Tararua Huts - known 2 Meter Access Information

By John MacDonald ZL2UX & Mark Gooding ZL2UFI

(First Uploaded 19 April 2004)

Introduction:

This is a list of huts in the Tararuas and the 2m repeaters that can be worked from them. Any updates would be appreciated.

A brief history

The purpose of this page is to support those tramping ham radio operators, who tramp in the Tararuas, with up to date 2 meter,
access information of local repeaters. This information was supplied by John ZL2UX, as a result of his travels and experiences
while tramping. After a discussion with Mark ZL2UFI it was decided to make the data available to everyone.
It is intended to update the data as various huts and locations are visited over the next few years.
The first update is for Powell Hut which Mark visited on 14 March 2004 (see details below).

Note: this information was correct in the past, and hasn't been checked unless noted.

ALL TRAMPERS IN THE TARARUAS MUST EXERCISE GOOD OUTDOOR SKILLS AND NOT RELY SOLEY
ON THIS INFORMATION THAT A CERTAIN POINT WILL ALWAYS GIVE COVERAGE IN AN EMERGENCY.

Tararua Huts: (known and tested coverage)

Herepai Hut

146.650 Sth Hawkes Bay - can be worked from inside on high power.
146.800 Masterton

Both can be worked on low power when standing on the water tank.

Jumbo Hut

146.800 Masterton
147.175 Mt Holdsworth
147.350 Rewa

All can be worked from inside on low power. (Could work more repeaters from here.)

Mountain House

147.175 Mt Holdsworth - worked from inside on low power.

Powell Hut - Updated 14 March 2004 (see picture at top of page)

146.800 Masterton
147.000 Lower Hutt
147.100 Belmont
147.150 Sth Wairarapa
147.175 Mt Holdsworth
147.300 Climie
147.350 Rewa
147.325 Mt Barton

Further details from the 14 March 2004 visit:

On a day visit to Powell Hut only the Wellington repeaters were used for contacts.
700, 710 & 730 were done outside the hut for better access. Walk back down the track about 20 steps
and get line of site to Wellington. 700 appeared to be the best, then 730 and 710.
Equipment used was an FT 817, telescopic 2M whip and 2.5 watts.
SSB was was also used (144.200 MHz) - with a contact back into Upper Hutt using the same equipment, with Morrie ZL2ADP.
Morrie gave me a 5 & 3. He was a good 5 & 8 to 5 & 9 from his home QTH, FT 847, 20 watts into a five element beam,
at 6 meters. The location was just in the lee of the small ridge on the track leading to the hut (same place as the Wellington access).

A measurement of this contact was 40 km's - not bad for the equipment, antenna and location.

Renata Hut

147.300 Climie - has been worked from here.

Smith Creek Shelter

147.175 Mt Holdsworth
147.100 Belmont
147.300 Climie

All three of these repeaters can be worked by standing on the mound on the track that leads
to the rubbish tins (Use high power.)

Tutuwai Hut

147.300 Climie
147.175 Mt Holdsworth

Good results can be achieved by hanging a Slim-Jim on the big Beach tree to the left of the hut.

Walls Whare

147.175 Mt Holdsworth - this repeater is no problem from here. (No hut here now)

Tararua Huts: (unknown or untested coverage)

Kapakapanui Hut

Have not tried any repeaters from here.

Waiotauru Shelter

Have not tried any repeaters from here.

Last updated 20 March 2005