Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Location: 15 km.

Click Ben Rudd Article for background information.

Click Pineapple Track for background information.

Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.

See Flagstaff Name for its origin.

4. 17/04/2024 Bullring/ Ben Rudd/ Flagstaff Grade 2.5 Leaders: Mike and Dave

On a cloudless but slightly chilly morning 29 hikers assembled at the Bullring carpark on Flagstaff/Whare Flat Road where Sandra, a new member of the group was introduced and welcomed by Phil.

Pleased to report that all hikers had read and digested the pre-hike notes and there was no confusion as to the date, time, location, travel arrangements or whether a Bee card was needed. This enabled us to set off on time for what turned out to be a great hike in lovely weather and one where we had great views of our beautiful city.

After a steady climb with a few stops for photo opportunities and to catch our breath, we found some shelter from a keen cool wind amongst the flax bushes by the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club plaque set in rock at the summit.

Morning coffee was had there before continuing to the junction of the top of the Pineapple Track. Thence to the Swampy track turnoff which we sensibly did not take and on to the Ben Rudd Panorama and seat.

It appears that we chose a good day to do this walk as 17 April 1921 was the day that Ben Rudd settled this area. 103 years to the day.
After a few of us had viewed the Panorama, we hiked through some native bush past the entrance to the Jim Freeman Track to the Ben Rudd shelter where we stopped for lunch.

The shelter had been repainted in the last few days and was bathed in sunlight. Some of the members who had been here years before commented on the way that the native plants were regenerating. Great to see.
Phil signed the visitors book on behalf of the club.

After lunch and a short talk from Phil on Ben Rudd’s exploits we retraced our steps to the Panorama and took the Firebreak Road back to the cars. This road elicited a few moans about “hikers’ knees” on the way down.

The tracks were surprisingly dry after the bout of rain a few days previously. Just a few muddy puddles to negotiate. The weather was ideal for hiking and this walk was a great choice by the planning committee as many of us had never done this walk before.

Thanks to Dave Roberts for filling in for Max as Tail End Charlie and leading on the return from the shelter.
After hike coffees were had by some in Roslyn.

4/12/2019. Hikers and Ramblers. Bull Ring. Leaders Betty and Jim Finnie

The weather was marginal at the start but improved as we progressed up the fire break to the turn off to Ben Rudd’s hut.  This was a pleasant sheltered spot for the 20 hikers to enjoy morning tea with the sun making its presence felt.  Retracing our steps back up to the fire break we followed across to join the Pineapple track which we followed for a short distance to inspect the recent burned area, giving us an excellent vista of the city.

 

Again retracing our steps to a sheltered spot near the summit of Flagstaff we had a chance meeting up with our 4 ramblers for lunch.  Westerly conditions persisted on the way down hill to the cars at the Bull Ring.  Coffee stop was at a busy Topiary’s where a strong breeze seemed to assist the sparrows in their dive bombing attempts for food.

Leaders were Betty & Jim Finnie

Seven of us gathered at the Bull Ring

and set off up the Firebreak road towards Flagstaff in windy but fine weather. We noted the entrance to a track on our left marked with a white plastic bag, guessing it might be the exit from Big Rock. Down the road a bit we turned onto the Ben Rudd’s track and reached the shelter …

…  just before 10 am, in time for the traditional morning tea break.

Then it was on again, turning left at the shelter, scrambling up over rough rocks and through flax and tussock on a track that wasn’t too hard to find, to reach Big Rock. Great views from here, across to where the Rollinsons Road goes up the hill, and further, over to Silver Peaks.

Another scramble took us up and out to the Firebreak road again – yes, at the white plastic bag. Déjà vu! Off again to the Ben Rudd shelter and a yarn about future tramps. Only 11.30, so down the Jim Freeman track we trundled to the junction with McQuilkans for lunch. Here we admired the solid signs

placed by Ian and Ken to indicate track direction.

From there it was only a short stroll out to the Whare Flat Road and the grunt back up the hill to the car park. And not quite 1pm! 7.4kms and over 400m of climbing – not a big day but very pleasant. – Judy, for Ken, Ian, Arthur, Helen, Eric and Neil.

We did Flagstaff (or Pineapple) track from the Bull Ring. Passed the Swampy turn off and down to Ben Rudd hut. Back to cars via the clay road. Lot of clearing been done on all the tracks we were on. – Bev.

19/5/2010. Hikers. Bull Ring, Flagstaff walkway, Firebreak Track, Ben Rudd. Leaders:  Molly, Neil.

4/3/2009. Both. Pineapple, Ben Rudd. Medium. Leaders: Lesley G, Evelyn C.

27/8/2008. Hikers. Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd. Easy. Leaders: Carmel, Evelyn C.

18/8/2004. Both. Bull Ring, Ben Rudd Hut, Bivvy Rock. Easy. George, Pat and Bill, Nancy.

27/8/2003. Hikers. Bull Ring, Skyline, Ben Rudd. Medium. Leaders: Winifred, Myrie.

9/10/2002. Alt. Bull Ring to Ben Rudd. Leaders: Nelson & Dot, Eleanor

1/7/1998. Bull Ring, Jim Freeman, Ben Rudd. Leaders: Colleen, Catherine.

27/8/1997. Hikers. Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd. Park at Bullring. Leaders: Shirley R, Margaret D, Nancy.

8/11/1995. Hikers. Bullring, Flagstaff, Ben Rudd. Leaders: Daphne, Wendy, Betty B