7. 9/08/2023. Hikers. Mornington. Grade 2, $5, 18km, Leaders: Ady Whitson, Pam Clough.
Meeting at PJ Park we decided to go ahead with our hike. We decided to park further up Mornington Road which turned out not to be far enough up. Down Elgin Road we went, all 13 of us, and down the steps ending up at the steps at Caversham Valley Road. Morning tea we had on the steps that looked along Main South Road.
It was here two departed to return home as somebody had forgotten their pack and it was very cold.
We started off along Barnes Drive at a reasonable pace as I thought the weather might turn on us…
…up Glen Road and turned up steps to end up in Carson Road. From there we travelled up Cooper St with a few stops here and there for a breather.
Turning right into Glenpark Avenue I put a fast clip on as the weather was probably going to turn at about 11am. Another set of steps up to Mornington…
…and just at the top the weather did change completely. After a quick conflab, it was off to the Mornington Tavern for a warm up and a coffee.
We left about 12.15pm to head back to the cars and this was where I decided we had parked the cars far too far down Mornington Road as the weather really turned to custard. Home by 1.15pm.
We did have lots of laughs and Lynley was the only one from Trampers to show up (I don’t think she read the email in the morning and I didn’t let on I hadn’t either).
Like I’ve said before, don’t put me in charge as it is always wet when I’m at the front. Thank you Pam for all the help as I have no idea round some of those streets.
Cheers Ady.
6. 12/07/2023. Mornington Merry-Go-Round. Hikers. Grade 2. Leaders: Max Wilson and Mike Webb
30 intrepid Mosgiel and Townie hikers rendezvoused at Unity Park in Mornington to be led by Max Wilson on a ramble through the town belt. The icy Southerly blast brought tears to many of our eyes, and we wasted no time in getting into the trees and some shelter.
The morning coffee break was taken on the stone terraces of Otago Boys High School and lunch at Olverston where there were plenty of seats and a glass house to shelter in.
Max did a great job shepherding us as we crisscrossed Queens Drive and surrounding streets. Everybody behaved themselves which was a bit boring. So, no juicy mishaps to report.
The rain held off until we had completed a hike of 10km. The after-hike coffee was had at the Mornington Tavern.
Big welcome to Pam Adams who joined us for a first outing with the club. Hopefully we didn’t put her off.
5. 06/07/2022. Mornington / Cable car. Mid-winter lunch. Grade 2. Leaders: Diane Paterson, Marijke Schofield, Jan Butcher & Jill Dodd
18 trampers left a cold windy Mornington Taphouse carpark for the pre-lunch walk around some of the streets in Mornington. Our street walk followed a route outlined in one of the Historic Dunedin Walk books. The route was aptly named ‘Cable Cars and Churches, Big Drops and Long Drops’.
Following morning tea at Unity Park which gave us some shelter and great views over the city and harbour we started following our street route. Along the way were various historic points of interest, starting with the large brick retaining wall in Crosby Street. Looking through the slot in the door revealed a brick lined tunnel leading into the house behind the wall. An amazing engineering and building feat that has stood the test of time.
Further on at the corner of Lesney and Picardy Streets we enjoyed looking at two historic villas on opposite corners. Our next main stop was outside the two houses associated with A.H. Reed. Most in our group remembered A.H. Reed’s Northcape to Bluff walk. Phil shared his memories as a young boy, meeting up with A.H. Reed and accompanying him on walks in Mornington.
After leaving the Reed homes we stood and observed the undulating nature of Glenpark Ave and wondered what it would have been like to have been on one of the trams. Stories were shared by those in our group who had childhood memories of being a passenger on the Mornington trams.
We walked along Mitchell Ave and then turned into Elgin Road. We soon turned off Elgin Road into smaller and often picturesque streets as we made our way towards Eglington Road. In this area we began noticing the churches referred to in the guidebook. We continued through the side streets to Glenpark Ave and spent some time looking at the beautifully restored 1881 Presbyterian Church (now a home) with the grand manse on the opposite side of the road.
