​​​​​​​Participants are to put their name & contact details on the trip list at meetings or contact the trip leader prior to the trip.

Please do not turn up unexpected.

OUR RULES:

SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE RULES (d)(i) and (d)(ii) of the Southland Tramping Club Inc.   I/we, the undernamed hereby apply to be carried at my/our sole risk and expense on the transport to be arranged by and under charter to the said club from the designated trip pick up point to the above destination or such other destination as the committee or trip leader may decide and be returned to the drop off point.   I/we understand that in the event of my/our default that I/we become liable to contribute to the cost of obtaining such transport, party food, accommodation and any other cost.   TERMS OF THE RULES: In the terms of rule (1), The Southland Tramping Club Inc. reserves the right to refuse the application of any person who, in the opinion of the Club Captain, Trip Leader or Committee is (a) Physically unfit, (b) has not sufficient experience, (c) has not adequate equipment, or (d) Any other reason the applicant may disrupt or delay the trip.​​​​​​​

December - ​​​​​​​

Thursday 7th - Sunday 10th December 2023 - Homer Stoat Trapping (W/V/O)

Leaving Invers at 1pm on Thursday 7th, and returning later on Sunday 10th.  This is a three day weekend to service the mustelid boxes and possum traps in the Homer Tunnel and Gertrude Valley areas.  This is a volunteer work trip and we will be based at the Homer Hut. 

                  Contact Anne 0274 804 995

​​​​​​​Sunday 10th December 2023 - STC Christmas Dinner at Glengarry Hotel at 6 pm

RSVP by 5 December (if you book and don't turn up you still pay)

The roast ham is Gluten free and vegetarians can select what they want off the main menu.

                                      MRS SLOCOMBE’S  - Christmas Menu 2023

Main

Baked Ham on the Bone and Stuffed Roast Turkey with a selection of roasted and steamed seasonal vegetables topped with tasty gravy

             Dessert   (Choice Of)

   Plum pudding with custard and cream,

    Pavlova with fruit salad and cream

Ice Cream Sundae (ask for flavours)

$39 per head - Minimum numbers required

We need at least 20 people to guarantee the booking as they are opening up specially for us. 

                  Contact Sandra - 0272 113 125 or email  loxwood@xtra.co.nz

Wednesday 13th December 2023 - Club Meeting to be held at Southern Adventure, Tay Street - starting at 6.30pm.  

                           Please note earlier start time !!

​​​​​​​

Wednesday 20th December 2023 – Walk, Talk & Cuppa Otatara (E)

We will once again combine with the Otatara Landcare Group and Otatara residents for this evenings walk.   Please meet at the Otatara Scenic Reserve Car Park opposite 105 Dunns Road Otatara.   This car park is literally 60M past the Otatara 4 Square Store on the way to Oreti Beach.   Meeting time is 7:30 pm.

The Otatara Scenic Reserve has a loop track of just over 2Km.   The area is a mix of sand dune systems with a couple of very small climbs, a lot of flat area and a little boardwalk across the normally swampy areas.   Otatara Pest Busters have been doing pest control work in this area for a number of years and this has led to an increase of bird life.   As this is close to the longest day there will be a lot of evening light and if we get Lloyd Esler to join us (as he often does) we will get a lot of the story of the bird and plant life and the history of the area as well.

                            No Need to Book – Just Turn up                                    

Contact: Barry  email: bjsrdms@gmail.com      cell: 027 22 88 980  (txt please, not phone call)

December 26th - Boxing Day (Tuesday) listed by Neil Linscott

Such is the nature of our Southland weather, that makes it well nigh impossible to plan things far ahead.  The labour weekend trip did not eventuate due to the streams being high, so the scheme is to plan on running it again on Boxing day.

This is a full 5 - 6 hour trip, following abandoned gold mining water races and old sawmilling bush tram routes in the upper eastern Longwoods, then returning to the road via the European goldfields of the 1878 – 1882 gold rush.  It follows Berndtson’s water race, Buchannans bush tram, Ports water race, visits George Howells gold mine tunnel, and the Fossicker claim.  Later the plan is to travel around Printz’s mines, the Geelong claim shafts and tunnels, and if time permits, parts of Sloan’s gold field, and even more mineshafts.  You are welcome to come along, under 100% your own responsibility, and steam, but you will need realistic footwear , a sensible raincoat and lunch.  Parts of this trek is through untracked thick bush, deep in our Longwoods jungle,  and would not suit the dainty, or small kids.    There are unassisted stream crossings, affectionate lawyer bushes, mud, deer wallows, steep gullies, and wild pig mud playgrounds, but if you are keen to see some of the legendary Longwoods goldmines,  then this is a rare and maybe your only realistic chance to meet several.  The plan is to leave the Riverton RSA carpark at 8:30am,  getting back about 4:30pm.

