NSTC Annual Christmas Tramp 2026/27
Kahurangi/Abel Tasman
The Christmas tramp will be slightly different this year.The dates are:
Home Party:
Kahurangi and Abel Tasman National Parks: 27th December 2026 to 4th January 2027.
Assemble at or by midday on the 27th at Nelson Airport - 11 members.
Out Parties: Kahurangi National Park. We will meet one day later - from 28th December 2026 to 5th January 2027. Assemble at or by midday on the 28th at Nelson Airport. One out party will consist of 6 members, and the other 5 members.
Organiser: Eric Skilling
Costs:
Home: TBC Approx $620.00 - includes accommodation Motueka but excludes kayaking/water taxis in Abel Tasman
Out Party 1: TBC Approx $520.00 Includes all accommodation including huts during tramp
Out Party 2: TBC Approx $345.00 Includes van and 2 nights accommodation in Cobb Houses, but does NOT include cost of huts while out tramping
Transport costs are shared equally across all participants, as it was last year.
Home party: Allow about 1.5 hours for the drive to the Airport. Don't book for an early flight.
Out Parties: Allow about 3.5 hours for the drive to the Airport, Don't book for an early flight.
Tramping will be based in the Kahurangi National Park - the setting of several LOTR scenes. These are areas not known to most Club members and provides us with a diversity of options for both Home and two Out parties.
The Home Party will also spend 3 nights in Motueka, allowing us the opportunity to explore the famous Abel Tasman National Park . Activities such as kayaking and water-taxis are not included in the cost.
Kahurangi National Park extends west of Motueka to the West Coast -with braided rivers, beech forests, tussock grasslands, alpine screes and white limestone peaks. It includes Cobb Valley, Lake Peel, Balloon Hut (sponsored by NSTC), Mt Arthur, Gridiron Shelter, Horseshoe Basin, Gordon's Pyramid, and Salisbury Lodge.
Home Party:
We will base ourselves in large houses in the Cobb Valley for the first 5 nights, and then Motueka for the next 3 nights. Motueka is just over an hour from Nelson, and Cobb Valley a further 1.5 hours. There are numerous spectacular day walks in the valley. We are hoping to offer the group the opportunity for two overnighters, firstly a two-hour walk to Sylvester Hut, and a second 5 to 6 hour walk to Balloon Hut. Both huts are bookable so there will be no need to carry tents. There should also be plenty of time for a grocery shop before heading to the Cobb Valley on arrival.
Out Parties: Both Out parties will be required to have a minimum of Medium/Fit Fitness standards for these tramps. Some tramps will require off-track travel, river crossings, and navigation skills, and may involve travel of up to 8 hours for OP1, and up to 9 hours for OP2.
A. OP1: Medium/Fit Out Party:
We are planning to book all huts, so there will be NO need to carry tents for the duration of all the tramps.
The plan is to join the Home Party in Cobb Valley for the first night , 28th Dec, before setting out for an overnighter to Sylvester Hut next day.
Back to Cobb Valley and a hot shower, then set out for 4 nights.
B. OP2 Fit Out Party: We will need to carry tents for the duration of all the tramps. Plan is to join the home party in Cobb Valley for the first night on the 28th Dec before setting out for an epic 7-night exploration of Kahurangi Park.
Back to Cobb Valley and a hot shower and comfy bed before returning to Nelson Airport on 5th.
Trip Grading: https://www.nstc.org.nz/useful-info
Detailed Itineraries
HOME PARTY E/M (Easy/Medium Fitness) Limit 11
Cost $
Leader: tbc
Note - Cooking equipment is to be carried for the Home Party Two Day Trip options:
A: Kahurangi National Park - Cobb Valley:
Numerous trips ranging from 4 to 8 hours depending on energy levels and curiosity, but inlcuding:
- Sylvester hut : 5 to 6 hours return including views of nearby tarns, Iron Lake and Iron Hill. Beech forest and tussock.
