No. 94 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Ross Creek – McGlashan College Year Round” 17 km from car park.
33. 21/09/2022. Ross Creek. Hikers Grade 3 Leaders: Pam Clough and Jay Devlin.
24 Hikers and trampers parked in Rockside Road close to the Leith Valley Holiday Park. The day was pleasantly fine with no wind. We started our Ross Creek walk on Rockside road which took us on to a lovely meandering bushy track. We came out opposite Woodhaugh Gardens where we stopped for morning tea.
Morning tea Caption and photo Helen
After that we left the Gardens and crossed the road over to the Queens St Track which gave us lovely views over Dunedin and the Stadium. We crossed over Warrender St and kept on Queens Drive. We then turned right into Cosy Dell Road, which is very narrow, so care was taken. We headed on to Cannington Road and did a loop through Brayside Cres and Cairnhill St where we were treated to fabulous gardens with spring flowers and beautiful magnolia trees not to mention the lovely homes.
We were treated to lovely cherry blossom along the way Caption and photo Marijke
We then ended up at John McGlashan College where we had a leisurely lunch break.
Lunch Caption and photo Helen
After lunch we then went on to the Ross Creek track where we had to negotiate some very steep steps and a small creek crossing where luckily no one fell in. This track is most attractive with lovely bush, creek and birdlife.
Reservoir Caption and photo Helen
Group at reservoir Caption and photo Helen
The last mile, nearly back at the cars! The lush greenery is so nice at springtime. Caption and photo Marijke
Back to the cars. Coffee at Sunnyvale.
32. 20/07/2022. Ross Creek Leaders: Phil and Helen Morris
Wakari Bike car park/Polwarth, Burma Roads Ross Creek/Leith Valley/ Rockside, Tanner
Road/McGouns, Pineapple/ Wakari cycle track 10km amblers.
In a misty start we left Peter Johnstone Park and arrived at the Wakari bike car park at 9.50am. 8 trampers headed off down Polwarth Road, taking in some new houses in Redwood Lane. We then turned right into Burma track and then left into the track to the reservoir. As we had some hills in the tramp refuelling at the reservoir was required (morning tea).
Morning tea break (Photo & caption Marijke)
Ross Creek Reservoir and Valve Tower (Photo & caption Marijke)
Cloudy but dry we returned to Burma Road down the hill and over the bridge we headed left down to School Creek track. Three quarters of the way down from the reservoir we took in a fantastic waterfall.
Waterfall after the rain (Photo & caption Marijke)
We then headed right up Zig Zag track to Cannington Road (some a little breathless). Across the road onto Golf Course then Podocarp tracks we walked back to the reservoir past our morning tea spot. We then headed out onto Rockside Road for orientation. We continued to Tanner Road then left across the road and up some paths taking us past some nice homes hidden from the road.
Meeting up with a local dog walker (Photo & caption Marijke)
Mist on the hills (Photo & caption Helen)
We got to the entrance of the Pineapple track (now around an hour forty-five minutes into our tramp) so we had time to do the McGoun’s track – taking the left entrance up to McGoun’s Creek. A good workout, the track joined the Pineapple track and we turned back down the hill to our lunch spot at the water tower.
Lunch spot (Photo & caption Helen)
With a light sprinkling of drizzle at the end of lunch we continued down the Pineapple track and then turned into the McGoun’s extension. Then a 20-minute tour of the Wakari bike tracks and then WALLA we came out at the cars. A good walk in a sheltered area as a replacement for the Pipeline, Burns, Rustlers tramp that was cancelled. Thanks Arthur and Helen for helping me do a recce of the cancelled tramp.
Writer Phil Morris
Stats say 9.95km 315 elevation 2hrs 30mins actual walking time
References for tracks:-
Dunedin walks Dept of Conservation, and Dunedin Amenities Society.
October 6: Ross Creek Tramp (replacing Glenfalloch & Beyond)
31. 06/10/2021. Ross Creek Leaders: Ross Davies, John Gardiner and Pam Cocks
While Mosgiel was in sunshine, the Otago Peninsula was covered in mist with a strong north-easterly. 16 eager trampers sat in cars up in the thick mist on Highcliff Road debating their next move. The planned ‘Glenfalloch and Beyond ‘ tramp was quickly abandoned and a decision was made to go to Ross Creek. (A big thank you to Ross and John for taking charge and leading us!) By 10:15hrs we were parked up on Rockside Road and heading into Ross Creek where conditions were much more pleasant.
