Twighlight Hike – 10 February 2026

This was the second twilight hike that we have held over the summer to promote the tramping club to the public. This hike started in the reserve at the end of Meon St and we had 8 members of the public and 7 tramping club members turn up.

The night was warm but overcast, with the odd spit of rain–but it wasn’t enough to damping the hike. We started off through the reserve and a walkway to Fernbrook Rd and around to the bottom of Buckley’s Hill. It was then up the hill on a well-maintained mowed track with great views over town the higher up you got.

At the top of the hill, it was then a bit of road walking around onto Reservoir Road with great views of the Kakanui Mountains and along to the Reservoir Mountain bike tracks. We spent about ¾ of an hour exploring the many tracks in the pine trees before retracing our steps back down Buckley’s Hill and back to the reserve at Meon St.

The walk was just over 2 hours and about 6km. Thanks to everyone that turned up to enjoy the night out, and it was good to meet some new people.

–Neville

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Cass Saddle & Lagoon Saddle 12th – 14th December 2025

Trip Report: Cass Saddle & Lagoon Saddle 12th – 14th December 2025

This is a deservedly popular tramp, easily accessible from SH 73, with options for an easy three-day hike staying at Cass Saddle and West Harper huts, or a two-day trip staying at Hamilton Hut. It takes 12-16 hours in total.

We were fortunate to have six trampers and two cars on this long-awaited club trip. Having two cars meant one car was parked at the Cass car park (now well off the road, through a gate by the DOC sign on SH 73, and around the corner) and the other car was parked up the Cora Lyn road near the Bealey Hut.

For those starting at the Bealey Hut end, Julian noted that you could stay Friday night at the Bealey Hut for an early start to Lagoon Saddle on Saturday.

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Next morning, leaving the hut at 8am, we were soon out into open tussock (poled route), climbing gently to Cass Saddle (1326m). From here the track descended steeply into Hamilton Creek bush, then on to the tussock flats leading to Hamilton Hut (3.5hrs) We decided to spend the night at the spacious Hamilton Hut (20 bunks), giving ourselves a good rest that afternoon, as we were not sure about the state of West Harper Hut further on. It also meant we would be joined by Julian and Lynette that evening, when they arrived in from Bealey Hut. They enjoyed their trip down the Harper River, stopping for picnics in the shade by the river. Hamilton Hut was busy with Te Araroa walkers, weekend trampers from Christchurch, as well as fishermen and 4WD drivers dropping in from the lower Harper River. Robbie, Julian and Lynette had plenty of tent sites to choose from, with a watchful, knowing kea for company.

Aware we had a big day ahead on Sunday, we were up at 5.30am and away by 6.15, with Julian and Lynette heading up to Cass Saddle, and our group crossing swing bridges on the way up the Harper. We were curious to check out historic West Harper Hut (2 hrs) and found sacking bunks had been covered with tight fitting plastic, so were comfortable enough. The hut is full of character, and I’d recommend it for an overnight stay. Then on up the beautiful Harper River to Lagoon Saddle Shelter for lunch at 12 noon. From here it was a short sidle above Lagoon Saddle, where the view opened dramatically, giving us magnificent views of Arthur’s Pass peaks and the Waimakariri.

Then it was all down-hill, on a rather boggy track around Mt Bruce until we reached a beech/pine forest where we zigzagged down, reaching Bealey Hut by 2.30pm to find Robbie waiting for us. It had been a long 8 hour day for the ladies (Robbie, Julian and Lynette were much quicker!), but Robbie had already swapped cars with Julian, so we could head straight home.

Thanks to a great, fun team; always ready for a challenge and eager to explore new territory.

Jenny Kitchin

Ahuriri-Dingleburn

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“ Four intrepid trampers left Oamaru at 7am on Saturday morning, 15th November, to drive to Omarama and then up the Ahurriri Valley to park at the start of the old cattle track up to the top of the ridge. The drive up the valley was uneventful, until we reached the largest and widest stream channel crossing the road. The road ended at a bank, where the last heavy rain event had washed the road away. An investigation on foot found where vehicles had wound their way down stream, and then wound their way around rocks and stream channels to emerge on the far side. Low ratio gear engaged, and we slowly our way through, then carried on to the car park which was just before Base Hut.

