Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Boulder Beach closed  during yellow eyed penguin nesting, moulting, December-February months.

Distance from car-park: 24 km to Macandrew Bay, 27 to Highcliff Road.

17.  21 July 2021. Trampers.  Greenacres St -Boulder Beach – Seal Point Rd. M.  Leaders: Ross and Wyn

Brrrrr… it was cold in Mosgiel after a light frost so we were keen to get into our cars and head out for Macandrew Bay, our starting point. After meeting up with the Trampers from town, 23 of us set off from Macandrew Bay just after 10am. (I thought there were 22 until morning tea when I realised I hadn’t counted myself!). We headed up Greenacres Street…

The start up the long hill (photo & caption Helen)

…where we came across our first of many animals of the day (and my favourites) – Highland cattle and even baby ones.

Trampers and Shaggy Beasts (photo & caption Pam)

After about 35 minutes of uphill and not far up the Greenacres Track we stopped for morning tea by a seat at some big old macrocarpas.

Morning tea in the trees (photo & caption John)

We then carried on up the track until we came to Highcliff Road (280 metres of climbing). We had certainly warmed up after that and we were able to admire the views as we walked along Highcliff Road towards the Paradise Track.

Overlooking the first cheese factory on Highcliff Road (photo & caption Pam)

About halfway along we crossed the road to look at the monument to New Zealands first Cheese factory in 1871. The monument was understated considering how important the dairy industry has become. Then it was onto Paradise track which leads down to Boulder Beach. It was slippy slidy in places but everyone seemed to remain upright.

Descending Paradise Track (photo Pam)

A few animal distractions on the way starting with a group of friendly alpacas which received quite a bit of attention.

John enticing alpacas with grass (photo & caption Pam)

Then we came across 2 sheep engaging in rather vigorous headbutting. After all the animal antics we made our way on down to the bottom of the track to the Beattie cottage which we had a look around…

Stop at Beattie Cottage (photo & caption John)

… before making our way to Boulder Beach through the protected area. It was 12.30pm and lunch was had on the beach near a leopard seal sunbathing on the sand who seemed to pose to have his photograph taken.

Lunch – Wonder why they call it Boulder Beach (photo & caption John)

Sea lion on Boulder Beach (photo & caption Pam)

It was very calm and even warm with a short appearance of the sun. The return journey was an uphill climb via Braidwood Road (a 4-wheel drive track), leading onto Seal Point Road which in turn joined up with Highcliff Road at Pukehiki. The church has been undergoing renovations with a very smart paint job in grey and white.
A bit further along Highcliff Road to Greenacres Track again for the thankfully downward journey to our cars (with the customary stop at the BIG swing).

Good on you John for giving it a go (photo & caption Jenni)

We had a well-deserved coffee at the The Duck café at Macandrew Bay where we were pleased to rest our weary legs and chat some more. A great end to an enjoyable tramp.
Wyn

Strava plot of route – start at top left (screenshot Wyn)

Strave elevations of our tramp (screenshot Wyn

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12.  10/4/2024 Mt Charles Grade 4 Leaders: Graham and Carol Thurlow

28 trampers gathered at Allan’s Beach. Continue Reading »

Morning tea – spot the miscreant walking sticks Caption and photo Barbara

Tail end Charlie Caption and photo Barbara

View down on those who made it Caption and photo Barbara

Photo Margreet

Dispersing for lunch on the little peninsula Caption and photo Barbara

Hikers Lunch Caption and photo Kathryn

Photo Kathryn

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Tunnel exit on beach

The Tunnel Beach Walkway, one of the most popular scenic walks around Dunedin will be officially opened by the Minister of Lands, Mr Elworthy, on March 16. (1983).

Access to Tunnel Beach has been negotiated by the Lands and Survey Department with the farmer who owns the land the walkway crosses.

The advantage to the farmer of the walkway is that under the Walkways Act he can be compensated if there is damage done and the access can be controlled. For example, the Tunnel Beach Walkway will be closed during lambing.

…

The steps down the tunnel are worn and water seeps through it so concrete steps will be poured before the official opening.

The Tunnel Beach Walkway is a coastal walk, descending a line of seacliffs south of St Clair where the wild Pacific breakers have carved sheer headlands, sea stacks and arches, and the wind has sculptured extraordinary shapes.

From the road end the track descends across green pasture and within a few minutes reaches the clifftops above Tunnel Beach.

