Manukau Tramping Club

Upcoming trips

Let's go tramping

If you are new to our tramps, you are welcome.

If you are not Club member, it is a requirement that you contact the trip leader beforehand. Don’t be offended if they ask some simple questions about your physical fitness and experience. People new to the club and tramping are usually asked to do several easier tramps of shorter duration before becoming members.

Where to meet up

Unless stated otherwise, meet at Ray Small carpark (next to the Papakura Skatepark), Elliot Street, Papakura.

For northbound trips, often we have a meeting point at the Recreation Ground carpark, Great South Road, (near 295 Great South Road), Papatoetoe. The meeting time at Papatoetoe will be 20 minutes later than the Papakura meet-up time.

What will it cost?

Trip transport is mainly by carpooling, with car fares currently set at 15 cents/km per person. The cost will be in the trip plan below.

Sometimes we hire a rental van. Per person costs for that will be communicated to participants.

How are trips graded?

For guidelines on this, go to our Information for day trips page.

Sunday 23rd August 2026

Riverhead Forest

Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	6+ hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	6+ hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	6+ hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate
Expected Duration	6+ hours
Leader(s)	Robert Scott - Phone: 09 533 5964 or 0274 591 592 Diane Treneman - Phone: 027 290 3631
Departs	8:00am Papatoetoe Recreations Ground carpark, Great South Road, Papatoetoe.
Fare	$18 with van hire additional.
Description	This is an 18-20km walk within the Riverhead Forest (a pine forest) mainly on forestry roads. The roads are gravel and where we go off-road it will be a dirt trail to link to another forestry road. Some good views here and there. There are some minor stream crossings where poles would be recommended. Walk starts and finishes from the Barlow Road carpark off Ararimu Valley Road. Numbers on walk limited to twelve participants. Please get back to Robert or Diane by Wednesday 19th August if you intend to use the van.

Description
This is an 18-20km walk within the Riverhead Forest (a pine forest) mainly on forestry roads. The roads are gravel and where we go off-road it will be a dirt trail to link to another forestry road. Some good views here and there. There are some minor stream crossings where poles would be recommended. Walk starts and finishes from the Barlow Road carpark off Ararimu Valley Road. Numbers on walk limited to twelve participants. Please get back to Robert or Diane by Wednesday 19th August if you intend to use the van.

Description

This is an 18-20km walk within the Riverhead Forest (a pine forest) mainly on forestry roads. The roads are gravel and where we go off-road it will be a dirt trail to link to another forestry road. Some good views here and there. There are some minor stream crossings where poles would be recommended. Walk starts and finishes from the Barlow Road carpark off Ararimu Valley Road. Numbers on walk limited to twelve participants.

Please get back to Robert or Diane by Wednesday 19th August if you intend to use the van.

Tuesday 25th August 2026

Highbrook

Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy
Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Leader(s)	Olivia Fitzgerald - Phone: 021 907 289
Departs	Ray Small carpark, Elliot Street, Papakura at 8.00am. Leader will go direct to meeting spot at Lady Fisher Place, off Waiouru Road.
Fare	$7
Description	Highbrook Business Park is a 109 hectare master planned estate. Before becoming one of the country’s premier industrial and commercial hubs, the land was a prestigious racehorse breeding and training facility known as Ra Ora Stud owned by Fisher & Paykel founder Sir Woolf Fisher. This is a loop and mainly flat walk with a mix of gravel pathways around the coast and some pavement walking. Great views of the Tamaki Estuary, Maungarei and Maungakieke, different plantings and a closeup look at this major development of light industry and business park. Toilet facilities are the bush. 11 kms.

Description
Highbrook Business Park is a 109 hectare master planned estate. Before becoming one of the country’s premier industrial and commercial hubs, the land was a prestigious racehorse breeding and training facility known as Ra Ora Stud owned by Fisher & Paykel founder Sir Woolf Fisher. This is a loop and mainly flat walk with a mix of gravel pathways around the coast and some pavement walking. Great views of the Tamaki Estuary, Maungarei and Maungakieke, different plantings and a closeup look at this major development of light industry and business park. Toilet facilities are the bush. 11 kms.

