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.

Tuesday 19th May 2026

Waikowhai, Hillsborough

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)	Peter Crane - Phone: 021 621 345
Departs	Ray Small carpark, Elliott Street, Papakura at 8.00 a.m. Or 9.00 a.m. at Waikowhai Reserve, Hillsborough.
Fare	$10
Description	Tramp begins at Waikowhai Reserve car park (toilets and playground with magnificent large slide). We will walk up the hill to Hillsborough Road and catch bus to take us to Linfield Cove Beach where we will walk back to the cars. The Waikowhai Walkway allows you to explore this scenic section of the northern shore of Manukau Harbour. We will encounter scenic coves, city parks, areas of regenerating native bush, cliff top suburbs and lookouts each with a unique vista of the ever changing expanse of Manukau Harbour. We will go down to Wattle Bay which in days gone by had a lot of baches, boatsheds and swimming holes. We continue around the coast and finally get back to Waikowhai Bay and lunch down by the beach. Finally, a beach walk to a track through bush back to car park.

Description
Tramp begins at Waikowhai Reserve car park (toilets and playground with magnificent large slide). We will walk up the hill to Hillsborough Road and catch bus to take us to Linfield Cove Beach where we will walk back to the cars. The Waikowhai Walkway allows you to explore this scenic section of the northern shore of Manukau Harbour. We will encounter scenic coves, city parks, areas of regenerating native bush, cliff top suburbs and lookouts each with a unique vista of the ever changing expanse of Manukau Harbour. We will go down to Wattle Bay which in days gone by had a lot of baches, boatsheds and swimming holes. We continue around the coast and finally get back to Waikowhai Bay and lunch down by the beach. Finally, a beach walk to a track through bush back to car park.

Description

Tramp begins at Waikowhai Reserve car park (toilets and playground with magnificent large slide). We will walk up the hill to Hillsborough Road and catch bus to take us to Linfield Cove Beach where we will walk back to the cars. The Waikowhai Walkway allows you to explore this scenic section of the northern shore of Manukau Harbour. We will encounter scenic coves, city parks, areas of regenerating native bush, cliff top suburbs and lookouts each with a unique vista of the ever changing expanse of Manukau Harbour. We will go down to Wattle Bay which in days gone by had a lot of baches, boatsheds and swimming holes. We continue around the coast and finally get back to Waikowhai Bay and lunch down by the beach. Finally, a beach walk to a track through bush back to car park.

Sunday 24th May 2026

Kohukohunui (via Ness Valley)

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)	Alan Stone - Phone: 022 094 7316
Departs	7.30am at Ray Small carpark, Elliot Street, Papakura.
Fare	$8
Description	Come and explore the highest point in the Hunua Ranges (688m), and check out the old hut at the top. It has snowed on Kohukohunui in cold winters past (un-likely to encounter snow on this trip!). The first 7kms is along one of the forestry/Watercare roads. We then turn off towards the ‘Mount’ along a bush track. Great views out to the Coromandel on a good day. Approximately 22 kms (but relatively easy walking). (Auckland Council have given written approval for MTC to use the forestry roads for this Trip.)

Description
Come and explore the highest point in the Hunua Ranges (688m), and check out the old hut at the top. It has snowed on Kohukohunui in cold winters past (un-likely to encounter snow on this trip!). The first 7kms is along one of the forestry/Watercare roads. We then turn off towards the ‘Mount’ along a bush track. Great views out to the Coromandel on a good day. Approximately 22 kms (but relatively easy walking). (Auckland Council have given written approval for MTC to use the forestry roads for this Trip.)

Description

Come and explore the highest point in the Hunua Ranges (688m), and check out the old hut at the top. It has snowed on Kohukohunui in cold winters past (un-likely to encounter snow on this trip!). The first 7kms is along one of the forestry/Watercare roads. We then turn off towards the ‘Mount’ along a bush track. Great views out to the Coromandel on a good day. Approximately 22 kms (but relatively easy walking).

(Auckland Council have given written approval for MTC to use the forestry roads for this Trip.)

Tuesday 26th May 2026

Awhitu Peninsula ** Updated 20 May **

Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy	Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Terrain Difficulty	Easy
Expected Duration	4-5 hours
Leader(s)	Meryl Finlayson - Phone: 09 235 1146 or phone/text 0274 239 724
Departs	Ray Small carpark, Elliott Street, Papakura at 8.30 a.m. Or Kentish carpark, Constable Road, Waiuku at 9.15 a.m.
Fare	$16.50
Description	A car shuffle is required for this walk from Douglas Road, Awhitu. We will walk down through private farmland to the West Coast beach and proceed north below the towering, colourful cliffs. We eventually emerge at Cochrane’s Gap carpark, after walking through more farmland which is a ‘paper road’. 10kms. Updated 20 May: Refer updated meetup times above.

Description
A car shuffle is required for this walk from Douglas Road, Awhitu. We will walk down through private farmland to the West Coast beach and proceed north below the towering, colourful cliffs. We eventually emerge at Cochrane’s Gap carpark, after walking through more farmland which is a ‘paper road’. 10kms. Updated 20 May: Refer updated meetup times above.

Description

A car shuffle is required for this walk from Douglas Road, Awhitu. We will walk down through private farmland to the West Coast beach and proceed north below the towering, colourful cliffs. We eventually emerge at Cochrane’s Gap carpark, after walking through more farmland which is a ‘paper road’. 10kms.

** Updated 20 May: Refer updated meetup times above. **

Friday 29th May 2026

Tongariro National Park – King’s Birthday weekend. Fri 29 May - Mon 1 June.

Terrain Difficulty	Advanced	Expected Duration	Multi-day
Terrain Difficulty	Advanced	Expected Duration	Multi-day
Terrain Difficulty	Advanced	Expected Duration	Multi-day
Terrain Difficulty	Advanced
Expected Duration	Multi-day
Leader(s)	Judith Walker - Phone: 09 296 6977 or 027 296 6977
Departs	To be confirmed.
Fare	To be confirmed.
Description	Refer advertisement in Ngatira. Further details to be confirmed later in the month.

Description
Refer advertisement in Ngatira. Further details to be confirmed later in the month.

Tuesday 2nd June 2026

Totara Park, Manurewa

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)	Robyn Hunter - Phone: 021 063 6131
Departs	9.00 a.m. from carpark at end of Wairere Road, The Gardens.
Fare	n/a
Description	This 216 hectare open space has natural areas, bridal trails, bush walking and mountain bike trails. Leader will show us her favourite tracks.

Description
This 216 hectare open space has natural areas, bridal trails, bush walking and mountain bike trails. Leader will show us her favourite tracks.

Sunday 7th June 2026

East Auckland stroll

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)	Robert Scott - Phone: 09 533 5964 or 0274 591 592 Diane Treneman - Phone: 027 290 3631
Departs	9.00am Lloyd Elsmore Park. Park opposite the netball courts in the large carpark off Sir Lloyd Drive, Pakuranga Heights.
Fare	N/A
Description	Easy strolling along alleyways, footpaths and trails in the Highland Park / Botany / Burswood area. About 25% of the hike is street walking as we link up with various walkways. Urban walking.

Description
Easy strolling along alleyways, footpaths and trails in the Highland Park / Botany / Burswood area. About 25% of the hike is street walking as we link up with various walkways. Urban walking.