Contents

Waikato Hut 

Waikato Hut Business Plan download  http://wtc.org.nz/Waikato_Hut_Business_Plan.pdf

Are you needing to contact the custodian at Waikato Hut?  Phone 07-892-3821

Accommodation Bookings and Availability

It's time to start thinking about when you will be paying a visit to Waikato Hut.  Bookings are starting to come through. If you are considering a group booking and want a weekend, phone Lisa NOW and guarantee a place.

To check what accommodation dates are available click here to view the bookings.  Accommodation rates are listed below. 

Please contact Lisa Janek, our hut booking officer, for full details:
      Email: lisa@wave.co.nz 
      Phone: (07) 854 1114
      Fax:  (07) 854 1160

Attractive rates apply for official school groups.

Ski on the mountain - stay on the mountain

Comfortable, yet affordable backpacker-type accommodation right on the Whakapapa ski-field.  Why not make Waikato Hut your base for a relaxing break any time of the year?  Our lodge on Mt Ruapehu is available to skiers, snow boarders, trampers, school groups and outdoor enthusiasts.

The hut is ideally situated right on the Whakapapa Skifield, about 20 min walk from The Top o' the Bruce!  It has 16 double bunks (8 in each of 2 rooms).  Mattresses and pillows are provided (you will need to bring your own pillowcase and sleeping bag).  There are open lockers for gear. 

Rooms are carpeted and heated.  Ski and boot storage are in the entrance foyers and the hut has a drying room, ski waxing bench and tools.  There are separate men and women bathrooms with 2 toilets, 2 showers and 3 hand basins (hot and cold water).  The lounge contains a wood burning stove (which heats the upper storey), seating for 32 people and a table tennis table and bats (you will need to provide your own ping pong balls).

Waikato Hut has a fully equipped kitchen and all you need to bring is your own food and beverages, (on club trips food is provided).  There is a telephone for inbound calls only, phone number 07 892 3821, and we have broadband available either wireless or on hardwire - a small fee is required.  Both mobile phone networks have good coverage from the lodge.

Alternatively, come along with the club on one of our organised trips (we organise transport and food).  Club trips leave Hamilton by bus on Friday night 7pm.  You can take part in our activities or do what you like on these weekends - from arriving at the lodge (around 11pm) until we leave the ski field late on Sunday afternoon.

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Waikato Hut - Rates

All bookings and payment must be made in advance to the Lisa Janek, our hut booking officer (HBO).  Email: lisa@wave.co.nz or phone (07) 854 1114.

It has always been club policy that bunk nights are paid in advance of your stay; just pop a cheque in the post with your hut booking form or contact the Hut Booking Officer for an account for online payments.

Winter Rates (from 1 June 2010 to Monday 25 October 2010)

MEMBERS:
    $28    senior
    $24    student (18-25 years, ID required)
    $17    junior (5-18 years, on membership list)

NON-MEMBERS:
    $40    senior
    $35    student (18-25 years, ID required)
    $28    junior (5-18 years)

All rates are GST inclusive.

Summer Rates (from 26 October 2010 to 31 May 2011)

    tbc    senior member
    tbc    junior member
    tbc    senior non-member
    tbc    junior non-member

All rates are GST inclusive.

Discount Rates

Group discount:

• A group of 10 or more will receive a 10% discount.
• Applies to both member and non-member groups.
• Applies to both winter and summer rates.
• Weekend minimum applies (fi you stay Saturday night, you pay for two nights).

Family discount:

• A family with 2 or more children will receive a 20% discount.
• Applies to both member and non-member families.
• Applies to both winter and summer rates.
• Weekend minimum applies (fi you stay Saturday night, you pay for two nights).

Waikato Hut Passes (10 night concession, members only)

    A 10 night pass for members is back again. Hut passes can be used at any time including club trips and are valid until 31 May 2011.
    Conditions apply - refer below for details.

• $190   senior

Waikato Hut Loyality Card

    Don’t forget to have your Waikato Hut Loyalty Card checked off when you stay a night.  The Custodian or Hut Booking Officer will do this for you.
    When you have stayed 10 nights you will get the next night free!  Does not apply to holders of a Waikato Hut Pass.
    Must be redeemed by returning completed card to HBO.  Conditions apply - refer below for details.

Boot lockers and Ski lockers are available for hire.  Rates are per financial year, or part year, and are GST inclusive.
Please liaise with the Membership Officer in relation to locker availability.

• Boot Lockers:  $10
• Ski Lockers:    $ 5

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Waikato Hut Booking Policy

Bookings

• All bookings for Waikato Hut are to be made through the Hut Booking Officer (HBO).
• Bookings are only confirmed once payment is received.
• A ‘weekend’ is for a 2 night minimum booking (ie, Friday/Saturday or Saturday/Sunday).

Hut Fees

Members rates apply to financial members of the Waikato Tramping Club (WTC) only (>14 years of age).

• A non-member partner of a financial club member shall pay non member rates.
• Children of members who are aged between 5 and 14 years are charged junior members rates.
• There is no charge for children under the age of 5 years.
• A discount of 20% is available to a family booking with 2 or more children.
• A group discount of 10% is available to a booking of 10 or more people.

Payment

• All hut fees for bunk nights are to be paid in advance, unless an alternative arrangement is made with the HBO.
• Payment can be made to the HBO or Treasurer.
• The preferred method of payment is online banking to WTC account.
• An early deposit of 20% is required to confirm a group booking.

Cancellations

• Cancellations received 3 or more days prior to occupation can apply for full refund.
• Cancellations received less than 3 days prior to occupation are liable to incur a 50% penalty of the fees due.
• Any outstanding credit balances are refunded by the Treasurer at the end of the winter season.
• Any outstanding debit balances to WTC must be paid before any further bookings are accepted.
• A cancellation by a group is entitled to a refund of their deposit if cancellation is received prior to 7 days before booking.
• If Waikato Hut is unavailable for occupation (eg, Bruce Road closed) application for a full refund can be made to the HBO.

