Off-track treats in park

PEACE: Trampers at a waterfall near the Wanganui Tramping Club's Mangaturuturu hut in Tongariro National Park. PICTURE / SUPPLIED

Tongariro National Park features some amazing waterfalls and cascades, and they will be the focus of a day trip by the Wanganui Tramping Club in December.
Leader Basil Hooper, who has done a lot of off-track exploration in the park, will also be looking for the buttercups and other alpine flowers. His tour de mountain will be in and around the Mangaturuturu Valley area and is a repeat of a popular spring trip last year.
There will also be a chance to catch up on herb fields, tussock and spring flowers on a day trip to Egmont National Park. This tramp will take a track behind the venerable Kahui hut to a part of the mountain that isn't visited very often.
Another highlight of the December programme will be the annual visit to Taumarunui to join the local tramping club on day walks. On the Saturday the two clubs will climb Mt Tihia, near Turangi, and on the Sunday they will do an off-track walk in Tongariro National Park. This is the sixth year that the WTC has been going to Taumarunui and it's always good to learn from the locals about their favourite tramps.
Other tramps will be to Tararua Forest Park and a New Year's eve visit to Beehive Creek Walkway in the Pohangina Valley.
The full programme is:
¦ Sat 3, Kahui hut and beyond, leader Dave
¦ Sat-Sun, 3-4, Possum Lodge, leader Brian
¦ Sat-Sun, 10-11, Taumarunui, leader Dave
¦ Sat or Sun, 10 or 11, Waiaua Gorge hut, leaders Di and Royce
¦ Sat or Sun, 17 or 18, Tararua circuit, leader Ridgway
¦ Sat or Sun 17 or 18, Ruapehu flowers and waterfalls, leader Basil
¦ Sat, 31, Beehive Creek Walkway, leader Sandra
Enquiries about trips to Barbara phone 348 9149 or the club secretary Dorothy phone 345 7039.
The midweekers have a full programme of trips every Wednesday. Those who get out on Thursday are in two groups, with longer walks on December 1 and 15 and shorter ones for the TT2 group on December 8 and 22. The Wednesday contact is Margret, phone 344 3899, and Thursday contact is Barbara, phone 348 9149.
To join weekend trips call the leader by the previous Tuesday. Call by the night before for day trips. As some trips have limited numbers, leaders have the final say about who to take as they are responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone.
The next meeting in the Deerstalkers' Hall, Peat St, on Wednesday, December 7, will feature the club's end of year barbecue, starting at 6pm, followed by an illustrated talk by club members describing their experiences on the Coast to Coast Walk in England.
¦ Contact Barbara at 348 9149 or visit our website www.wanganuitrampingclub.net