Mid-week recreational and social walking group based in Mosgiel NZ
Hindon, McPhee’s Block, LHS Lamb Hill
4. 27/1/2021. Trampers. Lamb Hill. Arthur and Peter.
Today 19 Trampers led by Arthur Heenan and Peter Horrell travelled to Hinden and completed around 14 km of farm tracks and paddock on Lamb Hill Station.
This Tramp took us through some magnificent scenery, starting by the Taieri and looking across at some of the Taieri Gorge railway on the opposite bank and you have to marvel at the workmanship of those early settlers who constructed the railway in such challenging conditions taking 11 years to get to Hinden , due to the difficult terrain and the recession in the 1880s cutting the work force from 700 to 30 for a period of time, but they persevered.
Morning tea was at 3 OClock Creek by the bridge.
Smoko. (Gordon pic and caption.)
The recent flooding was evident here with debris 3- 4 metres above the bridge. As we headed up the track
A very steep climb after morn. tea. (Gordon pic and caption.)
we got to see great views of the rocky outcrop formations,
The window. (Helen pic and caption.)
and the creek below showed how powerful the flow of flood water had scoured all the rocks clean in the valley below.
As we tramped higher we passed a shady face with all the tussocks in full flower. The countryside is responding to the rain. As we opened out onto the table top of pasture the farmland was quite stunning, to be so green at such an altitude.
The wind was getting up as we reached our lunch stop high on a rocky outcrop
Lunch out of the wind. (John pic and caption.)
looking down on the Taieri Railway
Rugged country. (John pic and caption.)
with views from two spots of two of the rail bridges and rock formations behind us sculpted by wind, water and time.
As we headed down we were soon out of the wind and overall it was very pleasant, and not too hot. The tracks have some steeper ups and downs with the recent rains making the schist base loose in places coming down hill.
A medium tramp with stunning scenery.
We called at the Hindon Railway station on the way out for a group photo at the stone statue
‘1,2,3 Woof woof’. (Phil pic and caption.)
of a sheep dog erected in recognition of the contribution of working dogs who made farming the land possible.
Eleven of us travelled up to Hindon in fog/cloud which obscured all views. However it was clear down in the Taieri Gorge where we parked beside the combined road/rail bridge.
Neils number from right, 1, 2, and 3 so we don’t get them mixed up. (Helen pic and caption.)
We began our tramp by walking across the bridge and onto Lamb Hill Station and then following the Taieri River upstream.
A morning tea stop was taken at 10.15 on the river bank,
Morning tea by river and train line. (Helen pic and caption.)
and just as we prepared to move on, the Taieri Gorge Train went past, going up the other side.
Taieri Gorge train. Some waved to us. (Helen pic and caption.)
After crossing Three O’Clock Stream it was uphill for some time, the clouds obligingly shading us from the sun to give very pleasant conditions as we expended energy.
When the farm road reached the top, a weak spot in the fence under the long row of pine trees allowed us onto a high knob …
Knob at top of tramp. (Margreet pic and caption.)
… with a great view down into the Taieri Gorge at the mouth of Deep Stream.
We came to the farm sheds (on the McFee Block) at 12.15, where we met the manager for a good catch up.
The cloud quickly dispersed now and we ate our lunch in brilliant sunshine beside a shed. It was the place to be as we could look across at the main block of Lamb Hill and much further.
An unhurried lunch …
Lunch at top by farm sheds. (Helen pic and caption.)
… was taken (why would anyone want to hurry from such a great spot?) before turning for home. A slightly different route was followed until it was onto the farm road for the downhill bit, the same we had ascended on earlier.
Down and down in the sunshine, along the riverbank, across the bridge and we were back at the cars.
Distance for the day was the tiniest tad under 13 km, but it should be noted here that the leader and one un-named person actually did 15 km in retrieving a forgotten camera from our lunch stop!
It had been a most enjoyable ramp, and one to be done again. A good turnout of 11 trampers also added to the enjoyment of the day.
Thanks to all. – Art.
2. 1/10/1998 Hindon railway left side Lamb Hill Station. Wenita Permit. George
1. 20/3/1996 Hindon railway – left side Lamb Hill Station Leaders: Doug & Myrie, Mary Y, Denise
