May 12 2021

Kuri Bush Forestry, Daphne/Margaret Road, Kathleen Road, Big Stone

Wenita permit.
No. 75 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Kathleen Rd – Big Stone Return Forestry Farm”
Distance from car park: 21 km.

19. 12/5/2021 Kuri Bush. Leaders Liz and Alex

Meeting at a suitable parking spot on the Taieri Mouth road at the start of Mount Allan forestry hike 12 brave members set off for a pleasant walk in bright sunshine. As Pine trees had been removed it gave a different feeling from our previous hikes. Great views and an understanding of how rough the hills really are for planting. First stop after a good climb was morning tea break.

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“.Morning tea in the sun.” – Photo and Caption Clive

Everybody relaxed. Onward up and down until we reached Big Stone Road .

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Before- Aug. 2019 photo.” – Photo and Caption Clive

 

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“After – now – trees felled.” – Photo and Caption Clive

Lunch time.

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“Lunch at Big stone/Daphne Road.” – Photo and Caption Clive

Down the road until we met the next track and into the forest again. From here it is mostly down hill with more great views until we arrive back at car park.

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“A weather station on the way down.” – Photo and Caption Clive

Coffee at Brighton Beach  shop with relaxed chatter including meeting Dot and Chris who had just completed there own walk. 12 kilometers in total .New member was welcomed and had a good day. Good company and enjoyable.

Liz and Alex.

 

 

18. 22/5/2019. Hikers. Forestry  walk Kuri Bush. Dave and Liz.

A little bit nippy for a start

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Start of the day. Liz pic and caption.)

but 2o hikers and 3 Ramblers set off what was to be a  pleasant gradual climb amongst  pine trees and bush.

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(Kevin pic.)

A 9.50am morning tea was  taken with sun shining brightly which warmed all and accepted. From here the Hikers took the Daphne Road

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On pine needle carpet. Easy on the feet. (Kevin pic.)

and Ramblers the Isobel Road. The Hikers continued until reaching Big Stone Road

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Lunch. (Liz pic and caption.)

and then onto the downward trip via Katherine Road. The Ramblers did very well reaching the top of Isobel Road and then down Katherine Road. Total distance for Hikers was about 12 Kilometres. Off to Brighton  Beach  Cafe went very weary but happy Hikers and Ramblers. Thanks to all Liz and Alex.

17. 16/5/2018. Hikers. Daphne, Big Stone and Kathleen Roads. M. Leaders: Alex, Jim and Betty.

pine needle carpeted walk into the forest. (Clive pic and caption.)

On the way to the top. (Phil pic and caption.)

Lunch on Big Stone Rd. (Phil pic and caption.)

Homeward bound along Big Stone Road. (Clive pic and caption.)

Conditions were a pleasant cool day for the hike in the Allanton Block of Wenita Forrest south of Brighton. The majority of 22 hikers stopped off at the Brighton Cafe for refreshments on the return trip to Mosgiel.

It was a successful late change to the planned hike.

Betty & Jim

16. 17/6/2015. Hikers. Daphne, Big Stone and Kathleen Roads. M. Leaders: Alex, Liz and Dot.
GPS of route, courtesy Bruce.

GPS of route, courtesy Bruce. 12.2 km. [N.B. Bruce has commented on the interesting difference between the 2012 (q.v. below) and 2015 Google maps. – Ed.]

The Google map for yesterday was taken in 2015 and was a little different from that from Ken’s report in 2012 with imagery taken on 17 Sept 2011.

June 17 Map with named roads. (Bruce pic and caption)

June 17 Map with named roads. (Bruce pic and caption)

iPhone GPS of route showing kilometers

iPhone GPS of route showing kilometers, courtesy Ian.

About twenty Hikers did the now more customary route of climbing the Daphne Road’s gentler but longer route and descending by Kathleen Roads shorter but steeper. We morning-teaed in the sunny spot at the foot of Daphne Road where the Club has always stopped, and lunched …

Lunch on a sunny level.

Lunch on a sunny level. (Looking back along the road).(Ian pic and caption.)

… on a level stretch of the road, but still some distance from the top. Older members, presumably familiar with the route found they had failed to recollect the many gully dips on the road. They also appreciatively noticed the rubbish collection by the top gate had been cleared. …W-e-l-l perhaps not all!

Made for each other.

Made for each other. (Ian pic and caption.)

Reaching the top of Kathleen  Road, a substantial number struggled around and under the closed and apparently locked gate before Les noticed that it was not locked at all. … Sigh.

