February 2026 Meeting Report

Meeting Report – February 2026

Colin chaired the meeting.

Trips Past

Ahuriri–Dingle
Four people travelled from the Ahuriri Valley over to Top Hut in the Dingle Valley. A large party was also expected, so tents were required. Members were treated to a fireworks display during the evening.

Herbert Forest Working Bee
A disappointing turnout. Hoods Creek Track has significant wind damage. Some boardwalk was installed across a muddy section.

Christmas Party – Waianakarua Reserve
A hot, pleasant day and a good catch‑up for members, Wednesday Walkers, and Wanderers.

Cass–Lagoon Saddle
Two groups completed this tramp: one of two people and one of four. They met at Hamilton Hut. Weather was good and all enjoyed the trip.

Mt Alexander (changed to Mt Kyeburn)
Due to bad weather, the planned Mt Alexander trip was replaced with Mt Kyeburn. Walkers visited the waterfall, then continued to the top and returned via a 4WD track.

Freehold Creek
Six people walked up this valley near Lake Ōhau. Good weather and lovely beech forest.

Sugarloaf Pass / Rockburn
Three people completed this tramp, which starts from the Routeburn. The Rockburn section was very steep and rough. They also had one day of rain. A solid workout over difficult terrain.

Up and Coming Trips

Twilight Walk
Open to the public. Walk from the North End up Buckleys Hill to the reservoir and return.

Green Point Hut – Jollie Valley
Stay in a musterers’ hut after walking up the Jollie River valley.

Bike Ride
Kakanui and surrounding areas.

Wednesday Walkers
A report was given.

Next club night we will welcome new life members, followed by a pot‑luck supper.

A sub‑committee has been formed to organise celebrations for the club’s 50th anniversary. Ideas are invited.

Robbie demonstrated a device for transferring gas from one cylinder to another.

Trip planning followed, then a cup of tea. The meeting closed at 8.40 pm.

Twilight 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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Little Kyeburn and Buster Diggings

Plan B of the Nobbler – Mt Alexander due to the gale force winds forecast.  Instead of cancelling the trip two full cars of us travelled up the Danesys Pass and found it was indeed blowing a gale at the top of the pass so alternate arrangements were made.  John recommended Little Kyebrun being relatively sheltered, and we drove down another hour to the end of the road at Little Kyeburn carpark area.  

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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.