The rock underfoot is the soft Caversham sandstone, an extensive thick sediment laid down during the sea’s encroachment of the Dunedin area 20 million years ago. The sandstone was generally overlain by other sediments, but near here lava from the Dunedin volcano flowed over the sandstone itself. This occurred about a dozen million years ago. The soft nature of the almost uniform sandstone makes walking too close to the cliff-edge a dangerous practice, but has also allowed the magnificent carving both by humans and by nature that is in evidence here.

At Tunnel Beach the rock is seen in detail. Careful examination will reveal shell fragments and with luck a fossil such as a brachiopod shell or echinoderm (sea urchin) or even bones of an extinct whale could be found.

At the top of the tunnel and on the promontories, the rock supports a community of salt-resistant species including Austral spleenwort, Selliera sp and Samolus sp. Species that occur further up the slope do not grow here as they cannot cope with the sea water that splashes up during the high seas that can batter this stretch of coastline.

The tunnel was dug in the 1870s by workmen employed by John Cargill, a son of Captain William Cargill, and who farmed the area. It’s reputed to have been a birthday present to his daughter.

The Cargill families found seclusion and shelter on the beach at the foot of the tunnel steps.

The swift flowing current, with is load of sand and erosive potential, heads up the coast just beyond the extremities of this little bay. It must have deterred all but the strongest swimmer from entering the water. At low tide the sandy beach makes an attractive setting for picnics, with the deeply cleft sandstone buttresses towering above. Some are intricately carved, some lie scattered as blocks already tumbled to the beach. Needless to say, common sense dictates where to sit in safety.

Some of the smaller boulders beneath the cliff are derived from the lava floors above, or from Blackhead, a headland of down-thrown volcanic rock being quarried to the south-east.

Vertical rusty streaks of iron-staining make a cross-cross pattern with the near horizontal traces of each successively deposited layer, called “bedding planes”, visible on the cliff faces.

Caves and sea-arches are eroded into the cliffs and an arch at the southern edge of Tunnel Beach, when seen from the walkway above is an excellent example showing the formation of a “stack”.

When the arch has finally eroded and collapsed, the leg on the right will stand free of the mainland just as the stacks off the northern edge of the beach do. Horizontal bedding visible on these stacks suggests that these are still in situ and are not blocks that have fallen from elsewhere.

Amongst a group of trees atop the cliffs, Cargills Castle awaits further depredation by time, vandalism and weather. It was built in 1876 for Edward Cargill, another son of the founder of the Province, Captain William Cargill; and a Mayor of Dunedin 1879-98. Originally called “The Cliffs” it was not long before the Italian-designed building was given its present name by locals. It was one of the first concrete buildings in Otago.

The “castle” was of 21 rooms and cost £14,000 to erect. It was nearly completely destroyed by fire in 1892 and although rebuilt by 1923 – “the biggest white elephant in Dunedin” according to one building contractor – was unfit for habitation.

In more recent years there have been several attempts to instill new life into the building, including an opera venture and plans for a tavern, but all to no avail.

– Dunedin Midweek, Wednesday, Feb 23, 1983.

Link to Trip Organisation Guidelines for leaders and trip participants.
Link to Track Grading information.
Link to Copy of Trip Programme for printing.
Gradings are provisional and may change following recce. Distances are for road travel from Mosgiel car park. Costs may change with fuel price fluctuations and distance changes. This page has all current updates.
Last updated 7/04/2024.

Wednesday 24 April.
Trampers. Frasers Road/Southern Resevoir. Grade 2.5. $5. 16 km.  Leaders: Gwenda Farqharson/Graeme Souter.
Hikers.       Graham’s Bush. Grade 3. $8. 27 km. Leaders: Maria MacNee/Theresa White.

Beginning of Next Programme

Wednesday 1 May.
Combined.    Pyramids/Victory Beach. Grade 2.5. $10. 38 km. Leaders: Jenny Wilton, Alison Kim, Janette Abbot Wendy Langley, Adrienne Ensor. Alex Griffin

Wednesday 8 May.
Trampers. Goldfields, Lawrence. Grade 4. $21. 81 km (distance PJP to Lawrence). Leaders: Anne Ward, Di Bezett, Lyn Keene.
Hikers. Macandrew Bay, Greenacres. Grade 2. $7. 24 km. Leaders: Jill Dodd, Katrina McKenzie.

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Ocean Grove, also known as Tomahawk, is a suburb in the southeast of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. … The suburb was known as Tomahawk until the 1930s, the name not being a reference to the weapon, but rather possibly an anglicised form of the Māori words tomo haka, meaning “dance by a gravesite”.

