What happens in the bush stays in the bush. The Otago University Tramping Club (OUTC) has built up an illusive reputation over its storied history of people full-sending it in the woods. Bush Ball is arguably the most famous (and feral) of their many adventures across the motu each year. Here’s a Critic exclusive on what went down at Bush Ball ‘25.
For the past 98 years, OUTC has been sending bus loads of punters to the Matukituki Valley, ready to trek out to the Aspiring Hut for a one-of-a-kind bush bash bonanza. This year’s epic took place over the 26th and 27th of July.
While the trip may be a lil feral, it also gives tauira a chance to reconnect with nature. Touch some grass to heal your questionable actions back in Ōtepoti. The three hour hike along the Matukituki river provides transfixing views of the Rob Roy and Voltar glacier – an obvious highlight for many, with one tramper saying that he was feeling pretty “glacial sexual.” (Get a room.)
The campsite was pretty mint. The newly renovated Aspiring Hut had a capacity of 60 people, though 96 punters came along, making it the second largest Bush Ball yet. This meant excess soldiers were forced to tent outside.
The set up crew rolled through earlier in the morning on a four wheel drive (hey, that's cheating), decorating the cabin to the nines. This year's theme was disco. The walls were laced with sparkly bunting and glittery streamers alongside a litter of disco lights. They also brought over a 17kg power bank to power up the party.
If you are joining any sort of outdoors club trip, you should probably know how to handle a goon sack. The boxed wine type, of course. Though not provided by the club, some punters brought some of Aotearoa's finest goon sacks. One generous patron dubbed himself the ‘Goon Fairy’, passing it around for all to chug.
The Goon Fairy addressed the cabin while everyone was eating dinner, informing the newbies of how to use a goon. First you slap it. Then you slurp it. Someone else must always hold the goon while you chug it. The goon fairy put it well, explaining that when offered a swig of the goon "it is an invitation", not an expectation (consent is key).
Welfare Officer Imogen told Critic that the trip went off "without a hitch", only citing one marginal incident. She said the bulk of her effort was spent holding back a few people's hair as they were vomiting (bonding). But overall she found the group of punters knew their limits, saying the pack was very respectful.
As anyone who’s been to Rhythm and Vines will attest to, the worst part of the trip is waking up the next day. Much like many other bush ballers, the Goon Fairy became a goon victim. On the trek back home, the squad stopped by a water hole along the river. Just like Jesus Christ in the Jordan River, the sins of each punter were washed away after a dip in the stream of melted snow.
The biggest oopsie of the trip came on the first day of the two-day expedition when the wheel of the four wheel drive got slashed. After a series of successful missions transporting gear back and forth between the carpark, another member of the setup crew offered to drive. He charged up the track a wee bit too fast, landing on a rather sharp rock. Trampers may be good at walking, but not driving, it seems. A space saver tyre had to be deployed, restricting the car from going any faster than 60 km/hr. As punishment for his actions, Imogen smirked as she told us that they “made him drive the four wheel the whole way back.”
Don’t let the insular reputation of these outdoor clubs cramp your style. Get amongst it. Everyone is very keen to meet new people, and it’s a surprising amount of people's first trips too. Every trip and every outdoor club has their own different characteristics. Some just happen to be more feral than others. When the trip’s over, you can appreciate you were hungover in a scenic location rather than your shitty flat.