Monthly Report
April 2025 Clubnight
Monday, April 14th, 2025
Julian chaired our meeting today.
Trip Reports
Elephant Hill 8 people enjoyed this walk including some from Waimate. A round trip,visiting both the head and the backside of the elephant.Good weather.
Glen Warren Twilight Walk
The public were invited to join us on this walk starting and ending at the gardens.
Nth Temple
5 people went up to the Temple valley hoping to make Rabbiters Peak but because of the very windy conditions were driven back but made it as far as the tarn.
Mt Kyeburn
6 people did this walk.They enjoyed good views and good weather.
The Wednesday walkers and the wanderers gave their reports,
Up and Coming Trips
Mt Heim via Canyon Creek
Oahu Peak or Egg Lake
Lake Coleridge .Options from a base accommodation.
A reminder of our A.G.M. and Trip planning for next months meeting.
Our speakers tonight were Julian and Lyn Hardy telling us about their recent trips ,walking the Motatapu track,the Heaphy track and up to the Mueller hut.The Motatapu Trackgoes from Arrowtown to Glendu Bay.This track is almost all along high ridges which are exposed but with great views.A lot of up hill grunts.They spent 3 nights in good huts. The track passes through Soho Station and luckily the weather wasn”t windy.
The Heaphy track was enjoyable .It runs from the Collingwood area to Karamea and is 78.4 kms long.They spend 3 nights and 4 days covering this in good company and in good huts.A great tramp with varying terrain,bush, rivers and beaches and they crossed the new bridge over the Heaphy.They also had good weather for their tramp.
Another walk they did was in the Mt Cook area up to the Mueller Hut They had beautiful weather and great views.
Meeting closed at 8.20pm followed by a cup of tea.
March 2025 clubnight
Monday, March 10th, 2025
Jenny chaired our meeting.
Trip Reports
Nth Peak Cave 10 people did this walk from Trotters Gorge .Made it to the cave then on to the top of Nth Peak for lunch.Good views from the top on a fine day.
Twilight Walk
A walk around Cape Wanbrow was held on Feb 17th and the public were invited to join us.3 people took up the offer and enjoyed the evening walk.
Dusky Trail 4 people left the Pukaki Canal carpark and had a hot but picturesque walk along this biking/walking trail.
Lake Herron to Lake Emily Hakatere
A nice easy walk from Lake Heron to Double hut then on to Manuka hut.Tents were required at Double hut but the weather was good. Beautiful views in this backcountry area.
Mt David
7 people climbed this peak from Danseys Pass Rd.A gentle start then steeper and nearer the top quite tricky.Lovely 360 views and Mt Cook could be seen in the distance.A rewarding climb but a big day.
Wednesday walkers gave their report.
Up and coming trips Skyline walk at twilight
East Matukituki at Anniversary Weekend
Nth Temple with options include Rabbiters Pass
Mt Kyeburn
Members Summer Adventures
Neville spoke about exploring the East Matukituki with Colin and doing the Wanaka Skyline walk.This is from Mt Roy carpark to the top then on over to the top of Mt Alpha.Amazing views,some interesting rock formations,but a very hot day out.
Mary showed us photos of a coastal walk in the Palmerston area This was on a beautiful day and her photography reflected this.
Jenny reported on her `Round the Mountain` bike ride.This started with a trip across Lake Wakatipu on the Ernslaw to Mt Nicolas Station then biking around the Eyre Mountains and through Garston and finishing at Kingston.Good accomadation at old hotels on the way.An easy ride with only one hill.Fabulous views.
She also had lovely photos of her Glacier Burn near Kinloch.
Meeting closed at 9.00pm.
December 2024 Club Night
Monday, December 9th, 2024
Jenny chaired our meeting. D.O.C. are wanting feedback on National Park management as they are updating their policies.
Trip Reports
Paradise Gully In the Hopkins area. There was a lot of climbing and bush bashing at first then down into the valley. A lovely spot.Followed trap lines on the way back.A good weekend.
Scout Hill 11 people turned out for this walk in the Kakanui range. A windy day out but with good views.
Love our Huts – 5 people checked and up Monument hut and Elcho huts. This walk included a night spent sleeping under the stars.Mistletoe was in full bloom.
Wednesday walkers gave their report
Up and Coming trips
Nth Temple .Overnight trip with options.
Pearsons Hut Mountainbike to hut
Awakino Botanical Trip See alpine plants in their habitat.
Silver Peaks Walk a circuit.
Oahu Peak A climb of 1200m
Mt Alexandra and Mt.Nobbler 2 peaks in the Kakanui range
Evening Walks open to the public will be held on our February club night.Start at 6.30pm and walk around the cape tracks.
New automatic traps have been installed in the Herbert forest. There are now 15 altogether.A great effort.
Our speaker tonight was Dave Woods
He recently returned to the UK to connect with friends and family.He talked about the places where he grew up and his early experiences walking in the hills.The Lake District area and the Yorkshire dales were favourite places and where he climbed his first mountain ” Helvellyn”
Dave also explained to us how different height hills and mountains have been given different names.E,g Wainwrights,Munroes,Corbetts,Nuttalls, Marilyns etc.,all these are different heights and people are very keen to tick off all in the same catagory over the U K. The names mostly originated from guide books written by the namesakes who had climbed them.