Hut Booking Officer (HBO)

The Waikato Hut Management Committee recognises that situations may arise where strict adherence to the above rules could lead to unfair outcomes and gives the HBO the discretion to negotiate fair outcomes.

Waikato Hut Passes - Guidelines and Rules

These work out cost effective if you are planning seven or more nights during the winter and they can still be used until 31 May 2011.  Hut passes can be used at any time including club trips.  Hut passes are valid for the year 1 June 2010 till 31 May 2011

• The purchase of a Waikato Hut pass entitles the bearer to ten (10) nights at Waikato Hut
• These nights can be either weekend or weeknight
• An actual “pass” will not be issued
• The hut booking officer keeps a record of the number of nights used by each holder
• You must book nights with the Hut Booking Officer in the usual way

Conditions:

• Passes are non-refundable
• Passes are not transferable
• All cancellations of a booking must be made five (5) days prior to first night of occupation otherwise these hut nights may be deducted from hut pass
• There is no discrimination between winter and summer rates with your hut pass
• This offer is available to members only
• Money must be received to Hut Booking Officer for a pass to be issued
• Hut passes can be used on mountain trips at the discretion of the trip leader
• Bunk nights must be booked in advance with the Hut Booking Officer in the usual way
  

Waikato Hut - Loyality Card - Guidelines

This year we have a Waikato Hut loyality card system to reward regular users of Waikato Hut with a free bunk night once 10 nights have been used.  These cards can be picked up from club night, the HBO or the custodian at Waikato Hut.  Guidelines:

1. Are for financial club members only.
2. Members should take full responsibility for the completion of acknowledgement of nights in hut by either: HBO, Trip leader, or Hut Custodian.  Ie it is up to members to get the card dated and signed and kept up to date, rather than club officers eg HBO.
3. No advance granting of a free night, e.g. if tenth night occurs over a weekend then the free night can only apply to a subsequent visit.
4. Member must forward the completed card to HBO with their hut booking to obtain the free night. There should be no burden on HBO to keep records, just to date and sign a card for a member, or to sign a chit for a member to give to a Club trip leader as evidence that they qualify for a free night. For the trip leader no chit, no free night and the chit should be attached to the trip financial report.
5. Blank cards to be available at Waikato Hut, from the HBO, at Club Nights and included in the new member pack.
6. Couples or families can combine their bunk nights on one card, but ten combined nights still qualify for one free night only.
7. Bunk nights can only be signed off for financial members over the age of 14.

What's happening on the Slopes???

Have a look at www.mtruapehu.com/report_snow.asp
this site gives details of the snow conditions at Whakapapa and condition of the Bruce road, as well as a link to a webcam of the upper field,
or contact the snow phone on 083-222-182.

Outside Groups at Waikato Hut

Have you a group of friends or work mates who would enjoy a weekend of fun in the snow?  Why not rally a few together and book in to Waikato Hut?

Apart from official club mountain trips, Waikato Hut is available for guests of members up to a maximum of 20.  School groups, social clubs and sports clubs have all had great weekends in the past.  To be sure of getting a booking you need to act well in advance.  You should make sure your guests know what clothing and gear to take, and are prepared for the mountain conditions when they arrive.

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Club Trips to the Mountain

What to Expect...

New to the Club or to Mt Ruapehu?  You should get to Medlab Carpark 10 or 15 minutes early on Friday night so you can put some of the food in the top of your pack to carry up to the lodge which is about 20 minutes walk up from The Top o' the Bruce.  Last one there gets the eggs to carry!

The bus stops at Te Kuiti on the way down, so here is your chance to have a bite to eat for dinner.

To be prepared for this walk late at night you should have with you on the bus warm clothes, parka, boots, gloves, hat and a torch.  You may need overtrousers if it is wet or windy.  (These you can put on as the bus grinds its way up the last bit to the Chateau).

When the bus arrives at the Chateau, where it will be parked for the weekend, you should be dressed ready to face the weather, whatever it may be.  People, packs and skis then transfer to a 'goat' (mountain transport) for the haul up the mountain.

At The Top o' the Bruce, retrieve your pack and walk with the group up to Waikato Hut.  If you are new it is extremely important that you stay with someone who knows the way.

http://wtc.org.nz/Waikato_Hut_Business_Plan.pdf

Children; Snow and Skiing

Some Tips:

Children are at special risk whether skiing or playing in the snow.  They should always be dressed in waterproof clothing with enough woollens to keep then generously warm.  Children tend to tire quickly, and tired skiers are accident-prone.   Give them frequent opportunities for food, drink and rest.

Be careful of their equipment; little bones and light-weight bodies only need light binding settings.  Crash helmets can provide added protection.  Above all, make skiing fun for them.  Playing games helps develop skills.

Take them to shelter if they complain of tiredness or the cold, but it's best to call it a day while they are still having fun.

Unless of course you prefer a miserable, mutinous, accident - prone youngster!

Parents Checklist

Before You Go
Put your name on everything.
Check that you have all the things you need before you leave home.

Getting It Together
Clip equipment together for easier carrying.
Connect mitts by linking them with elastic through the sleeves.

Pocket Stuffers
Sunburn cream, lip cream, hankies, money for emergencies, food.
Identity card, to include child's name, parents name, holiday address, meeting time and place.

Dress
Use many thin layers instead of a few thick ones. Have at least one layer of wool or polypropylene all over.  Warm parka, waterproof pants, hat, mitts, socks, jersey, longjohns, goggles.