No. 43 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Booth Rd – Ben Rudd, R Hakkaart. Year Round”
Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.
9. 15/03/2023. Hikers. McGouns/ Wakari Bike Track Grade: 2.5 Leaders: Jay and Jenny
17 keen hikers gathered at the bottom of the Pineapple track in Tanner Road. We entered the Cragieburn track at the Corner of Wakari Road and Tanner Road. We walked up a short distance to an historical site where there were remnants of dairy farming in 1860. This area is well preserved and a lovely new seat has been installed for people to sit and enjoy the views over Dunedin and its surrounds.
We then proceeded on to the Wakari Bike track which took us through attractive bush and meandering Ross creek.
The track was good underfoot and pleasant walking. We reached the top of the track in 45 minutes where we had our morning tea.
After that we carried on the track which was a mixture of lots of ups and downs.
The trees here were a mixture of natives and exotics. The redwoods were huge and stunning.
We carried on then to join the McGouns Track which has beautiful unspoilt bush. This was steep in places but nothing like getting the heart rate up to feel alive. At the end of the McGouns Track we were supposed to turn right but the leader took us left up another steep climb where we had our well deserved lunch break and there we enjoyed views of the city and harbour.
After lunch it was all downhill for a change to the cars. We had two prospective hikers with us today, Margaret and Kay. Coffee was at Sunnyvale.
8. 10/08/2022. Trampers. Pineapple Point. Leaders Ross & Wyn
It was one of those days; cold and frosty and clear and calm enough. It was welcome after all the changeable weather we’ve had lately. 18 of us met up at Malvern Street at the back of the Woodhaugh Gardens and headed off at 10am. We followed the track up beside the Leith Stream and then headed up the Ross Creek track to the top of the dam for morning tea in the sun.
We kept going past the top of the reservoir and crossed the road to the forest that is part of the mountain bike track maze. We briefly emerged beside Wakari Road to regain our bearings (and the sun) before plunging back into the maze of tracks. These are lovely tracks, particularly where they follow beside what presumably is Ross Creek. The trees here are mostly exotic, and old. The redwoods are stunning – they seem to go up forever.
We twisted and turned, to emerge onto the McGoun Extension Track which we followed down to the start of the Pineapple Track – familiar territory for many. We climbed up to the water-treatment building and paused to regroup. The current Pineapple Track heads off into the bush from the far end of the building. But from round the back of the building, we headed off into the bush, pushing past the undergrowth to reach the start of the original Pineapple Track.
This part of the route up Flagstaff was used from the early 1900s until the 1970s when the track was rerouted. This old route is more direct and is barely maintained. It’s a single-file track and there’s no zigging and zagging. It was always slippery, particularly coming down. The track is unmarked, and there are places where you need to work out where it goes. It’s a rare treat, so close to the city.
Towards the top, we encountered a rarer sight, another tramper. I’m not sure who got the bigger surprise. He was tramping in boots and shorts and nothing else. By this stage we were encountering snow beside the track and the occasional snowball was being shared. We were all dressed like we were off to the South Pole. It seems that some at the back of the group didn’t see him so they were either traumatised or he took to hiding.
Soon after, we emerged from the bush onto a clearing that the current Pineapple Track crosses. This is a shoulder on the ridge. The vegetation in the clearing was almost completely covered by the snow. It was a lovely winter scene, complete with sun and a view over the city.
We crunched over to the high point of the shoulder. This was called Pineapple Point and it was here that the early trampers rested and consumed their tins of pineapple and left the empty tins upside down on the fenceposts. Everyone found somewhere mostly snow-free to sit for lunch.
We didn’t have pineapple, but chocolate fishes and liquorice allsorts were a great substitute. Pineapple Point is going to be developed as a viewpoint and resting place by the OTMC as part of their centenary celebrations next year. There will be a seat, and the original track will be signposted. They hope to keep the old track in its current state as much as possible, to offer an alternative experience.
From our lunch spot we scrunched over to join the main Pineapple Track and we descended back towards the city the usual way – down to Booth Road and back into the Ross Creek Reserve. We checked out some of the remnants of the Rankin farm, including the cobbled road, and admired some of the Rimu trees that Elizabeth Rankin preserved, that we all might appreciate them many years later. We were back at the cars at 2.30pm, still enjoying the sunshine. It was a lovely day out with a happy group. There was a variety of tracks and terrain, there was sunshine and snow, and new places and new faces. Thanks everyone.
We repaired to the ever-welcoming cafe in the Botanic Gardens, for refreshments and restoration.
Ross and Wyn
Vital statistics: Distance 12.3 kms, Total height gains 518 metres, moving time 3:06, time away 4:33. Graded 3.5 and maybe almost a 4? A good winter option with mostly good footing – not much mud.
