Mid-week recreational and social walking group based in Mosgiel NZ
Mount Hyde Station
No. 5 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Mt Hyde to Taieri River. Aqueduct. D Moir. Farm. Lambing.”
Location: 23.5 km. Lambing September-November.
16. 8/11/2023. Trampers. Mt Hyde. Grade 3.5. $7. 24km. Leaders: Anne Ward, Di Bezett, Lyn Keene
We started our tramp with an enthusiatic group of 23.
Being greeted by the locals as we prepare to start our tramp (Photo & Caption John)
In a cool breeze we headed off down the track to our first stop at the Deep Stream pipeline stopping on the way for morning tea where we found a sheltered spot and enjoyed the views.
Morning tea stop among the Christmas trees (Photo & Caption John)
Much of the land is now planted in pines by Wenita after being purchased by Ngai Tahu.
Arch structure of the aqua duct (Photo & Caption Pam)
Heading down to deep stream pipeline where most of us had the walk across the top and return.
Great views for all to admire (Photo & Caption John)
Hurdles star Gail (Photo & Caption John)Wonder how many nuts and bolts hold this aqueduct together (Photo & Caption John)
The Taieri river was running slightly higher then usual and discoloured after recent rain. Our journey continued along the track towards our lunch stop at a river clearing stopping enroute to get a good view of the pipeline we had walked across.
Lunch by the river (Photo & Caption John)Distance view of aqua duct over the Taieri River (Photo & Caption Pam)
After lunch the group made their way back up the steep climb to complete the 9.7 loop track back to our vehicles just in time before the heavens opened. We completed our day with refreshments at Topairy Cafe Mosgiel.
Anne, Di & Lyn
15. 23 March 2022. Trampers. Mt Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Lyn Keene, Dianne Bezett and Jill Reid
18 Trampers assembled at Mosgiel in brilliant sunshine and travelled up George King Memorial Drive and Mt Hyde Road to Mt Hyde Station. The station had been farmed commercially until the property was sold to Ngai Tahu for a forestry venture which is managed by Wenita Forest Products.
When we first arrived we had views of the mountains, there was some cloud hanging over the river which soon dispersed.
Meet and greet with some of the local horses (photo and caption Ross)
Heading down the hill (photo and caption Ross)
We walked at a leisurely pace down the track to morning tea where we could see views of Saddle Hill and the Taieri Plains.
Morning tea on Mt Hyde station- Saddle Hill in the distance (photo and caption Pam)
On the horizon Mt John on the left, Mt Allan in the middle, and Pulpit Rock the pointy high one towards the right (I think) (photo and caption Ross)
We continued down the track to the river, the highlight of the tramp was the arched aquaduct which was built to carry water from Deep Stream and Deep Creek across the Taieri River then pumped to the Dunedin City reservoirs.
Arch structure of aquaduct (photo and caption Pam)
We all went across the aquaduct taking lots of photos up and down stream.
Taieri River upstream from the aquaduct (photo and caption Ross)
We were fortunate to see four reasonable sized trout swimming in the river below.
Amazing to see so many big fish so clearly from the bridge (photo and caption Shona)
The group continued on the track and had lunch under the willows beside the river. It was very relaxing listening to the river and birdlife.
Lunch in the shade (photo and caption Ross)
Ross Davies won the skimming stone record with some excellent throws.
Ross showing his “stone skimming” skills (photo and caption Pam)
Reluctantly we left our idyllic scene and started our climb back to the vehicles.
We stopped several times to take in the wonderful views of the Aquaduct, Taieri Gorge Railway and the Wingatui Viaduct.
Distant view of aquaduct (photo and caption Pam)
Wingatui Viaduct across Mullocky Stream with Boulder Hill beyond on the left (photo and caption Ross)
We took several breaks on the way up the track as the temperature was in the mid-twenties and some of us occasionally needed some shelter from the sun under the odd Manuka tree.
Huffing up the hill (photo and caption Ross)
When we reached the vehicles about 2.30 pm we all decided that an ice cream at the 4 Square Outram was in order.
A great day tramping with amazing scenery and excellent company
Length of tramp 9.3 kms. Climbed 553m
14. 17/5/2017. Trampers. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leader: Neil.
A good turn out of 12 keen individuals to spend a few hours exploring the route to Taieri river and pipeline from Mt Hyde.The day was fine and overcast and very pleasant for a walk in the hills. Left the cars about 9:30 am and proceeded round the side of Mt Hyde and then started a steady descent down to the pipeline bridge.Had a stop at about 10:10 to keep everyone happy and the views around the river valley were quite spectacular. Wandered across the bridge
(Margreet pic.)
between the two pipes
(Keith pic.)
and comments were made about OSH rules in building something like this today. A 20 minute return trip up the hill over the fence and turned right to follow a farm track through several gullies and a couple of ridges before leading down to the gravel by the river. Proceeded upstream and found the old flying fox…
(Keith pic.)
