Here is our current programme
Trips may be changed or cancelled so be sure to phone the contact the night before or early on the morning of the tramp. Cars are pooled. You pay the travel cost directly to the driver.

Saturday easy walk programme
Down to the bottom of the page we offer an alternative and additional SATURDAY SHORT WALKS PROGRAMME as a trial to be reviewed in October. SHOE STRINGS is the name of the group walking on SATURDAYS starting mid morning for about four hours or so around Tauranga.

Participation in all trips is at your own risk
If you have not been out with us before, be sure to phone the leader and discuss the trip to make sure you are fit enough and have the right gear and food. Do not overestimate your ability because that could put others in the group at risk.

The Programme

March 2010 to November 2010

11 April
Tuahu to Te Rereatuakahia Hut. Kauri grove. Moderate grade.
Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $8. Phone Catherine 5776630.

18 April
Mt Karangahake. Moderate grade. Leader Jim Roberts. Depart
Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $10. Phone Basil 5492202

25 April
Tarawera Outlet to Humphries Bay and return. Easy grade.
Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Phone Brian 5765933.

2 May
Otawa Trig to Demeter Road, Te Puke. Moderate grade. Depart
Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $6. Leaders Colleen and Eveie.
Phone Eveie 5421199.

9 May
Mt Edgecumbe. Steep grade. Take togs (swim at Kawerau).
Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Phone Gus 576 2200.

16 May
HONGI'S TRACK. Moderate grade. Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am.
Travel $15. Phone Barbz or Derek 5722512

Friday 21May
BURETA PARK HOTEL. Mountain Safety Talk. Dinner at 6 pm. Please
RVSP to Sue Fisher - phone 5764033 or email sue.f@bopdepot.co.nz

23 May
KOHI WALKWAY. Moderate grade. Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am.
Travel $15. Phone Colleen and Ian 5420451

30 May
MAUNGATAUTARI OFF TRACK. Steep grade. Something a bit
different. Depart Barkes Corner 7.30 am. Travel $15.
Phone Phil or Linda 5424350.

6 June Queens Birthday Weekend - no tramp.

13 June
REDWOODS, ROTORUA. Moderate grade. Depart Barkes Corner
8.00 am. Travel $15. Leader Jim. Phone Moya 5757064.

20 June
WHAKAMARAMARA PUDDING BASIN FALLS. Moderate grade. Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $6. Phone Rogan 5735388

27 June
CITY WALKWAYS. Easy grade. Meet at Ferguson Park 8.00 am.
Phone Brian 5765933.

4 July
HENDERSON TRAMLINE. Easy grade. Depart Barkes Corner
8.00 am. Travel $6. Phone Trevor or Janet 5756628.

11 July
PAPAMOA HILLS TO SUMMERHILL FARM. Easy grade. Meet at
Papamoa Hills Car Park 9.00 am. Phone Eveie 5421199 or
Colleen 5420451.

Friday 16, Saturday 17, Sunday 18 July
Winter wonderland walk to Waihohonu Hut, Tongariro National Park
Low level walk through snow capped mountains.
We did it in July a few years ago, and had stunning conditions.
Hopefully we can do it again. Overnight backpacking trip
in Tongariro National Park. Easy to moderate. About 6 - 7 hours
each way. Leaving Tauranga Friday night, stay in Turangi, walk to
hut Saturday and return Sunday, with a hot swim on the way home.
Other options if weather/conditions are not suitable. Must have
good quality raincoat, sleeping bag and tramping gear.
Accommodation Friday night $20,which needs to be paid by July 4th.
Annual hut pass or backcountry hut ticket required for Saturday.
Transport $30.
Numbers limited to 12
Phone Sue Dinsdale 5763631

25 July
MCLARENS FALLS. Easy grade. Depart Barkes Corner 9.00 am.
Travel $6. Phone Carole 5434458.

1 August
TUAHU TRACK TO MOTUTAPERE HUT AND ELIZA MINE. Steep grade. Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $8. Phone Marilyn 572 4304.