Dave also visited Scotland and Skye where he ticked off 3 munroes.He followed his talk with a quiz and a quick lesson on gaelic pronouciation.
This interesting talk was followed by a Christmas supper
October Club Meeting
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
Jenny chaired our meeting. She presented to us our clubs Certificate of Incorporation that we were granted by updating and rewriting our constitution as required by a law change.
Trip Reports
Herbert Forest Bike Ride: Tracks were muddy in the forest, so another route was undertaken. Twelve people enjoyed the day but finished in the rain.
Benmore Easement Track: Seven people went on this walk. Start at D O C site then cross a creek and follow the orange markers up hill. Not enough time to reach the cairn at the top but great views of the lakes and surrounds.
Herbert Forest Working Bee: Lots of track clearing and step building achieved.
Kahikatea Lodge: Seven people braved the cold, A steep downhill start then on up to the hut which sleeps 6 and has an exceptional toilet door.
Otamatapaio Hut: Cancelled due to flooding.
Up and Coming Trips
Wainakarua to Kakanui: Walk along the coast.
Mt Sommers Weekend: Staying in huts. Date to be decided.
Mt Milne in the Kirkliston’s: Enjoy the views
Labour Wknd Bike Ride: Bike around the local area
Our speakers tonight were Julian and Lynette Hardy talking about their trip to Turkey, Croatia, Netherlands and the U.K.
The first part of their trip was from Istanbul where they joined a tour group. Visits were made to the Blue Mosque, the Grand Bazaar and other sites in Istanbul. The group also visited Gallipoli, Lone Pine, Canakkale, Troy, and Selsurk where they watched traditional carpet dyeing and weaving. They then visited many historical sites and also the springs at Pamuk Kale. They are beautiful blue pools formed in the white calcium carbonate landscape and are thought to be therapeutic.
There was a coastal walk called the Lycian Way that they enjoyed walking part of. Other places the couple visited were Kekova, a sunken city, Kanya where the whirling Dervishes originated, Cappadocia where they stayed in one of the caves and Eskisehir the “Venice of Turkey” then back to Istanbul.
A flight to Croatia was next where they boarded a cruise ship for 8 days. It stopped at many sites including the Blue Caves along the coast. They enjoyed the city of Split and the beautiful scenery. Next came Amsterdam and a cycle tour of the city. They visited many sites including the Red-Light district and Anne Frank’s house. Their son met them in Amsterdam, and they all travelled via the Euro Star train back to London. In the U K. they saw Windsor Castle, the Meridian line at Greenwich, the Regency canal and did a walk along the Dover coast to finish off their adventure.
Meeting closed at 8.45 pm followed by a cup of tea
September Club Meeting
Thursday, November 21st, 2024
N.O T M C Extraordinary Meeting and September Club Meeting Report 2024
Last month an extraordinary meeting was scheduled to ratify the agreed changes to the clubs’ constitution as required by the Governments changes to the Incorporated Societies Act. These changes had been proposed and discussed by committee and members at previous meetings and sent out to all members. A motion was put forward to accept the changes. Motion was carried. Meeting closed 7.34pm. Jenny chaired our September Club meeting
Trip Reports
Grampians Trip: 5 people went on this very windy tramp in the Haka pass area. Snow on the tops was powdery but the wind was extreme. Lunch in the shelter of Black Rock. From the top views of 7 lakes could be seen.
Orbell’s Cave: A fine day. 12 people headed up Orbell’s stream with lots of criss crossing. Mostly downhill on the way there with an uphill walk on the way back. A good day out. Wednesday walkers gave their report.
Up and coming Events
A bike ride in the Herbert Forest for All grades.
Working bee in the Herbert Forest: Mainly repairing wind damage.
Benmore Range: Tramp starts not far from the Salmon farm. Climb to 1000 meters
Otamatapaio Hut: 15km walk into the hut. Stay overnight then out.
Kahikatea hut: Walk from Mt Misery Rd up along ridge to the hut.
Kenya and Tanzania Safari and Bike Trip
In May and June 2024, two of our members Karyl Robertson and Jenny Kitchin, her husband and another friend Julia headed off to Nairobi to start their safari part of the trip. Nairobi is on the equator but at 1000ft. They had a driver/guide and travelled in a special vehicle designed for animal viewing. They visited Mt Kenya National Reserve. Mornings and evening were the best times to see the animals who appeared not bothered by visitors. Accommodation was great, tents but very luxurious. Villagers were very poor and built houses from anything they could find. The markets were great because the weather was good for growing a wide variety of fruit and vege. They travelled on to the Karamega Rain Forest. It is a remnant forest with teak and Mahogony trees, 400 varieties of birds and the same as butterflies. The group visited a fisherman’s island in Lake Victoria then on to the grasslands of the Masi Mara where there were lots of animals to see. They toured part of the Rift Valley which is huge then on back to Nairobi. Their bike trip started in Nairobi with a group of cyclists. A truck had been adapted to carry everything they needed including bikes, food and all the fresh water for the ride. Biking distances varied day to day. Their trip took them close to Mt Kilimanjaro, through the savannah where the Masi locals guarded their camp at night then on to the Usambara highlands, a visit to the tourist focused town of Lushoto then down to the much hotter plains and finally to the Indian Ocean coast where the bike trip finished. A visit and a relax in Zanzibar completed their adventure.
Meeting closed 8.40pm followed by a cup of tea.