All geared up for whatever comes our way. (Photo & caption Jenni)
After about 15 mins walking up the main track, we crossed over Ross Creek onto a narrower track which took us to a waterfall, 20m in height (This must be one of Dunedin’s best kept secrets!). This waterfall was created when the ‘Waters of Ross Creek’ were diverted during construction of the Reservoir.
Stunning waterfall (photo & caption Jenni)
Further on we made a diversion into the Otago Golf Course to view a pully which is used to assist the golfers and their carts up this steep bank. Back down on the track we had a stand-up morning tea and some of Jenni’s yummy baking!
Carrying on through native bush for 30 minutes we came out into the open just below the dam to a view of the Star Constellations on the dam face. There are 77 steel coated stars across the dam face representing the Southern Constellations found in the sky above the city. They were installed in 2020 after the strengthening and when the dam face was rebuilt (2017 – 2019).
Star constellations on dam face (photo & caption Pam)
Onward and upward on a short steep shingle path to the dam’s top. We continued clockwise passing the smaller dam and into the bush again, passing by what they call ‘The Grotto” and onto Craigieburn track. This was a steep track up boxed steps through Rimu trees to arrive near the top at ‘The Little Ruin’, which is associated with the arrival of The Rankins in the late 1860’s. It was used as a farm shed for storage and was built relatively quickly by novices.
Carrying on we turned into “Tanners View’ overlooking the Northern end of the Leith Valley. A short walk took us to a stone fence, climbing over and into an open grassed area which was part of the Craigieburn Farm and was purchased by the DCC with the Amenities Society in 1949. The remains of the Byre complex were probably started in the late 1880’s consisting of a narrow milking shed and larger stables for horses.
We moved on quickly from here due to the drizzle and cold wind but not before John had a childhood flashback enjoying a swing from a rope hanging from the macrocarpa tree!
John enjoying a swing (Photo & caption Pam)
From here we walked down Tanner Road to the start of the Pineapple Track and after walking 30 mins up to the Water Treatment Plant and just through the style we stopped for a quick lunch under the dripping trees!
Lunch under the dripping trees (photo & caption Pam)
Onwards and upwards again to McGouns Creek Track through its pretty native bush, ferns and board walks with views of the Redwood Forest. This loop track brought us back to the start of the Pineapple Track. We then crossed back into Craigieburn Track, which took us above the Reservoir and then across the top of the dam and down to a big “star” for a group photo.
Trampers to the stars!!! (Photo & caption John)
It was a gentle downhill walk back on the starting track. We took a right turn near the bottom of the track over the foot bridge passing an old concrete ammunition store and further on past the disused Woodhaugh Quarry.
We continued on crossing over another foot bridge which brought us out to the Motor Association camp and back up to our cars at 2.15pm, after an enjoyable tramp of 11kms of historic and more recent interest.
Coffee, cake and continuous chatter was then enjoyed at Nichols Cafe 😀
30. 19/2/2020. Hikers. Ross Creek. Leaders Barbara and Noi
Photo and Caption Noi – “Photograph at your peril”
Photo and Caption Barbara – “Ross Creek Bridge”
Photo and Caption Noi – ” Negotiating Ross Creek tracks.”
Photo and Caption Noi – “Morning tea – Cosy Dell”
Photo and Caption Noi – “Ross Creek pretty as a picture.”
Photo and Caption Noi – “Town Belt”
Photo and Caption Barbara – “Relaxing lunch in the bush.”
Photo and Caption Barbara – “Who knew Dunedin had a waterfall”
Photo and Caption Barbara – “Ross Creek enjoyed”
29. 22/1/2020. Hikers. Ross Creek. Leader Clive
Photo and Caption Clive – “Start at entrance to Pineapple track”
Photo and Caption Clive – “Morning tea at the Byre”
Photo and Caption Clive – “The Redwood Loop”
Photo and Caption Clive – “Some tall trees in the redwood forest”
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