It was yet another good-weather Wednesday, tempting some to to wonder whether a Higher Power must look after the Club. (Well, it was colder on Tuesday and Thursday promised snow.) Admittedly a cold breeze had driven us into woollen hat and gloves when we emerged from our cars, but this eased in the shelter of the forest and in the patches of sun the trees permitted us from time to time. It was a great Winter’s day tramp and a great location – a metalled road rather than a sloshy paddock or slippery track. (Pity the poor trampers! – see their report.)

Mention must be made of the occasional great views of the coast and down gullies that we stopped to enjoy from time to time.

A misty vista in the 'dista'

A misty vista in the ‘dista’, looking up the coast from Kathleen Road. (Ian pic and caption.)

It was further remarked that tramps like this get us to see the other sides of properties that mere car travellers never get to appreciate.

So, thank you leaders, for a well-reconnoitered and led tramp. We were well looked after, with thoughtful stops for regrouping. – Ian.

15. 13/2/2013. Hikers. McLeods Farm. Leaders: Wendy and Peter.
14. 22/8/2012. Trampers. Daphne Road, Big Stone Road, Kathleen Road. Medium. 12 km.

GPS of route, courtesy Ken. We did 11.7 km at 4.7 km/h.

13 . 4/7/2012. Both. Daphne Road, Big Stone Road, Kathleen Road. Medium. 12 km. Leaders: George, Lex.

Morning Tea at bottom of Daphne climb. (Ian pic and caption.)

Lunch at the top of Daphne where joins Big Stone

12. 27/8/2009. Trampers. Queen Street, Highland Street, Big Stone Road, Kathleen Road, Isobel Road, beach return. Medium Leaders: George, Hazel.

Starting at the home of George and Elizabeth, George and Hazel led us along to the corner of Queen Street and up across several paddocks to reach Highland Street where we sheltered from the wind for morning tea. Once we reached Big Stone Road, we paralleled it on a forest track just across the fence, which was much more interesting, if slower, than walking the road. We were amazed to see the extent of forest harvesting on the other side of the road, cleared, replanted and now for sale as lifestyle blocks.

Recently Maori forestry cleared. Now for sale as lifestyle blocks.

Maori forestry recently harvested.

Later we came across a couple of pig skins on a fence.

George inspecting a pig skin.

George inspecting a pig skin.

Shortly after passing the McLaren Gully Road turnoff on our right we turned off onto Kathleen Road on the left and then again on the right into Isobel Road where we stopped for lunch.

Lunch sheltered from the wind. Doug, George, Ria.

Lunch sheltered from the wind. Doug, George, Ria.

Isobel Road provided a pine-needle-strewn softer surface for walking down to the coast. There we joined the beach, nice and firm on an ebbing tide, but oh so loooong to get back to Brighton and the cars again. 18 km in all, and were we glad to reach the cars again!

There were only six of us, three of whom from Mosgiel who, vehicle-less as it turned out on this occasion (Doug would have gone back for his car had he been required to), depended on first-time visitor Susan who was surprised into having to provide the transport to Brighton, but who most graciously provided it. – Ian

11. 6/8/2008. Both. Margaret Road, Katherine Road. Medium. Leaders: Dot M, Chris.
10. 15/3/2006. Hikers. Margaret Road, McLeods Farm. Easy+. Leaders: Bill & Pat, Dot T
9. 29/6/2005. Hikers. Margaret Road, Katherine Road. (Brighton). Leaders: Chris, Dot B.
8. 18/6/2003 Hikers. Kathleen Road, off Taieri Mouth Road. Easy Leaders: Joan and Dot
7. 25/7/2001. Alt. Margaret Road, Katherine Road, Kuri Bush. Leaders: Dot B, Joan H, Chris H
6. 18/2/1998. Big Stone Road from Margaret Road to McLeods. Leaders: Ray and Diana.
5. 14/5/1997. Big Stone Road from Margaret Road via McLeods to Coast Road. Leaders: Dot B, Joan H, George.
4. 10/7/1996. Margaret Road, Big Stone Road, McLeods. Average. Leaders: Graham, Eric and Dot.
3. 30/11/1994 Margaret Road, Wenita Forestry, Big Stone Road. Medium. Leaders: Eric & Dot, Joan H, George
2. 4/8/1993 Big Stone Road to Smooth Hill to Kathleen Road – return beach. Leaders: Eric & Dot, George, Chris
1. 8/6/1988 Kathleen Road from Big Stone Road. Lots of pines and the ocean. Leaders:

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