Jul 16 2021

Purakaunui

Published by under Beach,Trampers,Year round

No. 97 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Purekanui & Canoe Beach Year Round”

39 km
At LOW TIDE it is possible to walk along the shore to Doctor’s Point.
Also pleasant stroll 1 km down southeastern end to mouth of inlet with scattered cribs.


16. 14 July 2021. Hikers. Purakaunui/Canoe Beach. Medium. Leaders: Betty & Jim

After regrouping at Waitati 4 Vehicles travelled with 16 hikers to park at the end of the Doctors Point Road.  The tide afforded us plenty of clear beach for the Canoe Beach walk to Mapoutahi for our tea stop.  Of significance were two new barriers recently erected by DOC, warning of the dangerous cliffs.

Looking across Canoe Beach

Looking across Canoe Beach (photo & caption Ady)

Looking towards Headland of Purakaunui Beach

Looking towards headland of Purakaunui Beach (photo & caption Ady)

From our morning tea stop the southern portal to the rail tunnel could be seen, high on the cliff showing the extreme difficulty that this section that must have been experienced in the construction of this main trunk line.

Weather conditions were pleasant for the Purakaunui Beach walk on firm sand to the Purakaunui inlet.

Purakaunui Inlet

Purakaunui Inlet (photo Alex)

Entering the inlet, we were faced with soft sand conditions for a short distance to the pine plantation, then it was less than 400 meters through pines to the cemetery.  We retraced our steps in comfortable time for the tide past Canoe Beach to the cars.

The coffee stop was at Blueskin before our return to Mosgiel.


15. 8/8/2018. Trampers. Purakaunui/Canoe Beach. Leaders: Jill and Judy D.

Another mild winter’s day spent in the Purakaunui area. We had to change plans as high tide was approx 12 md and we had  planned to walk from Doctors Point to Canoe beach before climbing the Mckessar track back to the cars.
Never mind, we parked at the Purakaunui domain

A quick morning tea. (Gordon pic and caption.)

and walked along the inlet track, passing the cutest little 140 year old holiday home on the seaward side of the track.  Not sure what will happen with the effects of global warming??

Onwards towards the open sea along another track where the amenities board have put in a couple of seats to enjoy the  view out to sea

Walking around the bay. (Gordon pic and caption.)

and up the north coast.

Back along the short track and up the road above the holiday homes scattered amongst the bush. There was continual birdsong along our way which was so pleasant. The inlet was very calm reflecting the quaint colorful boat sheds.

Some of the boat sheds in the bay. (Gordon pic and caption.)

We shifted along to Osborne where we walked out to the beach and up to the old maori pa Mapoutahi where we had a leisurely lunch with uninterrupted views.

Lunch Maori Point. (Gordon pic and caption.)

Out to canoe beach and back to Puraukanui beach to the cars.
We were very fortunate to see several Kingfishers, some diving, some Rosellas and even an Eagle sitting on some scrub out in the inlet.
It was decided to have coffee at Orokonui Sanctuary again with pleasant views. 12 trampers and about 8 kms travelled! A relaxing day had by all. – Jill.

14. 24/2/2016. Hikers. Beach, Caves, Spit, Urupu. E. Leaders: Jim and Betty.

GPS of Hikers' route.

GPS route map of Hikers’ tramp.

A turnout of 24 walkers enjoyed extremely good weather. Leaders were Betty & Jim Finnie.

On the day the planned section of the walk from Mapoutahi Pa site …

Cuppa stop on the Mapoutahi Pa peninsula.

Cuppa stop on the Mapoutahi Pa peninsula. Evidence of a new sandbar is visible at top of photo.

Just managed to catch the railcar before it got right into the tunnel.

Just managed to catch the railcar before it got right into the tunnel.

… to Doctors Point had to be curtailed due to the sea’s erosion of sand at the boulder pile. It appears that this had occurred in the last approximately 10 days.

After a short delay, seven of the more adventurous walkers made the difficult crossing of the boulder pile to inspect the caves while the balance of the walkers started into the remainder of the planned walk.

There was a regrouping for lunch part way along the Purakanui beach.

Following lunch on sand spit.

Getting up after a lazy lunch on sand spit.

The walk continued along the beach after an extended lunch …

View down sandspit. Potato Point

View down sandspit. Potato Point.

… and followed the inlet into the pine trees to the fenced Maori cemetery.

From the cemetery it was along the vehicle track back to the car park. – Jim and Betty.

13. 5/8/2015 Both. Purakaunui, Purakaunui Urupu, Doctors Point. Moderate. Leaders: Judy, Bob.
Purakanui Maori graves beach caves

GPS of route courtesy Ken. Purakanui Maori graves beach caves. (Ken pic and caption.) Walked 18km; 4.9km/h; 3hr 40min moving; climbed 260m.