Twilight Walk: Oamaru Foreshore – 3 November 2025

Seven of us met at 6.30pm on a beautiful evening for a 2 hr walk around town, taking in some of our amazing scenery.

We started off at Medway St car park behind the Council building and headed off through Takaro Park, across the main road into Cross St, around to Eden St, and into the Glen Warren Reserve. From there we took the track up to the native bush area of the Warren Reserve and out on to the Skyline walkway, with great views over town and the Kakanui Mountains beyond.

We then dropped off the skyline walkway onto Derwent St, then onto Ouse St, back across the main road, and then down to the bottom of Orwell St.

With low tide being at 8.30pm, and it now being 7.30pm, we dropped down onto the Oamaru foreshore. We could see a clear path down the beach towards the Oamaru harbour, but with the shingle being quite loose up high, we had to walk on the firm shingle by the water edge–having to dodge a few waves every now and then. It was a lovely walk down the beach, but the Council has made a big rock wall all the way down to try and protect Oamaru from the sea and erosion.

As we got down near the Oamaru creek, and with the sun setting on the Harbour area, we climbed back up and out over the swing bridge near the old freezing works, through Harbour St gardens, and along the walkway under Thames St bridge. It was then over the stepping stones on the Oamaru creek back near the Council building, and back to the car park.

All up we covered about 5.6 km in just under 2hrs, on a nice warm evening and a hike with a bit of everything. Thanks to everyone that turned up and for the great company again.

–Neville

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Mt St Cuthbert

Mt St Cuthbert, St Cuthbert Range, Omarama. October 19^th 2025

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Here, three members of NOTMC met up with Rodney and Dave Woods from Dunedin, starting the climb at 9.50 am. It was great to have these guys lead us, as they had hiked to the summit and back the same way two months earlier. Beware of the DOC sign suggesting it takes 2 hours to the Summit – it took us 3.5 hours.

After walking through a lucerne track between two fences, we started the steep climb. Rather than staying close to the fence line where the DOC markers are placed, it was easier to follow sheep tracks up the ridgeline. After forty minutes of climbing, the views were impressive: the braided Ahuriri flowing down to lake Benmore, The Buscot and Benmore Peak to the north. Gliders were floating below us, competing with kahu soaring on the nor’west wind. And beyond them, we could see Lake Ohau, The Ben Ohau Range, and Lake Pukaki. Aoraki/Mt Cook was lightly masked by the incoming cloud.

I hour and 40 minutes after setting out we reached the fence line junction with the 4WD track from Omarama station. We followed this track, with the nor’west wind pounding us, until we found some shelter behind tussocks for a 25 minute lunch stop. Adding extra layers of fleece and jackets, and exchanging sunhats for woolly hats, we battled our way into the ferocious wind to eventually reach the summit of Mt St Cuthbert (1558m) 3 hours and 35 minutes after setting out. The pole marking the trig point was covered in ice, and we clung on to it to keep steady in the gusting nor’westerly.

Rather than returning by the same route down the slippery gravel of the steep ridgeline, Rodney suggested we duck out of the wind and follow a south east ridge down to the headwaters of Glen Creek and the 4WD track leading out to the Otamatakou Easement. We needed to cut through a paddock to join up with the easement from the 4WD track. It was a long walk out to the Benmore Holiday Park on State Highway 83, and from there it was another 5.2 km walk (I hour) along the A2O Cycle Trail to the parked cars. We returned at 7:15 pm, having completed a round trip of 9 hours and 25 minutes, covering a distance of 26.5 km.

The official DOC descent route down to the Otamatakou starts at another summit rock outcrop, east of the actual summit and follows a boundary fence with a DOC marker. This fence joins on to the 4WD track we followed. We will try that route next time! On that next trip, when coming out at Benmore Holiday Park, we could have a bike or car waiting for us to save that trek along the A20.

Thanks to Rodney, Dave, Lorenna and Colin for their ever cheerful company.

Jenny Kitchin, Rodney Meiklejohn