8-9 June 2024

Leader: Brandon Holman

Nine of us set off from Paraparaumu in three cars at 9:00am and met up in Dannevirke for refreshments before heading in convoy to the Sunrise Hut carpark.

We set off up the hill at about 1:30pm and began the steady plod up to the hut via the numerous zigzags on the nicely graded track. Some of our party were keen to ‘bag’ extra huts, so the Triplex Hut was an easy first capture as it was barely a few minutes off the path. Having all reached Sunrise Hut about 4:15pm just as the sun was starting to go down, we rested only for fifteen minutes or so, and then set off to see the view from Armstrong Saddle, so named as a memorial to the pilot of a plane that crashed there in 1937.

After a very safe and easy path up the hill, it was striking how potentially dangerous it was out the back of the hut, especially for young families, as the ground fell away sharply. The short walk to the saddle was however well worth it, as the view towards Ruapehu was clear, and the light from the setting sun gave an excellent silhouette of both Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe. As the evening light faded the stars were simply brilliant, and the Milky Way particularly clear to see.

After a lively evening playing cards and drinking mulled wine (thanks June), we all turned in about 9:00pm, with every bunk occupied, some by multiple trampers! A phone went off at 5:00am waking up anyone who wasn’t awake already, and four of our party got up to ‘bag’ Top Maropea Hut before dawn. The DOC sign said two hours one way, but the group made it there and back in a little over two hours without packs.

Those of us still in our bunks meanwhile, saw the sky lightening and got up for the main show, as did the whole hut. It is a fact that most people see far more sunsets than sunrises, and although similar, the sunrise brings with it the promise of warmth, and a brand new day, and is something special to behold. After copious photographs, followed by breakfast, we were all ready for departure at 9:00am.

On the way down, three went off a sidetrack detour of about eighty minutes to ‘bag’ their fourth hut of the weekend, namely Waipawa Forks Hut, making it a relatively easy hut tally/tramping effort ratio! After another meal stop in Dannevirke, we arrived back home at about 4:00pm.

Those on the trip were:

Brandon Holman, Bruce Wang, Maryann Bugg, Robyn Wilson, Shally Webb, Yingjun Shelton, Casey, Elijah, Ataliah

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.