- Lake Peel: 6 to 7 hours return. A variety of travel through beech forest filled with streams and birds, sub-alpine vegetation, into a wide valley with the glacial Lake Peel at it's zenith. Views of the famous Kahurangi tablelands. Look out for Kea.
- Gridiron Shelter: 7 to 8 hours. Enjoy the calls of kaka, piwakawaka, tui, bellbird and more thanks to excellent work by Friends of Flora foundation. Peaceful and quiet, this is a real "forest bathing" experience.
Two Day Trips: Four places have been booked at each hut.
1. Sylvester hut and lakes: A high quality hut with easy access to nearby tarns.
2. Balloon Hut: Sponsored by NSTC, the hut is nestled in the magnificent tablelands, with plenty to explore.
A: Abel Tasman - based in Motueka:
There are many options for activities for the 3 nights accommodated in Motueka, including walking, kayaking and swimming in Abel Tasman Park. These will need to be booked and paid for separately. It is less than 20km from Motueka to Abel Tasman National Park.
OUT PARTIES
All registrants required to have completed a River Crossing Course
Out Party One - "OP1": Cost $ per person. Limit 6
Leader: tbc
M/F (Medium /Fit): 5 to 8 hours per day. Off track and above bush line travel to be expected. Varied and occasionally challenging terrain. Experience, fitness and stamina necessary. No need to carry tents.
28th December: Arrive NSN airport by midday for trip to Cobb House
29 December: Warm up by travelling for about 2 hours through the beech forest, on a 4WD track, to Sylvester Hut. Empty packs of overnight gear, then meander to the nearby tarns, and summit nearby Iron Hill to survey the regions to be explored in the next week.
30 December: Back to Cobb house for the night to resupply and hot shower before the next 5-day adventure.
31 Dec: 6 Hours and about 600 metres elevation to Salisbury Lodge. Via Lake Peel and Balloon hut. Nestled in the Tablelands, this hut is famous for the caves nearby, so best to plan for an early start to allow time to explore. Just quietly - this hut is also famous for it's solar-powered toilets. Intrigued? You should be!
1st January: Saddle up early for a 7.5 hour, 750 metre climb to Mt Arthur Hut. Enjoy many highlights of this renowned area of Kahurangi. From peaceful forest festooned with Aaron's beard, onto a challenging climb up Gordon's Pyramid. Into the bizarre landscape of Horseshoe Basin, the inspiration for LOTR scenes. Then 400 metres down to the hut, with expansive views across to Nelson. Look out for Kea.
2nd January: Take day packs for the rewarding 600 metres ascent to the summit of Mt Arthur. Return to the hut in time for afternoon tea. Relax before a big day on the 3rd.
3rd January: Another early start for the 8-hour journey to Balloon Hut via the historic Flora Hut and Gridiron shelter. Enjoy more spectacular views of the Tasman Sea towards Nelson in the occasional breaks in the forest. Follow the river for much of the trip, enjoy the many birdcalls and waterfalls.
4th January: More descent than ascent, the final five hours back to Cobb House takes you across the Tablelands, past Lake Peel and down to the valley floor. Then it's a leisurely hot shower, relaxing dinner and appropriate refreshments with OP2.
5th January: Allow 3 hours for return to Nelson
Out Party Two - "OP2": Cost $ per person. Limit 5
Leader: tbc
F (Fit): 8 to 10 hours per day. Off track and above bush line travel to be expected. Varied and occasionally challenging terrain. Experience, fitness and stamina necessary. MUST carry tents.
Dragon Teeth Low Route, Douglas & Lockett Range.
Extreme Medium Fit to Fit Out party!
Tents to be carried
Topo maps BP23, Bp24
Trip Leader T.B.C
You need to study Topo maps thoroughly as well as do your own research before signingup to this trip, most of this is off track on crudely marked and unmarked routes, with lotsof exposed tops travel, steep accents & descents on rough terrain, scree, & alpine scrub. It will require a good weather window to proceed the section from Anatoki Folks hut toFenella hut which involves 3 days of travel and have no exit routes between Anatoki &Fenella huts, for an idea of this section watch this linkhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyc7r4nCLqE you may also like to take a look on google earth and zoom into the terrain you will cover.
