Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

9/11/2022. Trampers. Sawyers Bay Mt Cutten. Leaders Lyn and Diane

18 Trampers met at Reservoir Road after experiencing civil works and road closures.The weather was favourable with the promise of great views from the Mt Cutten summit. Mt Cutten was named after William Cutten who was an early settler, involved in the establishment of the Otago Daily Times. Cutten built a house located in Sunshine, Dunedin called Belmont which later became known as La Scala restaurant owned by the Massetti Family in 1955.

Morning tea at the first reservoir. Photo & caption Marijke

We had morning tea at the Sawyers Bay Reservoir then made our way up the track through native bush and pine trees to reach the road which headed up the hill to Cedar Creek Reservoir which was constructed in the 1950s as a backup water supply for Port Chalmers. It is no longer used, and the pipeline is now connected to the DCC supply.

Crawling from the dark into the lightness. Photo & caption Marijke

Striding it out through the pines. Photo & caption Pam

Photo Lyn

It was a steady climb to top of Mt Cutten where we had lunch enjoying the spectacular 360-degree views some of which included Port Chalmers, the Peninsula, The Spit at Aramoana and the harbour entrance at Taiaroa Heads.

Stunning views towards the harbour entrance. Photo & caption Marijke

We walked along a massive cliff on the harbour side to view a stainless-steel sculpture of a entangled telegraph pole which was created by Andrew Drummond a New Zealand Sculptor and Painter who paid tribute to Len Lye. (Len Lye 1901-1980 was born in Christchurch, Len was internationally recognised as one of the 20th century most original artists, Pioneer Film Maker, Poet, Writer and Painter.)

Sculpture tribute to Len Lye, NZ Sculptor 1901-1980, south of the summit. Photo & caption Pam

I can see you Phil! Photo & caption John

After lots of photo opportunities and a slight change in the weather we headed back down the track to cedar creek reservoir to walk the track around the water edge making sure we had a team photo on the bridge.

Timer photo (I’m taller than I thought). The full group. Photo & caption John

Unfortunately, we were either too late or too early for the Rhododendrons in flower. We will have to put Mt Cutten on the trip programme for 2023.

Mirror reflection on upper Cedar Creek reservoir. Photo & caption John

Some of the vehicles headed over North Road to avoid road works and to have a coffee and ice cream at Black Road Grocer. A great day with amazing views and excellent company.
Trip distance 10.3 ks elevation Mt Cutten 539 metres.

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27/04/2022. Trampers. Sawyers Bay Mt Cutten. M. Leaders: Lyn Keene and Diane Bezett

Eleven Trampers left Mosgiel and travelled to Sawyers Bay to attempt to Climb Mt Cutten. The weather was not looking great as we drove down the Port Chalmers highway.   We parked on Reservoir Road and walked up the track through beautiful bush and then around the Sawyers Bay Reservoir where we found a dry area under the trees and had morning tea.

Autumn weather as we circumnavigate the lower reservoir Caption and photo Ross

We continued through bush and then up a 4wheel drive track to the Cedar Creek Reservoir.

Cedar Dam Caption and photo Phil

It was constructed in the 1950s as a backup water supply for Port Chalmers. It is no longer used and the pipeline is now connected to the DCC supply.  We walked around the reservoir through rhododendrons and native bush.

Photo Lyn

We picked a spot under the pine trees to have lunch.

Soggy sandwiches for lunch Caption and photo Phil

Meantime the rain was getting stronger so a decision was made not to tramp to the summit and leave Mt Cutten for another day.

Next time Caption and photo Phil

Suggestion was made to possibly look at returning in November when the rhododendrons are in flower.

Descending towards the cars Caption and photo Ross

History –  Mt Cutten was named after William Cutten who was an early settler and was involved in the establishment of the Otago Daily Times. He  built the house located in Sunshine Dunedin called Belmont also known as La Scala.

Andrew Drummond, a New Zealand Sculptor and Painter, dedicated a tribute to Len Lye.  The sculpture, a stainless steel entangled telegraph pole, was erected on the South side of Mt Cutten looking over the Sawyers Bay, Port Chalmers and parts of the peninsula.  Len Lye 1901-1980 was born in Christchurch.  He was internationally recognised as one of the 20th century most original artists, Pioneer Film Maker, Poet, Writer and Painter.

Mt Cutten elevation 308 metres   Mt Cutten is situated nearby Mt Martin and south of Mt Kettle (545 Metres)

Lyn Keene

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12/9/2012. Hikers. Sawyers Bay, Golf Course and Reservoir. Leaders: Chris, Elaine.

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21/3/2010. Hikers. Sawyers Bay, Golf Course and Reservoir. Leaders: Chris, Dorothy.

About 18 hikers parked cars in Station Rd, Sawyers Bay, on a pleasant morning and set off for an area most of us hadn’t been to before. From the cars we headed up Station Rd, turning right into Stevenson Avenue and then left into Reservoir Road. Had our morning tea sitting by the side of the road admiring the view across the harbour to Larnach Castle. Then it was on past the Golf club to the end of Reservoir Road. Back down a short distance and then we turned in to a track that lead us to the reservoir which was in such a lovely setting in the bush with a variety of trees, including deciduous, which added to the colours.There was a track right round and we walked round this, enjoying birds and bush.

Reservoir above Sawyers Bay (Bill pic)

Fore…. (Bill pic and caption)

… and aft. (Elaine pic. Bill caption)

The Crocodile (Bill pic and caption)