        Contact Neil  farmerneil@yahoo.com

2024

January - Tuesday 2nd - A wander around Graeme & Jan Appleby's QEII Covenant followed by a Pot Luck Dinnerm (E/S)

OK, we'd have knocked the Christmas Dinner and New Years Day Feasts on the head, you'' all be blobbin a bit.   Well, here is an opportunity to see what Graeme and Jan have done on their farm around the area of the Raised Peat Bog and also, if time allows, a look at their wetland on the Waimatuku River.   Also, because everyone will be absolutely starving (NOT) after a very strenuous walk (NOT) we will hang around the Appleby residence for a Pot Luck Feed.   Our Departure and Arrival times will be sorted a little later when we sort out a few more details.

             ​​​​​​​Contact: Graeme: 027 433 5737

January - Sunday 7th  - Thursday 11th  (B/O/M) (tentative programme)  (Trip FULL)

Saturday 6th - load bikes

Sunday 7th  – Drive to Millers Flat, unload bikes and ride to Lawrence - Stay in Lawrence

Monday 8th – Bike from Lawrence to Milton, stay in Dunedin

Tuesday 9th – Bike to Portabella 22km and return, staying in Dunedin

Wednesday 10th – Bike to Port Chalmers 14k, and have lunch in Port Chalmers, van trip to Aramoana walk out on  Aramoana Mole.  Van back to Port Chalmers and bike back to Accommodation.  Stay in Dunedin

Thursday 11th - Pack up then visit Orokonui Sanctuary and have lunch at café, and return home in afternoon

​​​​​​​               Contact Anne 0274 804 995

January 20th & 21st- Mataura River Kayak Trip (M/K/O)

I've always thought about Kayaking the Mataura River.   In 2011 a group of us did the lower reaches from the Mataura Island Bridge to Fortrose.   This trip we are going to start in the upper reaches near Fairlight and on the Saturday we will Kayak down to the vacinity of Athol.   With a little bit of luck we'll be able to get accommodation in Athol, Lumsden or Mossburn for the night and on the Sunday we will Kayak through the Nokomai area and down the Mataura possibly to Ardlussa.   Once again this is weather dependant.   January 2024 is the 40th Anniversery of the 1984 floods which pretty much wiped out a lot of Southland.   Our 'Plan B' for this trip is Curio Bay for the weekend, we can Kayak at Porpoise Bay there and may possibly get visited by Hectors Dolphins.   A trip up the Waikawa Harbour is also a possibility

Contact Barry  Email: bjsrdms@gmail.com      cell: 027 22 88 980  (txt please, not phone call)

March - 9th & 10th 2024 - Hut Mistake Creek (F/O)

We will be departing for the Eglinton Valley on Friday evening 8th March (after work), camping somewhere in the Eglinton that night.   Saturday we will head up the Hut Creek and then up and over 'U' Pass and descend into Mistake Creek where we will camnp for the night.  At this stage, if people feel happy there is a short jaunt to the head of Mistake creek to visit a lake.   Sunday Morning we will head down Mistake Creek and out to the road and home.   Whilst the trip is reasonably straight forward the saturday may be 8 hours of tramping and maybe 5 on Sunday.   Crossing Mistake Creek half way down can sometimes be a little trickey so a lot of care has to be taken.   This trip is weather dependent.   Mistake Creek on the Sunday is the bug bear.   'Plan B' is Homer Huts for the weekend.

Contact Barry  Email: bjsrdms@gmail.com      cell: 027 22 88 980  (txt please, not phone call)​​​​​​​

CLASSIFICATION

(D) Day Trip                         (S)  Social                               (B) Biking

(E)  Easy 1-4 hours             (K) Kayaking                           (I)  Instructional

(M)  Medium 4-8 hours     (W) Track Maintenance                           

(F)  Fit 8-24hrs                    (V) Volunteer (stoat trapping)       

(O)  Overnight                       

DELAYED TRIPS

Should a party be late returning, inquiries can be made to Emergency Contact Person nominated by the Trip Leader or the Club Captain.

TERMS

This trip list is subject to alteration.

Trip leaders will advise when and where trips depart

Listing of name for a trip will commit a person to pay the full transport cost plus food. Refund only by written application to the Committee.

The  Trip Leader has the right to refuse the inclusion of any person who, in the opinion of the President and Club Captain is physically unfit, has not sufficient experience, or has not adequate equipment.

GEAR LIST

Check with Trip Leader or contact any Committee member regarding the minimum gear requirements  or check under General Info on website.