North Shore Tramping Club
Ten keen hikers piled into the club bus late on Thursday and headed north.
As a first-timer on an overnight hike with the club, I was delighted to find mattresses laid out in the back of the bus. It instantly transported me back to my teenage ski club days. They certainly made the journey more comfortable!
What a great bunch of people to spend a weekend with. AJ did a sterling job driving and faithfully obeyed Google Maps … right up until Google decided to send us down a road clearly designed for mountain goats rather than buses. The last 30 minutes had those of us lying on the mattresses bouncing from one side of the bus to the other. Bob, the water taxi driver, couldn’t believe we’d come that way. Suffice to say, the ferry from Russell to Opua on the way home was a lot more comfortable and quicker.
We arrived at Rawhiti Marae just after 10pm looking forward to a cuppa only to find the gas wasn’t connected. Never mind. Out came 10 mattresses and off to bed we went. I think we all had a pretty good sleep.
John was on the phone at first light and eventually tracked down someone who arrived with a couple of portable gas cookers. Crisis over! Next stop was Urupukapuka island, courtesy of Bob, our local water taxi driver, historian and storyteller.
So sad the cafe wasn’t open. Bronwyn was particularly distressed after realising she’d grabbed the wrong packet of pre-made lunches from the fridge and was now facing the prospect of three days surviving on dry bread sandwiches. Thankfully by the time we finished our leisurely hike around the island, the cafe had opened. Beers, coffee and food all round! I even bought a toastie to have for lunch the next day.
The afternoon back at the Marae was nice and relaxed. A few of the brave or should I say mad went for a swim. Men of course! With a 6am alarm looming (thanks John) most people were tucked up before 9pm.
Poor Mike’s knee, injured on a previous club hike, wasn’t up to the Cape Brett Track, so he sensibly took the ferry to the Cape, cleaned the hut and wandered up to the lighthouse while the rest of us started the hike to the Cape.
Bob shared a local path so saved us going down to the beach. Straight up the hill instead!A few of us, myself included, were a little apprehensive about the Cape Brett hike. It turned out to be every bit as spectacular as everyone promised- and every bit as hilly! Stunning views, plenty of mud to keep us honest, enough ups and downs to make your legs wonder what they’d ever done to deserve this. That final climb… well it was a real effort
Bob shared a local path so saved us going down to the beach. Straight up the hill instead!A few of us, myself included, were a little apprehensive about the Cape Brett hike. It turned out to be every bit as spectacular as everyone promised- and every bit as hilly! Stunning views, plenty of mud to keep us honest, enough ups and downs to make your legs wonder what they’d ever done to deserve this. That final climb… well it was a real effort!
Seeing the lighthouse was a glorious moment, followed by the welcome sight of the hut perched above the ocean. What a location! Most of us arrived by around 3pm leaving plenty of time to relax, snack and chatter. Conversations ranged from Russian politics with Tatiana to life in China with Louis, Lily and Tina. It certainly made us appreciate how fortunate we are to live in NZ.
The hut was packed with 23 people, dinner time was a lively affair, and with no electricity there wasn’t much to do except admire the night sky and head to bed at 8pm or soon after.
The next morning was relaxed as our water taxi wasn’t due until 1pm. John kindly headed off early with Mike. Hopefully your knee has forgiven you now you’re home, Mike! The rain overnight only made the track back more slippery, no names mentioned of the 3 that had a slip or two!
Back at the marae it was a quick pack-up before heading south, with a gourmet stop at MacDonald’s in Whangarei before heading onto Auckland.
Thanks all for a truly fabulous weekend. Great company, fun and incredible scenery. I look forward to the next one.
Trip Organizer John Porter. Trip report by Bronwyn Hill
The latest newsletter is here
It has an update on the Conservation Amendment bill, info on FMC's photo competition, and on the NZ Mountain film Festival.
The latest news is here. The Kaimai ranges are our nearest location for 'proper tramping' ie tracks that offer a challenge, and NSTC assists in track clearing there. You can be part of this! The Waitakere ranges tracks that have been upgraded and re-opened represent easier walks, and are also part of our trip programme.
NZ MSC Newsletter August 2025
Kia ora,
There are only two days left before Love our Huts campaign turns into action, so we want to share with you the most recent updates.
Exciting Milestone We’ve just hit our 400th hut registered - what a fantastic achievement! As of last week, we now have over 400 huts registered, and interest is really snowballing.
