Feb 18 2009

Sawmill Road, Gortons Farm, Finlayson Road, Kennedys, John Bull Gully Track, Taieri Mouth

Published by under Trampers,Year round

No. 77 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Sawmill – Taieri Mouth Rd Return John Bull (fish) Year Round”
Location: 33 km
18/2/2009. Trampers. Sawmill Road, Gortons Farm, Finlayson Road, Kennedys, John Bull Track, Taieri Mouth. Medium+. Leaders: Keith, Glenice
Park at Knarston Park.

(Click to enlarge)
Sawmill Rd, Jn Bull Route Map

This time we left the cars at Knarston Park and walked around Moturata Road to turn up Sawmill Road and through Gortons Farm, in one of whose buildings, still there, Lex and Ian recalled attending their church’s Easter Weekend retreats in the 1940s!

Crayfish Pots

Crayfish Pots

Then it was on up to the top,

Hill ahead. Lex, Bill, Keith

Hill ahead. Lex, Bill, Keith

this time not diverting left through a bush gully to the neighbouring ridge, and out on the top and to the right onto Finlayson Road. Here Keith picked up a chance stone with a prehistoric fan-like seashell imprinted on it, along to Kennedys and down the ridge to the John Bull Track lookout. On the way we came across the top of the cleared forest, where we lunched. Through this area, which much lower down the slope is re-formed track in the John Bull Gully.

Log Lunch. Doug, George

Log Lunch. Doug, George

At the lookout seat we paused to admire the view.

John Bull track seat. Lex, Bill, Doug, Keith, Glenice, Ria, George

John Bull track seat. Lex, Bill, Doug, Keith, Glenice, Ria, George

Then it was down along the track to Taieri Mouth, passing on the way an English couple and near the end a large bunch of primary school pupils and teachers. Then along Riverside Road and Marine Parade and back to Knarston Park. A satisfying tramp for 9 of us. Thanks to our leaders.

23/7/2008. Trampers. Sawmill Road and Kennedys. Medium+. Leaders: Glenice and Keith.
29/8/2007. Trampers. Taieri Mouth, Sawmill Road, Kennedy, Taieri River. Medium. Leaders: Glenice, Hazel

Park at Sawmill Road corner park.
Up Sawmill Road. Continue up ridge.Cross deep gully. Clear gorse! (No need to cross gully at all.)
Up ridge. Swing right to Waihola Road.
Through Gortons Farm down ridge to Taieri river Millenium Track. Down to Taieri Mouth.
Car shuttle.
Seek permissions.

Seat, Top of John Bull Track. Leonie, Ian, George,  Marjorie

Seat, Top of John Bull Track. Leonie, Ian, George, Marjorie

aption=”Lunch at Seat. Glenice, Leonie, Ian, Tash”][/caption]

Lunch at Seat. Glenice, Leonie, Ian, Tash

Lunch at Seat. Glenice, Leonie, Ian, Tash

Bush. John Bull Track. Ian, Glenice, Doug M, Marjorie

Bush. John Bull Track. Ian, Glenice, Doug M, Marjorie

29/9/2004 Sawmill Road, Gortons Farm, Waihola Road, Kennedys, John Bull Gully Track, Taieri Mouth. Leaders: George, Bob H, Hazel
30/10/2002 Sawmill Road, Gortons Farm, Waihola Road, Kennedys, John Bull Gully Track, Taieri Mouth Leaders: George, Hazel, Molly
31/7/2002. Taieri Mouth – Waihola Road to Taieri River. Medium+. Leaders: George, Bob H, Colleen.
26/4/95 Sawmill Road,  in and out of John Bull Gully Track. Medium. Leaders: Mary Y, Denise, Judy, Betty

No responses yet




Comments RSS

Leave a Reply