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“MAKING TRACKS with Scroggin”, August 2025
Whanganui Chronicle MIDWEEK

New highway is a hit

Whanganui Tramping Club members enjoy morning tea at one of the new highway’s rest areas.

The Whanganui Tramping Club is always looking for new walking opportunities, so was keen to try out the dedicated walking/cycling track skirting the Te Ahu a Turanga Manawatu Tararua Highway which opened in June. Two van loads of trampers sampled the track, one from each end, and they were impressed with the engineering feat in creating the $820m 12km route from Ashhurst to Woodville.

The highway has four lookouts, three rest areas and mahi toi cultural artworks at two lookouts, on bridges and at the roundabouts at each end. Other features are the 300m Parahaki Bridge across the Manawatu River and the eco-viaduct over an ecologically sensitive wetland. As well, more than 1.8m native plants have been added to the landscape.

The Western Gateway Park at the Ashhurst end is incomplete but already looking great. If you are considering walking or biking the highway track, be aware that the Ashhurst end is slightly steeper but you will have the prevailing wind at your back.

The club’s weekend programme for August is:

3-5 Sun-Tues, Eastern Ruahine Explore, leaders Terry and Dave

9 or 10 Sat or Sun, Tongariro Winter Crossing, leader Esther

16 or 17 Sat or Sun, Paekakariki Escarpment, leader Mike

23 or 24 Sat or Sun, Otaki Forks, leader Peter

24 Sun, Old-timers’ Afternoon, leader Dorothy

30 or 31 Sat or Sun, Mt Tongariro Circuit, leader Trish

For more information email inquiries@whanganuitramping.org.nz

The midweekers have a full programme of interesting trips every Wednesday. Those who get out on Thursday are in two groups, with a longer walks on 14 and 28 August for the TT1 group and shorter ones for the TT2 group on 7 and 21 August.

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 well-being of everyone on their trips. For further information visit our website https://www.wanganuitrampingclub.net/trips

The next club meeting:
7pm, Tuesday 2 September.  2025,
at the Veandercross Lounge, Whanganui Racecourse.
 Programme: A 30 minute film – Tararua S-K

60 years ago the 4 Wellington tramping clubs created the ”S-K weekend challenge,” the ultimate physical and mental challenge which traverses “an 80 kilometre trip in the Tararua Ranges that is both feared and revered among hardcore trampers.” This documentary film chronicles the route’s history and won the Best Human Interest Film at the recent Toronto Documentary Film Festival.                                  All welcome.