Our Purpose Love Our Huts aims to inspire and mobilize the outdoor community to protect and care for Aotearoa New Zealand’s network of backcountry huts, ensuring they remain accessible and loved for future generations.
Can You Still Register? Yes, absolutely! You can easily sign up at fmc.org.nz/love-our-huts-and-tracks/ and register the huts you’re keen to look after. If you want to add more huts, simply re-register for the additional ones at the same link. You'll find the lists of huts still available on our web page. Once registered, we’ll send out info packs and stickers to get you started.
What’s Involved? To give you a better idea of what's involved, we're attaching a digital copy of the survey form and the welcome letter you’ll receive. For DOC’s serviced huts, there’s no need for a complete spring clean - just a quick tidy-up and a check on the status and hut book will do!
How You Can Help
Thank You! A huge thanks to everyone who’s already part of Love our Huts. Together, we’re showing just how important our incredible network of huts and tracks is, and we’re doing our part to care for and protect them.
See you in the hills!
Checklist_for_Love_our_huts.pdf
Ngā mihi,
Mick
Campaign coordinator
020 4001 6921
P.S. Visit fmc.org.nz/love-our-huts-and-tracks/ to see the latest list of huts still needing love - take a look and see if there’s one more hut you can add to your efforts!
Stu Leighton, Senior Advisor on Kauri dieback at Auckland Council, presented an update for the club last month. He has sent more info for those interested.
Firstly, there is a link to the Tiakina Kauri/Kauri Protection Agency, detailing the kauri research database.
Secondly is a link to the 2021 survey in the Waitakere Ranges
Check it out!
How lucky were we with the weather today during our tramp around Sullivan's Bay and Te Muri, Mahurangi Regional Park West! A bit breezy when we weren't protected by headlands or when we were enjoying the view at Tungutu Point. Just past Tungutu Point, nearer to Mita Bay, due to some recent landslips we spotted some recently revealed heavily folded rock formations demonstrating how much upheaval the rock around here would have been under when it was in its molten form! There were only a few very brief showers and we managed to hide for lunch under a large Pohutukawa with its powerful roots hanging off an embankment as the weather front plowed its moody, dark clouds above us, with the odd crack of lightning, thankfully not too close! One quick shower as we headed off after lunch for wet feet time crossing over the Te Muri Estuary to Te Muri on the low tide before heading up to the top of the hill overlooking Wenderholm Regional Park.
The tides being conducive we explored the foreshore a little around the point looking directly across to Wenderholm spit, noting that there's a cave to explore at a later date and to see if we could get around to Puhoi Cottage. No time today for wading out to little Pudding Island at the main Sullivan's Bay where we'd parked, but it's worth it when you have time. Usually there's some pretty, colourful starfish and other critters in the shallow trench on the way over. (Better to wade over at low tide, otherwise it's a bit deep). It's all in the timing! Absolutely spectacular colours with the blue skies, and super dark clouds of the front passing over. Speaking of timing, spring must be around the corner as we saw our first early freshly born lamb of the season!
Another stunning day out adventuring with the club and a respectable 12-ish kms of some steep ups and downs and the odd sheep pat or two! A doddle after the previous Sunday completing near to 22kms!
In September, the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust is organising a long weekend of hiking and camping on a local High Country Station close to some outstanding DOC areas. There are 4 day walks organised and lead by local enthusiasts, 3 nights entertainment and all meals catered for, at a price of $395.
Terry Jones from the Trust has said the following: "there are mountain biking (ebikes welcome) group rides and there will be horse trails. 5-7km days on Friday and Monday with 10-15km days Saturday and Sunday. Opportunities for keen ones to do a bit more or less keen ones to cut things short! It is really a social gathering of keen outdoors folk kicking off the warmer months with a bit of low intensity adventuring and great camp camaraderie. BYO camper, pitch a tent or sleep in the woolshed! Average age 65 but of course there are a few younger ones also."
More information can be found here https://goldfieldstrust.org.nz/introduction/the-spring-kick-starter/
Rebecca and Iain Durry are the owners of Kawakawa Station located at Ngawi, Cape Palliser which is at the southernmost tip of the North Island. Their three-day walk is one of the Wairarapa’s best-kept secrets and is a bucket-list experience!
The walk is fully catered with different accommodations each night, packs/luggage are transported and the walk provides a good challenge, encompassing different terrain and scenery each day.
For further information please check out this flyer
For Sale. Pair of Scarpa Women’s ZGPro GTX Size EU 41. Worn once and in immaculate condition. As good as new.
