Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

29 km from car park.

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4. 21/02/2024. Hikers. Waihola/Milburn Area. Grade 2 Leaders: Bill and Jill

22 hikers assembled at a car park in Limeworks Road, Milburn on a rather grey morning with a cold head on sou’wester blowing into our faces. After traversing a farm track, we joined the Clutha Gold Trail in Circle Hill Road and began what Jill quite accurately described as a day of quirky bridges and old fossils!

We were joined by a new prospective member in Sandy who has recently retired and enjoys getting out and walking the local tracks.
In completing this loop of the trail we crossed over three of the rather unique bridges constructed by Calder Stewart at Milton.

The second of these is the Bruce Stewart Memorial bridge which is a tribute to the co-founder of Calder Stewart. Bruce and his partner Lance Calder began building houses in the Milton area in 1955 and the firm has since evolved into a large commercial construction company employing over 450 staff spread across a series of offices New Zealand wide. Bruce’s sons now operate the company which is a major contributor to the social and recreational amenities throughout the Bruce council district.
Following morning tea at the side of the trail we returned to the cars after a slightly nervous travail of State Highway One and drove further up Circle Hill to the Whale Fossil Lookout.

While rustic in nature this interesting site houses a collection of Whale and Dolphin fossils unearthed in the nearby lime quarries – the history of lime and phosphate workings in the area is well detailed in a series of pictorial exhibits.

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the site are the stunning views to the north over Lake Waihola (which incidentally is the only inland tidal lake in the country) and the Sinclair Wetlands.

We then drove back to Waihola and began walking the initial 3 kilometre stretch of the extension to the Clutha Gold Trail – this stretch commences by traversing Lake Waihola across a wooden boardwalk and meanders down the side of the lake passing by the rear of a number of new and existing residences. Several of these have their own seats down on the lakes edge which would make an ideal setting for sundowner drinks.

Following lunch at a very convenient jetty on the lake we returned to Waihola once again passing the new cricket ground which Donald Stewart of Calder Stewart has constructed for the local Waihola Swans cricket club.

The other often remarked on feature of this section of the hike was the massive population of Black Swans on the lake – almost plague proportions! The weather at days end was very different to the morning and several layers of clothing were discarded along the way.
The day concluded upon our return to Waihola but not before the group was able to indulge in very scrummy berry fruit ice creams which were provided a la Maria’s wonderful generosity.

All in all, while a quite segmented day the consensus seemed to be that it was a very relaxed and enjoyable day. 9.8km.

3. 5/7/2017. All. Mid-winter Dinner. Leader: Alex.

52 happy trampers ex-trampers and several partners gathered for a mid-winter lunch and a great deal of catch-up chatter at the Waihola Tavern.

After the previous day’s terrible weather, we didn’t give much for our chances of a walk before lunch, but in the end 25 turned up at the car park on a sunny, mild (for the time of the year) morning.  After morning tea in the sun down by the lake, …

… we wandered back to the cars and left packs there, to enjoy the rare opportunity of a tramp with nothing to carry.   (Some diehards couldn’t bear to leave them behind.)

Across the main road we traipsed, our happy band getting some odd stares from passing motorists, then on up North Foreland St, into Goodwin St, Finlayson Rd and a steep wee grunt up Ramsgate St.  From there a turn into Beacon St took us to the Waihola cemetery, situated like so many in a spot with great views of the Lake and surrounding countryside.

Along Beacon Street with plenty to see  – new and old homes, some with welcoming or not so welcoming dogs, old photogenic sheds, …

… and old machinery, all providing plenty of excuses to linger and chat.  Then down Lakeview St, aptly named, and into Kilgour St, Greenhithe St, and so back to the cars, a really pleasant stroll in the sunshine.  Thanks Alec and Shona, leaders for the day.
Our 25 had more than doubled to 52 by the time we sat down to eat. Great food, great service, …

… great company, and some terrible verse from Judy. [They were brilliant. – Ed.]

Happy 80^th birthday to Margaret, and thanks to Fred and to Eric for the chocs. – Judy.

2. 15/5/2013. Hikers. Waihola Walk. Leaders: Dorothy and Chris.

We parked the cars in Waihola Place by the lake. We walked
back the way we had come in and  crossed SH1 onto North Foreland St. We continued on into Goodwin St which led us onto the Taieri Mouth/Finlayson Road itself. It was then a gentle rise, passing the Wenita Wilkinson Forestry Rd turn-off on our right, to reach the lovely picnic area a bit further on on our left, for morning tea on nicely grouped sets of seating. Here the committee held a stump meeting to put new member Carol onto the membership list and for President Bev to announce that Ken, after careful thought, had withdrawn his name for next President.

Then it was back down Finlayson, and a sharp right to climb a steep Ramsgate St hill to the cemetery. Here we saw many local family names, with the Bungard family head stones prominent. This was a leisurely stop, before Ramsgate St led us along past the tops of Nore and Chatham streets to turn left into Lake View St where we stopped for lunch. After lunch, and a short way down we turned right into Ross St, left into George St and left again into Kilgour St which took us back along the village slope crossing first Sandhead, then Chatham and Nore Streets again, this time  further down. A right turn down Margate St took us back to SH1, along it to Waihola Place, and back to the cars.

We numbered only 21 this time. Perhaps this helped us be a more orderly, and much less strung out group than last week. (Well, there were fewer steep hills than Port Chalmers presented, and that no doubt helped too.)  Bravo. The day was fine and windless. Views across the village were good. Thanks to Chris and Dorothy for a well-planned walk. – Ian

1. 28/7/2010. Hikers. Waihola Walk. Back streets of Waihola. E. Leaders: Dorothy, Chris, Margaret

Here are some photos from our very cold Waihola walk on Wednesday.
It was “feed an animal day”. We found lots to feed. – Elaine