| Sat 23rd November - Sun 24th November Potluck at Syme Hut Medium Harley Betts 06 825 6250 Postponed from 2-3 Nov due to COVID. Depart Palmy at 6.30 am Saturday for Dawson Falls carpark, about 40 mins past Hawera. The track to Syme hut starts off in beautiful mossy forest at about 900 m and steadily climbs through a range of vegetation zones through to tussock and then open scoria slopes at about 1400 m. From the start of the scoria it is about another 600 m climb to Syme hut which is perched on the summit of Fantham’s peak at just under 2000 m. Syme hut has probably the best views of any hut in the North Island which means it is perfect as a potluck dinner venue. So bring your favourite dinner dish along with whatever you need to prepare it with and enjoy (hopefully) a stunning sunset view while you wine and dine the evening away. Next day, take in (again, hopefully) a glorious sunrise over the central volcanoes over breakfast before heading back down the same way. As part of FMC’s “Love our huts” campaign, I’ve also nominated this trip’s participants (thanks to you all in advance!) for giving Syme hut a good spring clean before we leave, so we’ll bring along a few cleaning rags, brushes, sugar soap, window cleaner, etc and a bit of elbow grease. |
| Sat 23rd November - Sun 24th November Love Our Huts Medium-Fit Richard Lockett 06 323 0948 A Ruahine trip to check and clean Mid Pohangina and Ngamoko Huts as part of the FMC Love Our Huts campaign for November. We will go via Cattle Creek Hut, downstream to Mid-Poh, then a side trip up the Pohangina River to Ngamoko Hut. |
| Sat 23rd November - Sun 24th November Iron Gates Hut Easy-Medium Peter Darragh 022 613 4180 Postponed from 16-17 Nov. Love our Huts campaign continues with this overnight trip up the Oroua River track. A good chance of seeing the resident blue duck/whio too. Depart Milverton Park 7.30am. |
| Fri 29th November - Sun 1st December Parkes Peak Hut Easy-Medium Ernie Cook 027 303 1363 Depart Palmerston North 7:00 a.m. Friday morning. Day trip on the Saturday to Upper Makaroro Hut. Travelling back to Palmerston North on the Sunday. Please contact Ernie by the Monday evening prior. |
| Sat 7th December Toe Toe loop walk M David Soong 021722358 The Saturday Toe Toe loop walk usually departs from the Summerhill New World car park at 8am. Please text David before Friday to check if the walk is on and for further details. |
| Sat 7th December - Sun 8th December Kelly Knights Medium Fit Elly Arnst 022 682 3136 A belated “love our huts” trip because huts deserve love all year round! We have a new ash bucket to drop off and a bit of track maintenance to do. Walking in via either Mania or Rangiwahia. Contact Elly if you’re keen and we’ll confirm details closer to the time. |
| Sun 8th December Pinnacle Ridge Loop Easy-Medium Verity Elder 021 260 1885 From Holdsworth Carpark we keep to the right side of the river and head up to Pinnacle peak for views of the Tararuas and surrounding district. Following the ridge we then loop back and cross the river to Donnellys Flat and return. |
| Sun 15th December Short Knights Long Day Medium-Fit Warren Wheeler 06 356 1998 Celebrate the (almost) shortest night with a long day loopy trip in the Ruahines. We will go up Shorts Track, along the main range to Toka high point and down Knights Track. Depart PN 7.30am. Optional overnight trip camping at Toka, leaving PN mid-afternoon for sunset and sunrise next day. |