28 th December; meet at Nelson airport and drive to Anatoki track road, from here we set offalong the Anatoki track where we can expect to encounter windfall, slips, and some water courses to cross before arriving at Anatoki bend where we should be able to find a camp the night.
29 th December; this will be much the same as day one, continue along the Anatoki track to arrive at the Anatoki forks hut to rest up for the night as tomorrow is going to ramp upsomewhat, expect about 4 hours. Anatoki Folks hut: 6 bunks, 1 blue ticket.
30 th December; we follow a roughly marked track up into the bush and a relentless climb of about 800 meters, up onto a narrow ridge ☹ to take us over Pts 1270, 1355, and 1422, and ontoYuletide Peak, from there we aim to go between Pts 1488 and 1563 where we thread what is
known as the Needles eye before a steep descent of about 300 meters to Adelade Tarn and
onto the hut for the night, expect about 7 hours. Adelaid Tarn hut: 4 bunks, Basic Bivi, free.
31 st December; From Adelaid Tarn hut we ascend the flanks of Mt Douglas, from here we take the low route and pass below the infamous Dragons Teeth, we drop sharply down 350 meters
and follow from the headwaters of the Anatoki river about 2 k before a steep ascent of 750 meters ☹ between a couple of peaks known as the Drunken Sailors to the southern intersection
of the high route of the Dragons Teeth before dropping down another 300 meters to Lonely Lake
hut for the night, expect about 8-10 hours. Lonely Lake hut: 3 bunks, Basic Bivi, free
1 st January; it starts with another climb back up onto the spine of the Douglas range and
heading in a southerly direction passing Pts 1610 and 1512 and sidling below and around
Kakapo peak and onto Waingaro peak to descend 300 meters to Fenella hut for the night,
expect 7 – 8 hours. Fenella hut: 12 bunks, bookable.
2 nd January; from here we can take the easy route out down the Cobb valley about 5 hours to
the northern road end, but for us wanting more we climb back up to the Waingaro Peak track
and head south over the Lockett range tops to set up and camp the night at Ruby Lake, expect
about 6 – 7 hours.
3 rd January; from Ruby Lake we continue south passing Diamond Lake, Lake Little, Iron Lake,
and onto Lake Sylvester and Sylvesta hut, dependent on time we can continue 1.5 hours out tothe road end and carry on to Cobb house for a hot shower or camp the night, expect 6 – 7 hours. Sylvester hut: 12 bunks, bookable.
4 th January; Cobb Hut - rest day and possibly a light day walk for tomorrows pick up bac to Nelson airport.
5th January: Allow 3 hours for return to Nelson
A non-refundable deposit of $100 must be paid by 31 July and the balance by 31 October. For cancellations after 31 October, trip costs will be refunded only if a replacement takes up the place.
Booking
Booking will be available with effect from 9 am on Saturday 27th June – online only on our website, no texts or emails. Only paid-up members of the club are eligible to participate, and applications will be approved in order of receipt but only if the applicant is considered to have an appropriate level of physical fitness and experience. In the event of over-booking, unsuccessful applicants will be waitlisted and allocated to a trip if there are any cancellations.
N.B: Before booking your air tickets please ensure your Registration has been approved by the Club’s Health & Safety Guide.
Notes Applicable to All Groups
It goes without saying that all trips are subject to weather conditions. Trip leaders should have a plan B in case inclement weather makes the original plan impractical.
All members of the Out Party Two should be equipped with tents.
For the minivans we have to provide our own drivers. An ordinary Class 1 driving license is sufficient, no need for passenger endorsement.
Please indicate to the Trip Organisers if you are willing to be a driver.
- Final trip routes subject to change depending on weather, track conditions and logistics requirements.
- Successful applicants will be required to pay a deposit of $100 by 31 July with the balance on or before 31 October.
- Refunds for cancellations are subject to the usual Club rules.