8 August
WAIRERE FALLS. Steep grade. Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am.
Travel $15. Phone Brian 5765933.

15 August
KARANGAHAKE WALKWAY - from Dickeys Flat. Easy grade.
Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $12. Bring torch for
Tunnel. Leader Jim. Phone Moya 575 7064.

22 August
WAIRONGOMAI LOOP TRACK. Steep grade. Depart Barkes
Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Phone Catherine 5776630.

Saturday 28 August
Come and join us for a weekend Hoe-Down. Pull on your breeches, fill your hip flask, load up your provisions and your bedroll, saddle up the horse and ride on out to the ranch bunkhouse on Saturday afternoon for a good ol' time "Cowboys and Indians" weekend. We're gonna have fun with games, entertainment, a good feed, honkin' good country music and some real hot foot-stomping dancing!! After a good hearty Cowboy's bacon and eggs breakfast on Sunday morning, we will pull on the boots and check out the trail to Cookhouse clearing.

Breeches ~ Dress up theme - Cowboys and Indians gear.
Hip Flask ~ BYO wine or beer - or whatever you fancy!!
Provisions ~ Main course and dessert plate.
Bedroll ~ Sleeping bag and pillow for the bunkhouse (dorm share).
Ranch ~ Ngamuwahine Lodge (off SH29 (past Kaimai School - turn right into
Ngamuwahine Road and continue to end of road)
$15.00 per person includes accommodation for the night.(from 4 pm on)
Please RVSP to Bernice - phone 576 2200 by 1st August

Sunday 29 August
After party tramp to Cookhouse Clearing from the lodge.
Easy grade.

5 September
MANGAWHAKAMANA (Tarawera Area). Steep grade. Depart
Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Take togs for free swim at Kawerau afterwards. Leaders John and Paula. Phone Moya 5757064.

12 September
JONES LANDING (Arapuni Footbridge). Easy grade. Depart Barkes
Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Leader Jim. Phone Moya 5757064.

19 September
UNIQUE GARDEN (in Cambridge) - Enjoy a very special garden with sculptures, plus a walk afterwards. Easy grade. Depart Barkes
Corner at 8.00 am. Entry to garden $10. Travel $10.
Phone Pat Taylor 571 8770.

26 September
IN THE KAIMAIS - SOMEWHERE. Moderate grade. Depart Bethlehem
Hall 8.00 am. Travel $10. Phone Heather 5444443.

3 October
MYSTERY TRIP. Long day. Moderate to steep grade.
Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $15.
Phone Diane 5721430.

10 October
WAIRONGOMAI TO TE AROHA DOMAIN. Steep and long day.
Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $15. Phone Brian 5765933.

17 October
KAIMAI SUMMIT TO HURINUI HUT AND RETURN. Easy to moderate
grade. Depart Barkes Corner 8.00 am. Travel $6.
Phone Sue Dinsdale 5763631

LABOUR WEEKEND - Friday 22nd to Monday 25th October
Pirongia Lodge (approximately 2 hour drive)
Saturday - Long tramp - 7 to 8 hours
Shorter tramp - 4 to 6 hours
Sunday - tramps as above.
Monday - clean up.
Take own bedding, food and utensils.
Cost $60 for 3 nights.
Travel cost $15 plus travel to tracks $5.
To be paid to Moya by 15th October.
Enquiries to Sue Fisher 576 4033

PLUS PHOTO COMPETITION
6 X 4 PHOTOS - not mounted.
Must be taken within the last 2 years from your tramping experience,
and the photo must be taken by the person submitting the entry.
Maximum of 2 photos per category.
Name and category to be written on back of photo.

