The current tramping trend is to go lightweight. But what about choosing to make your pack just a tad heavier in the name of extravagant bougie tramping?

Members of Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club have taken things to the next level, though. On a two-night trip into Orongorongo Valley to stay at Paua Hut, the group of 25 carried in a barbecue.

“Our priority was a big group getting together, having fun and socialising,” socials officer Nicole Wood said. “Bringing a barbecue in was just a fun thought we had, and a nice way to add another amenity to the club’s hut, which is publicly bookable and already has gas bottles on site.”

A group of eight carried the single-burner barbecue, sharing the load for the two-hour walk. “It was raining, the cooker wasn’t well balanced, and the handles were slippery to hold when walking,” Wood said. “It took a lot of adjusting and taking turns to get it there.”

Sausages were barbecued on Saturday night and paired with vegetarian nachos, garlic bread and homemade brownie.