Our excursion was nearly over with a reasonable number of steps to negotiate at the Glenpark Ave cable car terminus to get us back up to Eglington Road. Before that however, we made a short detour into Haig Street where we viewed a small cottage that was home for a short time in the 1970s to two of our club members, shortly after they married.
We had an enjoyable two hour sojourn in Mornington and we were mostly sheltered from the chilly wind. It was great to have input from Phil who grew up in the suburb and from others who could recall the trams from their childhood. The street walk was 4.53kms – just long enough to give us an appetite for lunch.
After lunch at the Mornington Taphouse we visited the Mornington Cable Car display and heard about the efforts of the volunteers in preserving this important part of the city’s heritage.
Diane and Marijke
Arriving at the Mornington Tap House we split into two groups. One walking around the south side and
one group doing the north side of Mornington.
Our walk around the north side involved a short walk down Mailer Street to the Mornington Park where
we stopped for morning tea. sheltered from the cold wind blowing all morning. We then carried on down
a track leading us to Queens Drive and on down to an intersection with Maori Road. A short distance
along Maori road we turned into Jubilee Park where soccer is played in the winter. (Jubilee Park was
established as Tomlinson’s Paddock & later named Jubilee Park after Queen Victoria’s Jubilee in 1887).
We proceeded down and around a well formed track which lead us out to a DCC formed track taking us
up further along Maori Road. We crossed the road and walked up another formed track, crossing
Queens Drive to climb about 30 steps and up onto Preston Crescent Belleknowes where we commenced
a pleasant street walk back to the Mornington TapHouse but not before stopping to admire a Mornington
landmark called “Venard” one of the city’s most recognisable homes. Paul and Nicola Ferro travelled
back to NZ after 10 years living in the countryside west of Paris and moved in about 2012 making many
improvements to accommodate them and their 4 children. Nicola (nee North) is the younger daughter of
Basil North of East Taieri and grew up in Mosgiel.
Jan, Jay & Jill
4. 28/7/2021. Mornington Area. E-M. Leaders: Ady Whitson and Linda Partridge.
The day started at Lookout Point Fire Station where we parked the cars. It was lovely to see Joy Horrel back & welcome Maria plus Max who started with us last week. We were 18 hikers altogether. So off we went up Mornington Road until we came to Elgin Road where we turned right.
Down this road until we came to stairs (95 steps in all). Carried on through a small bush walk & eventually to the steps at the crossroad at Caversham there we had morning tea watching the traffic & talking until I realised, I was the leader & we’d better start again. Walked along the footpath beside Main South Road. A bit of a detour there as Teresa thought she would like to walk over the bridge across MSR. Across and back we went with lots of toots from trucks passing underneath.
We carried on to Eglington Road, turned left & all uphill with a few stops on the way. A few people remarked that they didn’t realise how steep it was. Stopped for lunch at Unity Park where there were plenty of seats.
Jenny & Teresa thought they were 10 again and had a go at the merry go round.
After a bit of hilarity, we set off again along Neidpath Road. After that it was a bit of a wing & a prayer on my part to get us back to the cars. With everyone’s help we made it back to the cars & afternoon tea at the Village Green. According to a few watches & phones anything from 10KM – 12KM’s. I think it was decided 12 KMs sounded far better. Ady Whitson & Pam Clough as tail end charlie.
3. 29/5/2019. Mornington Street Walk. M. Leaders: Lester and Doug.
Vehicles were parked in Raglan St and 21 keen hikers set off …
… along Elgin Road and down Wills St to Oakwood Ave, where we viewed No 82, “Clyde Hill”, a historic Mornington land-mark with its four distinctive chimneys, built in the 1870s for the Mitchell family.