Categories are -
(1) Huts and structures (e.g. bridges, man made objects etc)
(2) People
(3) Flora and Fauna
(4) Scenic (e.g. vista, panoramas)
(5) Natural features (e.g. waterfalls, rock formations)
(6) Overseas tramping experiences

Enquiries to Julie 575 6251- entries must be in by 10th October so they
can be judged.

31 October
COROMANDEL AREA. Another challenging day with Diane.
Steep grade. Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $15.
Phone Diane 5721430.

7 November
FRANKLIN ROAD TO DICKEYS FLAT. Moderate grade.
Depart Bethlehem Hall 8.00 am. Travel $12. Phone
Catherine 5776630.

14 November
MATAKANA ISLAND. Meet at Sulphur Point - behind the
Charthouse 8.30 am. There will be ferry costs.
Phone Barbz or Derek 5722512.

21 November
HAKARIMATA WALKWAY - HUNTLY.
Moderate grade. Depart Barkes Corner 7.30 am. Travel $15.
Phone Brian 5765933.

SHOE STRINGS GROUP
PROGRAMME OF SHORT WALKS - May 2010 to October 2010

29 May
McLarens Falls. Meet there 9am, bring lunch. Ph Lyn 5765149

12 June
Dickies Flat, Waitawheta area. Meet Bethlehem Hall 9am. Travel $8. Allen leading. Ph Lyn 5765149

26 June
Omokoroa Peninsula. Meet Bethlehem Hall 9am. Travel $4. Ph Barbara 5792835.

10 July
Te Waihau Walkway and Tirau for coffee. Meet at Barkes Corner 9am. Travel $8. Ph Lyn 5765149.

24 July
Welcome Bay with Glennis. Meet at Selwyn Ridge School carpark 9am. Ph Lyn 5765149.

7 August
Bowentown Reserve, Waihi Beach. Meet Bethlehem Hall 9am. Travel $8. Ph Lyn 5765149.

21 August
Blue & Green Lakes, Rotorua Meet Barkes Corner 9am. Bring lunch. Travel $10. Ph Lyn 5765149

28 August
Join Pack N Boots for Party Night, Country & Western Theme with overnight stay (optional) at Ngamuwahine Lodge in the Kaimais. $15 pp. BYO everything. Friends and families welcome. RSVP please by 20 August to Moya 5757064.

4 September
Gordon Carmichael Walkway, Bethlehem. Meet Cornerstone Pub, Bethlehem Shops 9am.

18 September
Kaituna Wetlands and Fish & Chips at Maketu. Meet Barkes Corner 9am. Ph Lyn 5765149

2 October
City Walks. Meet Cliff Road 9am. Glennis leading. Ph Lyn 5765149.

16 October
Hot Springs Rd & Kauri Trees Katikati. Meet Bethlehem 9am. Need tramping boots & poles. Allen leading. Travel $8. Ph Lyn 5765149

23 October
Labour Weekend Retreat, Pirongia with Pack N Boots Group. All grades of walking plus Photo competition. Phone Julie 5756251.

30 October
Royden Downs, Paengaroa area. Meet Barkes Corner 9am. Barbara leading. Travel $8. Ph Barbara 5792835.

NEW TRAMPERS – a checklist

• Quality footwear (boots) and socks.
• Good clothing. Two or three layers with polyprop underneath is great. You can always shed a layer if you get too hot.
• A set of extra warm clothing in your pack.
• Wet weather gear - a nylon jacket will not keep you dry for long.
• Hat or cap
• Food, snacks, and plenty of WATER.
• Small first aid kit with the basics, plasters etc.

New people are very welome in our group. We want you to have fun but to to have fun you need a reasonable of fitness. Can you go UP AND AROUND the Mount – this is a recommended workout and a good test of fitness. You need to be able to handle that workout to ensure your own safety and the safety of other trampers in your group. Be sure to phone the contact to register your interest in a tramp. Any of the leaders will be glad to advise if you are in any doubt at all about tramping, and you’ll find them all encouraging.

Happy tramping - and remember - you only live once so live the dream...