Flagstaff forest walks.

click to enlarge

21. 8/11/2017. Hikers. Flagstaff Forest. Stuart and High Streets. M. Leader: Adrienne.

A dozen Hikers set out from the Taieri Lookout Car Park, crossed the Three Mile Hill Road and turned down the Flagstaff Creek walking track, crossed south road and descended the occasionally steep recently well-stepped track to the weir and the old, well-rusted flow wheel,

now almost completely obscured by undergrowth where we had morning tea. The closed wooden bridge across Flagstaff Creek being now blocked off with its access track fully obscured by undergrowth, we had to climb back up to South Road the way we had come down, and follow the road around, past Durham and High Streets to climb the unsigned (where’s it got to?) Stuart Street to where it joined up with High Street. Sheltered hitherto for most of the tramp from a strong cold wind, we found ourselves now well exposed to it. We went up High Street a little way and turned up a track labelled Tank Surge Road <?> to the partial shelter of its narrow tank for lunch. Then, it was back down High Street and along South road to where it crosses Flagstaff creek by the piped concrete bridge, and up the  Douglas Fir Grove track leading across to the car park again.

Although the cold wind back at the Bush Road car park had been a bit discouraging, we all agreed at the end it had been a most enjoyable energetic day out, pleasantly completed with companionable coffee at the Aurora. With co-leader Bev laid aside through illness, (and the locator beacon still in her car boot!) Adrienne did a text-book perfect leadership job, faultlessly grouping us at each fork in the route. Thanks, Adrienne. – Ian.

20. 14/10/2015. Hikers. Flagstaff Forest. Stuart and High Streets. Leaders: Lesley and Bev.

Nineteen hikers parked at the Lookout. Lesley led us in at the upper entrance and down the track to South Rd. Then along South Rd …

… to the foot of Stuart St whose road sign at its foot is now unhelpfully missing. Up Stuart St which gets only steeper each time we tackle it, but now cleared of all trees on either side. Where Stuart St ends at High St, the leaders took eight of the party down High St, entrusting the balance of eleven to the leadership of Keith to take them up High St to lunch at its end at Longridge. The two parties met again on South Road where it crosses Flagstaff Stream and returned to the cars via the large steep steps taking them up along the Douglas Fir Grove track. – Ian.

19. 17/7/2013. Hikers. Flagstaff Forest. Leaders: Les and Margaret.

Wed. saw us park up at the lookout at three mile hill road.
We walked into the forest and around a few of the roads like High St, Stuart St, etc.
It turned out a great day with lots of sun between the trees.
the douglas firs are so TALL in the forest I wonder if they will mill them.
It was very sunny at the lunch stop. Fred supplied the usual chocs so all was well for us all.
We made our way back up some huge steps {made by a Big Man?}
There are a lot of felled trees in there and I wonder what they are going to do with it all.
With so many families crying out for wood and the price it is… and here is all this wood just rotting away. – Elaine.

18. 12/9/2012. Trampers. Flagstaff Forest Tramp. Leader: Ria.

It was a good day for 20 members of the club from both groups. We entered the forest from opposite the Taieri Lookout car-park and made our way down to where the track comes out at South Road. We followed this around to turn up High Street, but before doing this we stopped for
our morning tea break in a rare sunny spot.
click to enlarge

We made our slow way up, up, up High Street, stopping for frequent rests to eventually reach Long Ridge Road only to immediately turn back off it to travel along Laing Road until Ria judged it time to stop for lunch.

Returning back we enjoyed great views of the Taieri Plain,

turned back down High Street and then off to the right and down Stuart Street. When it reached South Road, we turned left, passing the foot of High Street to reach the bridge/culvert over Flagstaff Creek. Here we turned down the Flagstaff Creek Walking Track to at last cross the Creek on a fine wooden bridge to reach a water race

containing an old water meter wheel stiffened up with age and rust.

Back up the track a bit we turned up to the right to climb a many-stepped track up to cross South Road and back up the initial track to the car park again. Thanks, Ria and Neil for a most enjoyable, if wrapped-up, winter’s day out. – Ian

15. 25/2/2009 Trampers. Three Mile Hill Lookout. Flagstaff forest walk, Three Mile Hill. Round trip. Lookout, South Rd, High St, Longridge Rd, Whare Flat Rd, Laings Rd, High St, South Rd. Leaders: Ria, Hazel.

The misty overcast day left  ground wet and muddy underfoot and ruled out the planned tramp on Swampy. So Ria had sought permission for the six of us to walk the Flagstaff Forestry roads. It was a good work-out, extended by a climb from the Bullring to near Flagstaff summit to fill in time before lunching in the welcome shelter of Ria’s daughter Ingrid’s property’s haybarn down Whare Flat Road.

Then it was back up Whare Flat Road to Laings Road and so back to the Lookout where we had parked the cars. Thanks to Ria and Hazel for a good alternative tramp.