Wanganui Tramping Club going bush close to town

Wanganui trampers approach a Orongorongo Valley hut on an earlier club visit. Picture / Supplied

Wanganui Tramping Club will make a rare visit to Rematch Forest Park over Queen's Birthday weekend.

Catchpool Valley, beyond Wainuiomata, is the most popular entrance to the park. Within Catchpool Valley are short walks and access to longer tramps via the Orongorongo Valley.

Beech forest dominates much of the park, joined by podocarps at lower altitudes. These forests support hundreds of indigenous plant species and provide habitat for a range of invertebrates, freshwater fish, reptiles and birds including reintroduced brown kiwi.

Though close to a large urban area, the park's good network of tracks offer an experience with a backcountry feel. The highest point is Mt Matthews at 941m.

Although are no public huts in the Orongorongo Valley, the six huts, and one fully equipped cabin at the road end, are available for exclusive hire. They are all equipped with mattresses, water, heating, toilets, and (except for Boar Inn) gas cookers, crockery, cutlery and cookware. All huts are locked and must be booked online in advance.

June also features two other overnight trips, one involving off-track tramping to Kiritaki Hut in the east Ruahine Forest Park and the other to be based at Omori on Lake Taupo where there will be a programme of day trips.

The full programme for June is: —
Saturday-Monday, May 30-June 1, Orongorongo Valley, leader Mike
Saturday or Sunday, June 6 or 7, Marton Sash and Door Track leader Dorothy
Saturday, June 13, Quiz night, leader Dave
Sunday, June 14, Mt Bruce, leader Dave
Saturday, June 20 Wairere Stream, leader Cherry
Saturday-Sunday, June 20-21, Kiritaki Hut, leader Shane
Friday-Sunday, June 26-28, Omori walks, leader Margret

Make all inquiries about trips to Barbara phone 348 9149 or Dorothy phone 345 7039.

The midweekers have a full programme of interesting trips every Wednesday. Those who get out on Thursday are in two groups, with a longer walk on June 4 and 18 and shorter ones for the TT2 group on June 11 and 25.

The Wednesday contact is Victoria, phone 027 6888 190, and the Thursday contact is Val, phone 345 0456.

To join weekend trips call the leader by the previous Tuesday at the latest. 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 wellbeing of everyone on their trips. For further information contact Barbara at 348 9149 or visit our website www.wanganuitrampingclub.net

The club has cancelled its June monthly meeting and the scheduled annual general meeting will now take place in July.