• Classification – Hard
• Time – Approximately 45 minutes.
• Parking – Limited at Highcliff Road. No dogs.
• Dogs – No

43. 06/12/2023. Trampers. North of Tomahawk. Grade 3. $7. 22km. Leaders: Esther Willis and Julie McKenzie

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Distance from car-park: 24 Km.

MacTaggart St track closed for lambing September and October.

5. 7/12/2022. Hikers. Macandrew Bay.  Grade 2 Leaders: Jill D. and Linda

Twenty eager hikers departed Macandrew Bay car park on a cool grey morning. We walked along the harbourside walkway as far as McTaggart Street where we stopped  at the Company Bay reserve for morning tea. Unfortunately, the native plant nursery was closed for the day so we were unable to do the planned visit.  However, Jill was able to provide us with some information on the work that was carried out there to provide native plants for planting out on the peninsula.

Jill giving a speech at morning tea. Caption and photo Helen

Onwards and upwards we made our way up the road and on to the track, climbing over some stiles, walking across farmland and up the hill towards Camp Rd.

How many stiles? Caption and photo Phil

We stopped several times to catch our breath and to admire the wonderful views of the peninsula. After the steady climb we reached our lunch stop on Camp Rd near Larnach Castle.

We did as the farmer instructed. Left the sheep to close the gate. Caption and photo Mike

We then continued our walk along to Pukehiki where we visited the lovely little community church, with its loo with a view!

Pukehiki Church is the background for our group photo. Caption and photo Helen

From here we walked along Highcliff Rd to Greenacres track and proceeded downhill to Macandrew Bay.

Screenshot Margreet

Some opted for an ice cream while others enjoyed refreshments at the Duck Cafe, while taking in the view of the lovely Macandrew Bay Beach on a nearly sunny afternoon.  Jill and Linda

Phil at Jamestown in the Hollyford, in 2003, telling the grandiose stories of James Macandrew Caption and photo Phil

Standing alongside James Macandrew’s grave and memorial Caption and photo Phil

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Sign on Highcliff Road (Photo & Caption Mike)

Morning tea looking over Boulder Beach (Photo & Caption Helen)

Lookout over Boulder Beach (Photo & Caption Margreet)

The steep descent was made without incident although some knees were creaking a bit by the time we had got to the bottom of the hill.
Gymnast of the day award was given to Jim Finnie. At the start of the Buskin Jim demonstrated his prowess by performing an impressive backward somersault with a half pike and a reverse tuck. The landing left a bit to be desired and stopped him getting a perfect 10.
Special mention also to Jay who re-arranged some of Max’s clothing after she spotted that he had his hi vis vest on upside down and back to front.
An early lunch was taken at 1130 in a sheltered part of the Buskin Track from where we could see the views of the coast disappearing in the mist and drizzle.

Eleanore Margreet and Betty on the seat with a view (Photo & Caption Helen)

The Buskin Track does not appear to be used much as the grass was quite long in places with a few areas of thistle and nettles to be aware of.

Bushkin Track (Photo & Caption Mike)

It was also a wee bit muddy and slippery towards the top where a few planks of wood had been laid.

The group of 9 plus the photographer at our high point (Photo & Caption Helen)

Once at the top of the Buskin, it was a short walk along a private road to Highcliff Road and Karetai Road back to the cars.
The weather was not as bad as forecast. It was overcast with a few drizzle patches and one short bit of “wet rain”. Poms know the meaning of this.

Ponchos the order of the day (Photo & Caption Margreet)

Debrief at the cars agreed that grade 3 was about right and that there would not be a coffee meeting on the way home.
As usual, great company and interesting conversation made this an enjoyable hike.
Mike

 

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It started as a cold blustery day when we departed from Mosgiel, proceeding down the bay with white caps plentiful on the harbour. 14 hardy souls started the Greenacres Track at 0940.

Starting off climbing up Greenacres Track (photo and caption Pam)

Conditions were better than expected once we started our journey up Greenacres Track and turned right to walk along Highcliff Road to the start of the Buskin Track.

Top of Greenacres track at Highcliff Rd (photo and caption Pam)

Stone fence standing the test of time (photo and caption Pam)

Morning tea stop at top of Buskin Track (photo and caption Anne)

We stopped for a cuppa at the start of the Buskin Track then proceeded down the track to the junction of Paradise Track. Buskin Track was surprisingly sheltered from the cold southerly wind.