…giving access across the river. No one seemed very keen to give it a go. Retraced our steps down river and started the return climb up the hill. At about 12 o’clock lunch was suggested but the majority wanted to go a bit further on an empty stomach as this would be easier. So we climbed about halfway up before stopping , where the view was again pretty good. There was only once that the talking had almost ceased on this uphill climb; an interesting observation!!!! After lunch the track leveled out a little and the section to the top was a little easier. Arrived back at the cars at about 2:00 pm (I think).
Keith’s calculations:: Walked 10 km, 380 metres climb fromthe river to cars. .
Trundled back to the Wobbly Goat for a coffee and debrief, where a few wobbly goats were seen getting out of cars. Ha Ha!!!
A great tramping day that everyone appeared to enjoy. – Neil.
Morning tea break.Taieri gorge train looking like a model train setIan on the Flying Fox
12. 17/11/2010. Trampers. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Ken, Doug.
9 of us squeezed into 2 cars for the trip. Although we were on 4WD tracks all the way, over-night rain had left the grass soaking wet. We had received permission as the lambs were now well developed.
GPS of tramp, courtesy Ken. Follow anticlockwise. 11 km.
The road down to the bridge was as steep as ever, with fresh crushed metal on the lower portion rolling under our boots.
Arch structure of aquaduct.
We enjoyed morning tea on the bridge and admired the spring growth on river-side and banks. Evident on the bridge are the larger Deep Stream pipe and the smaller Deep Creek Pipe. It is they that carry the yellowy brown peat water to Mt Grand to be miraculously transformed into our pure drinking water.
Morning Tea on Viaduct at Mt Hyde (Ken pic and caption)
Distant view of Aquaduct.
When we arrived at our furthest point up-river, we were struck by the beauty of the smooth water.
Unruffled
A scramble up a bank and we were at the flying fox that George and Ria had promised to show us.
Keith in flying fox. (Ken pic and caption)
We then lunched by the stream.
Lunch on Mt Hyde by river. (Ken pic and caption)
We continued our circuit, climbing up the 4WD track under the power-lines, across paddocks and back to the cars. Another great day. The rain held off. Perfect. – Ian.
11. 16/4/2008. Trampers. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Ian, Ken, Sabina.
Only 5 who braved the misty start to the day were rewarded with a great tramp on Mt Hyde station. The highlight of course was the
graceful arched aqueduct of Dunedin’s Deep Stream Pipeline traverse of the Taieri River.
Willow trees aligning waterways were at their autumnal golden glory and a plentiful harvest of mushrooms promised an appetizing garnish to the evening meal. Finding ourselves above the mist at the start, we steeply descended through some damp cloud to clear air nearer the river, enjoying a dry morning tea amongst a manuka stand on the way. We lingered long on the aqueduct, drinking in all the beauty of the river to the song of a nearby bellbird.
Then we had to re-ascend steeply for a short distance back up the way we had come until we could join a side track that paralleled the river upstream and descended to flats near where the Mullocky Stream debouches its meagre flow. Lunching on the gravel by the water we were pleasantly entertained by flights of paradise ducks and Canada geese up and down the river.
We elected to reconnect with the track by way of a very steep grassed gully, our footing thankfully assisted by cattle beast hoof marks. As we climbed ever higher, we got great views of the Taieri Gorge railway on the other side of the river and of the Wingatui Viaduct in the distance across the Mullocky.
Finally reaching the track again, it happily proved an easier gradient than the gully we had emerged from. A steady ascent, easing off later and we reached our car by about 2.00 p.m. Some steep work, but plenty of time to do it in. In all, a vindication for those willing to give the day a try, despite an unpromising beginning. – Ian
10. 11/4/2007. Trampers. Mount Hyde, Viaduct. Medium+. Leaders: Arthur and Barbara.
9. 19/7/2006. Trampers. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Lex, Shirley.
8. 11/12/2002. Trampers. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Hazel, Graham, Molly.
7. 8/8/2001. Mount Hyde. Medium+. Leaders: Lex, Hazel, Molly.
6. 27/1/1999. Mount Hyde to Taieri River. Leaders: George, Lex, Colleen.
5. 17/5/1995. Mount Hyde. Medium. Shorter trip available. Leaders: Nancy, Judy C, Colleen, Judith D.
4. 26/1/1994. Mount Hyde. Medium. Leaders: Nancy, Les and Margaret, Doug M.
3. 5/2/1992. Mount Hyde. An interesting tramp. Average+. Leaders: Nancy, Margaret D, Peggy M, Barbara McC
2. 3/5/1989. Mount Hyde to Taieri River via aqueduct. Leaders: Ria.
1. 12/10/1988 Mount Hyde on George King Memorial Drive. Very interesting tramp to Taieri River, crossing via pipeline bridge. Leaders: Daphne, Hugh and Jean, Ria, Kaas.
16. 8/11/2023. Trampers. Mt Hyde. Grade 3.5. $7. 24km. Leaders: Anne Ward, Di Bezett, Lyn Keene