Before Forfar St existed, the Mitchell Ave – Glenpark Ave intersection was the terminus for the Maryhill Cable Car extension, opened in 1885 and closed in 1955. Further along Glenpark Ave we came to No 155, the home of A H (Alfred Hamish) Reed. AH was an exceptional man, the founder of Reed Publishing and a great benefactor to Dunedin, but best remembered for his long-distance walking.
Morning tea was had in the park nearby, before proceeding back up Forfar St and along Glenpark Ave, into Picardy and Lesney streets, down Crosby and back into Glenpark, enjoying the views of the harbour and surrounds, and noting renovated villas, unique retaining walls and the interesting 1882 “Triangular Hall”.
Then on again, along Glenpark Ave and so to Eglinton Rd for a toilet stop before a detour down the hill to the site of the old High Street School, now the scene of a sustainable urban co-housing project, unique for Dunedin.
Back up through the park to the cable car terminus and a chance to sit down while we heard about the plans to bring back the Mornington cable car.
It was surprising to discover how far these enterprising people have come already, with several cars restored, a cable car house constructed, and plans well advanced for laying of the cable – finance being the major barrier, but high hopes held for help from the Provincial Growth Fund.
Lunch was had in the adjoining park, but with a cold wind right in our faces there was no incentive to linger too long. After a quick detour to view the site of the steepest line section in the world which dropped from here down into Glenpark Ave, we went back to Eglinton Rd, left into Whitby St, right into Argyle St and so to Elgin Rd and the march to the cars.
Coffee was had at the Village Green.
Thanks to Lester and Doug for a great day out. – Judy.
2. 18/9/2013.Hikers. From Unity Park north. Leaders: Lance and Lois.
Wednesday’s walk for the hikers was a street walk led by Lance and Lois Woodfield. The day was sunny and there was no wind.
Fifteen of us met at Unity Park near the top of Eglington Road. The statue of Admiral Bryd [1888-1957] is positioned facing the Antarctic. Byrd was a famous American explorer. His statue caused a lot of letters to the editor at the Otago Daily Times when it was first mooted as it has its back to the city.
We wandered our way north thru the streets around the town belt.
Lance and Lois were very informative about the historic houses in the area, some Victorian in style, others Edwardian. [Edit note: Others again detached terrace houses, with windowless brick walls on either side. Just English transplants.]
At one point we came to the Arts and Craft house designed by Basil Hooper [1876-1960], a famous architect who designed more
than 80 houses. Features were curved gutter brackets, coloured leadlight windows and sweeping roofs.
The day got very warm so everyone was pleased to stop at Olveston for lunch. Did you know that the public can access the grounds free to look at gardens and the garage where the Theomins’ 1921 Fiat 510 Tourer is housed in a glass case? The Edwardian Olveston was gifted to the city by the Theomins as a treasure of bygone days.
Neil Buckley was very knowledgeable on the early cable cars and trams. He pointed out where they ran.
So we carried on up and down quite a lot of steps and lanes in this old part of the city. Adam Street has some 1890 houses, all fully restored. My grandmother lived at No. 8 in the 1900s.
We did have a good day. We walked approx. 8.9 kms.
Some of us went to Flax in Caversham for coffee afterwards. – Elaine.
1. 17/9/2008 Hikers. Mornington Ramble Leaders: Bev H, Bev M
Eighteen hikers, including a German Rotary Exchange student, Hanne, who was taking the opportunity to see another part of her host city, set off from Lookout Point on a morning where walking anywhere would be pure pleasure. It was a glorious spring day, reflected in the many beautiful gardens we passed where spring blooms were in full flower. Bev led us down several quiet little side roads where many of us had never been before. From a number of places there were extensive views over the city and ocean. The mix of older style houses with modern ones was interesting in what is surely one of the most attractive residential areas in the city. We partook of a little local history, viewing the home of A. H. Reed and the old tram building. At lunchtime we basked in the sun at Mornington Park before the return journey. Altogether it was a very pleasant morning out. – Bev.