Heading down Buskin Track sheltered from wind towards beach (photo and caption Anne)

Clearing style at beginning Buskin track (photo and caption Anne)

Sarah looking north watching waves (photo and caption Lyn)

Dave watching huge waves (photo and caption Lyn)

A sheltered lunch spot on Paradise track (photo and caption Pam)

Looking back on Boulder Beach as we climb up Paradise Track (photo and caption Pam)

Ascending up Paradise Track without stopping and a cold southerly on our backs we again joined Highcliff Road then back down Greenacres Track to our vehicles.

Everyone enjoyed the walk and as tramp leader I must congratulate everyone for being so well prepared for the extreme conditions that never eventuated.

Finished our walk at 1440 and headed to “The Duck” at Macandrew Bay for a well-deserved coffee.

Anne & Rod Ward

Strava screenshot of tramp by Pam)

Glenfalloch’s name is Gaelic and means “Hidden Valley”.  Glenfalloch was established in 1871 by George Russell. It covers 12 hectares (30 acres). In 1917 Philip Barling purchased Glenfalloch and it was opened to the public by his son in 1956. It was brought by the Mills family in 1960 and in the late 1960’s the Otago Peninsula Trust purchased the property.  We can be very grateful to have this asset to enjoy every season of the year.

9.40am saw Phil and his harem of nine set off through the woodland gardens of Glenfalloch following a path which took us to the Bridal Lawn, over the Russell stream bridge to admire the ferns and woodland foliage before climbing up many steps to a four-wheel drive track and the start of our first big ascent.

Glenfalloch in autumn Caption and photo Pam

As we steadily climbed, this track petered out into a single overgrown track which took us to the boundary line.

There were some steep uphills after leaving the Glenfalloch grounds Caption and photo Marijke

Here we pushed our way through low Manuka branches to the fence where packs and poles were thrown over before we squeezed through the wires.

“There was a track here when I did the recce” Caption and photo Phil

Then it was a steady zigzag climb up Claremont Farm to just below Highcliff Rd where we stopped for morning tea while enjoying the great vista’s back over the city, the sparkling water of the harbour and to Port Chalmers and beyond. Jill D’s birthday treat of easter eggs got us going again walking up Highcliff Road for 15mins to Penzance Kennels and the start of Buskin track.

Buskin track sign

This track weaved its way down the side of the hill, again with spectacular views now of the Pacific Ocean and rolling farmland out to Sandfly Bay. This single file track was mostly grass with the odd churned up muddy patches trampled by cattle, but some boards had been placed in situ. We eventually came to a junction with Braidwood track to Boulder Beach and Highcliff Track to the right. We continued on the Highcliff track through clumps of macrocarpa trees until we came out in the open again.

What stories these old trees could tell! Very impressive huge trunks. Caption and photo Marijke

The track weaved its way towards the sea and then suddenly it was a steep grunt up to the top to the White Rocks (lichen covered) for lunch.

Look where we are climbing – to Highcliff Caption and photo Phil

Again, enjoying spectacular views over Boulder Beach, towards Sandfly Bay and Mt Charles, Phil handed around chocolate treats from Betty and Jim (thank you soo much).

Beautiful lunch view looking down to boulder beach Caption and photo Helen

With the sugar rush we were off again and, as we walked around a corner, the views changed again to Tomahawk, St Clair Beach and Black head. When Highcliff Track finished, we continued on Karetai Rd to where it meets Highcliff Rd.  A 20-minute walk down Highcliff Rd brought us to the unmarked District Track.

Starting place for the District Track Caption and photo Helen

Once Phil cleared the grass around the stile, we scrambled down through long grass following the fence line for 20 mins to another stile and from there continued through trees towards Portobello Road.

From sea to shining sea Caption and photo Phil

A very steep final descent brought us onto Portobello Road.

Nearly back to where we started. Caption and photo Phil

We had a 20 minute walk on the shared pathway to Glenfalloch where we were joined by Raewyn, Claire and Jan for coffee, cake and ice cream on the deck in the last rays of sunshine.

Phil’s harem Caption and photo Phil

Thank you Helen for filling in at the last minute as Tail End Charlie and to Jason allowing us access through Claremont Farm.  Pam Cocks

Tramp map courtesy Pam

 

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20. 20/03/2024. Hikers. Broad Bay Future Forest (New Hike), Grade 2.5.  30 km. Leaders: Jenny Flack, Vivienne Manning.

Twenty hikers gathered at the end of Bacon St for this new walk. Continue Reading »

25. 15/11/2023. Orokonui Circuit. Grade 3. Leaders: Graeme Souter & Gail Williams

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