Two North Island tramping clubs have celebrated their 50th anniversaries. 

Auckland’s Pukekohe Tramping Club and Parawai Tramping Club – which caters for the Paraparaumu and Waikanae areas – both marked their half-century in November.

The Pukekohe Tramping Club, which has around 140 members, celebrated the occasion by gifting a new track to the community.

The Five Summits Track is a 21km loop track which links the town’s five volcanic hills.

It starts and finishes at Pukekohe Station and caters for cyclists and walkers.

Founding president David Lowrie – who has remained active within the club – was elected president again for the half-century.

“I was president for several years at the start, and the club thought   it would be a great lark to make me president in the 50th year,” he said.

The Parawai Tramping Club celebrated its jubilee with a walk to Parawai Lodge in Ōtaki Forks, a celebration dinner and a walk along the Paekākāriki Escarpment from Pukerua Bay to Paekākāriki.

They also produced a 250-page book on the club’s history called Parawai: 50 Years of Tramping. 

Club president Neville Grubner said that trips are run every weekend.

The club looks after Parawai Lodge in Ōtaki Forks and members frequently volunteer with DOC on Mana and Kapiti islands.