7. 6 April 2022. Combined. Ross Creek, McGouns, Pineapple Track.
Trampers Report, Ross Creek, McGouns, Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd’s Shelter, Leaders: Gwenda Farqharson & Wyn Davies
We left the Garden Place entrance to Ross Creek once we all got together. It was pleasant waiting in the sun and seeing blue skies after the forecast earlier in the week had not been favourable.
12 Trampers and 14 Hikers made their way through Ross Creek to have morning tea at the old farm at Craigieburn where the stones at the cow byre provided good seating.
It is Lester’s birthday next week but he was shouting earlier as he won’t be here. We all sang Happy Birthday to him and were treated to two different types and thicknesses of chocolate slice. He asked us to vote on which one we liked the best. The point of difference on the slice that won quite overwhelmingly was the addition of condensed milk and iced with real coconut chocolate. Thanks for a lot of fun at morning tea Lester and we hope you have a very Happy Birthday.
Both groups started off towards the McGouns track where we parted company from the Hikers and left them to explore at their own pace.
We linked up with the Pineapple track and the main climbing began.
As we got further up, we were rewarded with stunning views of the city, Otago harbour and the Pacific Ocean. What a great city and tracks we have.
Eventually we reached the skid site at the turn off to Ben Rudd’s shelter where a new Panorama board and seat provided by Ben Rudd’s Management Trust has been set up.
It was quite cold and windy and some layers were put on after the climb up. Lunch was at Ben Rudd’s shelter where the two tables seated twelve people perfectly. The sunshine, comfort and shelter were welcome.
Afterwards we retraced our steps to the Firebreak track and headed along to the start of the Swampy track before heading back down the Pineapple track. The walk downhill certainly accentuated the long 600 metres we had climbed, steep in parts. We were able to appreciate the wonderful views once again.
We re-entered the Ross Creek tracks back to the cars. Coffee and icecreams were at the Croque-O-Dile café at the Gardens. A great 12 km walk with great company.
Wyn
Hikers Report, Ross Creek, McGouns Track, Leaders: Sue Nichol & Kathryn Fagg
14 hikers along with the trampers met in Tanners Road then all walked to the Brye where we had morning tea.
The hikers then enjoyed a walk around the Ross Creek McGouns area. Highlight of the day was Lester’s baking to celebrate his birthday next week. We had two different fudge recipes and the result of the taste test was the thick one being the most popular.
After finishing our hike those that were able met at the Wooden table in Mosgiel for coffee.
Kathryn
Tramper’s Report. Leaders Wyn and Ross
The Trampers and Hikers congregated at Peter Johnstone car park where Wyn and Ross got to model the new high-viz vests for tramping leaders. Arthur reminded everyone that leaders are now responsible after the day’s walk for handing over to the vests and the emergency locator beacon to the leaders for the following week. It’s also the responsibility of the following leaders to make sure they get the vests and beacon, and to familiarise themselves with the beacon instructions. We all met up at the bottom of the Pineapple Track in Wakari and started with a combined walk along McGouns Road. Just past the bridge we turned left into the bike track maze in the Redwoods. We safely navigated the maze to the skid clearing at the far end of McGouns Road and here we had our combined morning tea.
Just past the bridge we turned left into the bike track maze in the Redwoods. We safely navigated the maze to the skid clearing at the far end of McGouns Road and here we had our combined morning tea.
We separated then, and the 27 trampers immediately started off to join the Davies Track and head up the slopes of Flagstaff. The lower part of the track was a little slippery and damp, but good for this time of year.
The track was mostly clear and easy to follow. As we gained height we began to be rewarded with views out over the city. The day was overcast and almost misty higher up. We eventually emerged above the forest. The track above this point is easier to follow, especially towards the top through the area which was devastated in the fire. It is worrying to see that the gorse might be a big winner from the burning process.
We reached the Flagstaff-Pineapple Track and headed south and then west to the Firebreak Track on the other side of Flagstaff and then south and down to Ben Rudd’s Shelter.
This was a good place for lunch and a rest and a group photo.
Then we retraced our steps back up to the Firebreak Track and north along this to the Swampy Ridge Track. Here we turned right towards the city to meet up with the Pineapple Track and the steep descent back to where we started about 4 hours before at the bottom of Booth Road.
Total distance was about 10.5 kms. It was a pleasant day for a nice walk; not too hot and not too cold, and hardly any wind and of course the company was great.
We regrouped at Coffee Culture Café in the old Roslyn Fire Station for afternoon tea/coffee/cold drinks and they did a good catering for us all (with advance notice).
Written by Ross and Wyn
Hiker’s Report. Leaders Ady Whitson and Noi McCunn