Today was a joint tramp with the hikers, so we all drove to Purakanui & parked down by the old garage at the far end. Here, Judy, the leader on the day, suggested that as it was already late, the trampers carry on with what they had planned, & not worry about walking with the hikers. So we took off along the waterside track, & stopped at the picnic spot for a very late morning tea break.

The group at morning tea stop. (Ken pic and caption)

The group at morning tea stop. (Ken pic and caption)

Then it was on around the rest of the bay, & into the pine forest on the other side, to try & find the Maori graves in there. Now I have walked past, & driven past this point many times without realising there were any grave sites in amongst these trees, until about a year ago, when they were mentioned to me. I think most, or all of the other 7 trampers with me didn’t know about them either. So it was good to find the site & have a look at the few headstones there.

Headstone with nice inscription

Headstone with nice inscription (Ken pic and caption)

Maori Graves (Ken pic and caption)

Maori Graves (Ken pic and caption)

More Maori Graves

More Maori Graves (Ken pic and caption)

We then went onto the old PA site, had a quick look around, before settling down for lunch. Then it was a quick dash along the beach to the caves on the way to Doctors Point, & back again, before the tide forced a return route over the large rocks halfway along the beach.
All that remained was the long road walk, & the bayside track, back to the cars. – Ken.

Mopanui Reflection

Mopanui Reflection

Someone's dream cottage

Someone’s dream cottage (John pic)

A quirky letter box

A quirky letter box (John pic)

Hikers grouped at the plantation entrance

Hikers grouped at the plantation entrance (John pic)

Urupu Sign

Urupu Sign (John pic)

Lunch at the Cemetery

Lunch at the Cemetery (John pic)

Memorial

Memorial. “In Memory of Richard Driver, Late Gunner, N.Z. Permanent Artillery. Died April 6th 1887, Aged 27 Years. Erected By His Comrades.” (John pic)

Occasion? Location?

Coffee at Careys Bay Hotel. (John pic)

12. 27/5/2009 Hikers. Purakaunui, Canoe Beach. Medium-. Leaders: Lex, Fred, Elaine

Flooded beach access road deterred Hikers from attempting to reach Canoe Beach.
11. 16/4/2008. Hikers. Purakaunui, Canoe Beach. Easy. Park at Picnic Ground. Leaders: Arthur and Barbara.
10. 26/9/2007 Trampers. Purakaunui Circuit. Moderate. Leaders: Shirley, Helen.
8 trampers met at the wharf at Purakaunui and welcomed Peter back into the fold after his long holiday in Australia. The day started out as rather cold and dreary but soon picked up after morning tea in the park at the head of Purakaunui Inlet. We wound our way around the inlet and over the causeway where the kingfishers love to fish. We tramped around the other side of the inlet all the way to Canoe Bay over the steps at the end of Purakaunui beach.
Canoe Beach group. Pat, Peter, Tash, Leoni, Lex

Canoe Beach group. Pat, Peter, Tash, Leoni, Lex

Canoe Beach Trio. Lex, Pat, Abe

Canoe Beach Trio. Lex, Pat, Abe

 Lunch in the sun sitting on the most beautiful beach in the world, before climbing on to the old pa site, Mapoutahi, with views in every direction.
Railway tunnel shot from Mapoutahi Peninsula

Railway tunnel shot from Mapoutahi Peninsula

We admired all the different colours of the flowering currants along the sandy path leading back to the track and talked to a chattering and busy Tui on the way back. The tide had come in since the morning and we kept to the path all the way rather than cutting across the tidal flats. A magic place to spend the day! – Tash
9. 5/4/2006. All. Purakanui, Canoe Beach. Leaders: Doug M, Bob H, Anne R, Eleanor W.
8. 15/9/2004. Both. Purakanui, Canoe Beach. Easy. Leaders: Glenys P, Bev H, Les and Margaret.
7. 6/11/2002. All. Purakanui, Canoe Beach. Medium. Leaders: Doug M, Betty, Colleen.
6. 1/8/2001. Combined. Purekanui – Canoe Beach. Easy. Leaders: Les W, Mary M, Bev H.
5. 3/11/1999. Purakanui – Canoe Beach. Leaders: Doug and Ngaire, Chris.
4. 22/7/1998. Purakanui, Goat Island. Leaders: Doug and Ngaire.
3. 6/8/1997. Purakanui area. Leaders: Doug and Ngaire, Barbara McC.
2. 1/11/1995. Purakanui – Canoe Beach. Easy. Leaders: Doug and Ngaire, Chris, Joan H.
1. 15/11/1989 Purakanui and Doctors Point. Interesting ancient Maori redoubt. Average+. Leaders: Dorothy W, Eric & Dot

No responses yet




Comments RSS

Leave a Reply