Gardens – Pinehill Return – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

21 kms PJP to Pine Hill School (via 3 Mile Hill Rd).

2. 20/09/2023. Hikers. Pine Hill. Grade 2. $5. 21km. Leaders: Jan Butcher/Jenny Finnerty.

30 hikers turned up on a warm slightly windy day for our Pine Hill trek.

The start of the day - Helen — *The start of the day – Photo & Caption Helen*

We met up with a couple of town folk at Malvern Street & walked through Woodhaugh gardens where we stopped for morning tea to fortify us for the trip up the hill.

*Morning tea at Woodhaugh Gardens – Photo & Caption Helen*

*Beautiful clematis – Photo & Caption Helen*

*Unusual piece in Pine Hill neighbourhood – Photo & Caption Jenni*

We did it a little differently from last time & walked up the motorway for a bit before turning right onto Fea Street and on upwards to meet with Pine Hill Road.

*A field of daffodils – Photo & Caption Helen*

At the end of this road we turned right onto Campbell Road and walked to the end of the housing. This then becomes a wide dirt track which we followed to the end. It was about noon so everyone was happy to find a comfy spot on the embankment and enjoy the vista before them.

Lunch out of the wind Helen — *Lunch out of the wind – Photo & Caption Helen*

A lot of people told me they had never been up Pine Hill let alone this track with its best kept secret. And unbelievably there was no wind to speak of so we enjoyed the next half hour eating and talking about the view and trying to spot places of interest on the opposite side of the hill & beyond.

Reluctantly we had to “shift our bottoms” and start the walk back down the hill, this time turning at Pine Hill School and down onto Buccleugh Street which wound its way down and down to meet up with the 219 Duddingstone steps. We decided to head on over to the Botanic Gardens for a well earned treat. I had prewarned the cafe that there could be 30 takers for afternoon tea. He sounded a little shocked but managed us all no bother.

Amazing service at Crocodile Cafe. Jenni — *Amazing service at Crocodile Cafe – Photo & Caption Jenni*

Some of the drivers were kind enough to go back to their cars and bring them to the carpark for their passengers. Thank you Pam. After refreshments some of us picked up some bargains at the plant shop adjacent to the cafe. We then walked back to the cars, admiring the beautiful camellias etc along the way. A good 10k walk on a nice day.

Jenny F and Jan B

1. 01/12/2021. Hikers. Hidden Gems of Pine Hill. Shone Munro and John Gardiner

On a misty drizzly day, 24 hikers met in Pine Hill Rd near the school.

John Back Streets — *The walk up Pine Hill’s back streets Photo and caption John*

We commenced walking down Pine Hill Rd to a walkway leading to the town end of Hillary St which we followed to the distant end before having morning tea at “The Fern house”, an iconic house built in 1882 where we experienced great hospitality from the owner, Dr Brian Cox, who had made toilets and his sunroom open for us.

John Ferndale — *Driveway down to Ferndale Photo and caption John*

John Ferndale Homestead — *Ferndale Homestead Photo and caption John*

Most hikers then followed him to explore some of his property while some reneged at the muddy walkway near an old barn and tricky bridge where we waited for the intrepid to return.

Ady buildings — *Sample of some of the old buildings Photo and caption Ady*

It was obvious that the hikers were enjoying themselves by the happy chattering we heard and gales of laughter from Fay. We were still unsure if this was because Fay’s new shoes got so muddy or something else.

Jenni shoes — *Oh no! Why did I wear my brand new shoes? Photo and caption Jenni*

Reassembling we walked to Campbell Rd where John educated us on the history of the little dog painted into the Power box mural, walked up Campbell’s Rd , through a walkway back onto Pine Hill Rd and upwards to “The Pines”.

This owner, Lindsay Moir, also extended great hospitality, allowing us use of his barn (adequate seating for all) and toilet.

John lunch — *Inside The Pines barn for lunch Photo and caption John*

After lunch, a number of hikers went to explore his farm and the creek with him. Highlights included the monster (wooden polar bear), frog pond, converted container for honeymooners and a Nissan hut where some of our male hikers discussed politics.

John monster — *The legendary Pine Hill monster lurking in the bushes Photo and caption John*

There was an old sign hanging in the barn, advertising the business of our late Life member, Doug Moir and as there were only 5 telephone numbers on this, not the 7 on today’s listings, it must have been very old indeed.

John DS Moir — *D S Moir Photo and caption John*

A brisk downhill walk to the cars preceded a visit to CrocQueODile Café.

Thanks must go to these generous property owners for their hospitality.

Distance walked approx 9km.

2. 20/6/2019. Hikers. North East Valley, Pinehill. Jan and Jenny

On a cold and frosty morning, 27 hikers set off for Malvern Street where we parked up and commenced our hike to Pinehill. We walked through Woodhaugh park where we located some seating and had our morning tea before setting off along Banks Street and turning left up Dolphin Street which in turn lead onto Gladstone Road. This being the home of Aquinas College. If you thought we had a good frost in Mosgiel – well it was matched here and we very cautiously negotiated the footpath, sometimes having to cross the road which was like a skating rink in places. However we all climbed the hill without mishap and into the sunshine which was a relief! Walking up Pinehill Road we stopped to admire the Church where Shona and Keith were married some 44 years ago on the 28^th of this month.

We carried on, coming to John’s house where he picked up his dog for a walk up to the end of Pinehill Road & onto the end of a gravel road where we stopped for lunch overlooking a wonderful view of Dunedin and surrounds.

We were all suitably impressed with the view,

C.1) Great view at the top of Pine hillc — Great view at the top of Pine hill. (Clive pic and caption.)

none of us having been up to that spot before – not even Shona! Sitting there with our backs to the sun,

C.2) Lunch at the topc — Lunch at the top. (Clive pic and caption.)

it was hard to leave, but it was time to head back down the hill again, spotting some wonderful street art in a bus shelter.

C.3) Decorated Pine Hill bus stopc — Decorated Pine Hill bus stop. (Clive pic and caption.)

We turned left at Pinehill School and on down the hill coming to a winding Bucclough Street which eventually lead us down to the 219 Duddington steps

R.Duddingstone Stepsc — Duddingstone Steps. (Raewyn pic and caption.)

and on down to NEV where it was a short walk to the intersection with Banks Street and through Woodhaugh again and back to the cars. A good 10k was the agreed distance and so called into the Village Green for a well deserved coffee & cake!

Jenny & Jan

24/5/2006 Pinehill – Gardens return Betty B, Dot T, Anne

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