Description

Highbrook Business Park is a 109 hectare master planned estate. Before becoming one of the country’s premier industrial and commercial hubs, the land was a prestigious racehorse breeding and training facility known as Ra Ora Stud owned by Fisher & Paykel founder Sir Woolf Fisher. This is a loop and mainly flat walk with a mix of gravel pathways around the coast and some pavement walking. Great views of the Tamaki Estuary, Maungarei and Maungakieke, different plantings and a closeup look at this major development of light industry and business park. Toilet facilities are the bush. 11 kms.

Sunday 30th August 2026

Waiuku Forest North *** Updated 23 August. ***

Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy
Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Leader(s)	Judy Alderdice - Phone: 027 422 5024 Wendy Taylor - Phone: 021 1244950
Departs	8am at Ray Small carpark, Elliot Street, Papakura. Or 9.00am at the Wilson's Road entrance carpark. (Otaua)
Fare	$15
Description	This circular tramp includes the pine forest, beach and road alongside the mining area of New Zealand Steel. Approximately 7.5 kms. * Updated 23 August - New venue and gate entry. *

Description
This circular tramp includes the pine forest, beach and road alongside the mining area of New Zealand Steel. Approximately 7.5 kms. * Updated 23 August - New venue and gate entry. *

Description

This circular tramp includes the pine forest, beach and road alongside the mining area of New Zealand Steel. Approximately 7.5 kms.

*** Updated 23 August - New venue and gate entry. ***

Tuesday 1st September 2026

Moumoukai Hill Road (end Ness Valley) to Orams Road

Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy
Expected Duration	3-4 hours
Leader(s)	Olivia Fitzgerald - Phone: 021 907 289
Departs	Ray Small carpark, Elliot Street, Papakura at 8.15 am. Leader will meet you at top Moumoukai Hill Road @ 9.00 a.m.
Fare	$8
Description	Due to a pause in the forestry harvesting work we are able to access this part of Hunua Traverse. We will follow forestry road from Moumoukai through to lookout above Orams Road and then return same way. Be prepared for some mud and puddles on the way plus steep inclines and descents. Glimpses of Hauraki Gulf along the way and good view from lookout. Distance 10 km +.

Description
Due to a pause in the forestry harvesting work we are able to access this part of Hunua Traverse. We will follow forestry road from Moumoukai through to lookout above Orams Road and then return same way. Be prepared for some mud and puddles on the way plus steep inclines and descents. Glimpses of Hauraki Gulf along the way and good view from lookout. Distance 10 km +.

Sunday 6th September 2026

Karamatura and Mt Donald McLean

Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Intermediate
Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Leader(s)	Vaughan Smith - Phone: 021 378 827 Lyn_McCarthy - Phone: 027 279 0046
Departs	8.00am at Papatoetoe Recreation Ground carpark, Great South Road, Papatoetoe.
Fare	$15
Description	This track at Huia, on the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour, will take us to the top of Mt Donald McLean with magnificent views to the Manukau Heads and back over the harbour. (The lookout is also accessible by road but that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!) The track is well formed and includes board walks and lots of steps - there are more than 1,200 of them so be prepared for some steady climbing! We descend back down the same way.

Description
This track at Huia, on the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour, will take us to the top of Mt Donald McLean with magnificent views to the Manukau Heads and back over the harbour. (The lookout is also accessible by road but that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!) The track is well formed and includes board walks and lots of steps - there are more than 1,200 of them so be prepared for some steady climbing! We descend back down the same way.

Description

This track at Huia, on the northern shore of the Manukau Harbour, will take us to the top of Mt Donald McLean with magnificent views to the Manukau Heads and back over the harbour. (The lookout is also accessible by road but that wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!) The track is well formed and includes board walks and lots of steps - there are more than 1,200 of them so be prepared for some steady climbing! We descend back down the same way.