime Hut where there were 34 others. They were delayed by wind and rain on the Saturday, but on Sunday they headed to Mt Hector and then back to the hut.
“Love our Huts” Trip, 6 -10 Feb
Wanganui River/Smyth Hut (West Coast) led by Chris Munn. 4M
Four club members flew into Smyth Hut in the headwaters of the Wanganui River behind Hari Hari on the West Coast for 2 days of hut cleaning and maintenance, plus a soak in the near-by hot pools.
After this, we set off down river towards Hunter’s Hut through typical rough West Coast river terrain, but were stopped by an unclimbable rock gut and a river that was too risky to cross. A 2-minute chopper ride to the hut was sorted, using a Starlink connected phone. (No need for an embarrassing PLB extraction). Thanks Elon Musk.
After another relaxing rest day, we slogged down the rest of the Wanganui for 9 hours, with a mixture of river flats, boulder-hopping and bush bashing to the bridge on SH6, and then on to our car, parked up at a local farm. The four club members had transformed into four bruised club members.
Total 59 members and 1 non member