Taioma, Parera, Viaduct

No. 96 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Parera Taioma Transrail & Wenita Year Round”. 10km from PJP. Wenita permit. Require 6 weeks notice, but less from us. Taieri Gorge Railway. Phone 477 4449 for details.


Trampers Thumb Res

18. 29 November 2023. Trampers. Mullocky Stream, Mt Allan   Grade 3.5 Leaders: Sylvie/ Lyn/ Lynley

25 lovely persons followed Sylvie up the Mt Allan Road parking near Mullocky stream. Tail end Charlie’s Anne, Lynley, Lyn followed.

Setting Off Under Ominous Skies. Caption And Photo Pam
Setting Off Under Ominous Skies. Caption And Photo Pam

Morning tea was perched well above the railway line with wonderful views.

Panorama Morning Tea With A View. Caption And Photo John
Panorama – Morning tea with a view. Caption and photo John

As we made our way down the track, eventually reaching the railway line, we were aware there were heaps of four legged animals.
We had no idea what time the train would be through.

Timings Everything. The Train Passes 'parera'. Caption And Photo John
Timing is everything. The train passes ‘Parera’. Caption and photo John

However we stayed on the side of the track at all times until we reached Garraways where we stopped for lunch. This was a real bonus. What an awesome place. Thank you so much to the family.

Wow we could hear the train coming heading back to Dunedin!! Not to miss a beat we all clambered up to get good photos.
After lunch we headed to a clearing where a monument has been placed in recognition of the Garroway families who have lived in this place. We feel so envious of such a special place.

Parera Photo Opportunity. Caption And Photo Barbara
Parera photo opportunity. Caption and photo Barbara

We then headed back to the car park 4 hrs 30min since we started off. Approx 9.5 km on a stunning day.
A coffee at Toasted in Mosgiel rounded off an awesome day.

17. 8 February 2023. Hikers. Taioma Walk. Grade 2. Leaders Ady Whitson , Noi McCunn

24 of us started off on the hike…

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Grey sky looming as we prepare to leave the cars. (photo and caption John)
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Taioma Viaduct dominating the scenery. (photo and caption John)

… going under the viaduct railway bridge.

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Regroup under the viaduct. (photo and caption John)
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First attempt at a Parallax photo. (photo and caption John)
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Morning Tea on a suitable bank. (photo and caption John)

We had our first vehicle come through and met the young man who gave us a talk about the nesting native falcon on the opposite side of the creek. He was there to check up on the nest. We wished him good luck and carried on.

We turned the corner and followed the river up to the railway tunnel in between a short sharp shower. Thank goodness blue sky emerged. This is a relatively short hike but very scenic. A hardy 8 of us climbed up and over the railway tunnel, traversed halfway down the other side but the track was blocked by mess. After a feed on blackberries…

Ady blacberries 2 Res 800
John & Ady picking Blackberries. (photo and caption Ady)

… we went back up and back to where the other 14 waited for us, to find that they were starting to have their lunch.

After lunch, talked to them about the flood of 1980 and of course I had left the photo behind of the flood free highway and all the water on the Taieri.

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Ady giving a speech at lunch time. (photo and caption Helen)

We hiked back to our cars…

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Homeward leg. (photo and caption John)
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Group photo courtesy of our guest – Holly. (photo and caption John)

 

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Native falcon just keeping an eye on us. (photo and caption John)

… and we were all sitting having coffee and cake at Aurora Cafe by 2pm. PS my grandaughter was with us who is a PT instructor and with much hilarity we did try to do some stretches at the cars when we finished.

Ady


16. 11/01/2023. Hikers. Taioma Walk. Grade 2. Leaders: Ady Whitson, Noi McCunn.
Well we started off with great intentions but it was heavy drizzle at carpark. I was concerned about the road into Taioma so we talked it over and decided it was too wet & we wouldn’t see much because of low cloud. It’s an easy walk through by the river so we are definitely going to do it on another day.
Everybody was happy with decision & thank you Max & Mike for making that effort. So we adjourned to Aurora Cafe & had a lovely chat for a couple of hours for a good catchup. We will let you know when the next walk will be for this.
Ady.


 

15. 27/1/2021. Hikers. Taioma. Leaders: Ady and Barbara.

We started off just before the viaduct with 17 hikers.  Warned everyone before we left about the corrugation on the road in but we all arrived safely and away we went.

C.1.Mustering at the car park.
Mustering at the car park. (Clive pic and caption)

It was quite cold for a start all down hill to the river.  It was good walking as somebody had obviously been through with a grader or similar.We stopped past the viaduct…

C.2.The Taioma viaduct
The Taioma viaduct. (Clive pic and caption.)

…for morning tea…

C.3.Morning tea
Morning tea. (Clive pic and caption.)

…and then carried on.  We were able to walk down to the river where Clive won the prize for skipping stones on the water.  Carried on to where we stopped just before the rail tunnel.

C.4.Who says ' It's quicker by rail?'
Who says ‘ It’s quicker by rail?’ (Clive pic and caption)

After advice from railways we did not proceed through the tunnel

C.5.The rail tunnel to Parera
The rail tunnel to Parera. (Clive pic and caption.)

except for three of our older fellow walkers who received a very serious talk when they arrived back.

In the meantime seven intrepid hikers climbed up to the top of the hill.  The track is still there but I should have taken my secateurs. Between brambles and gorse we arrived at the top of Bacon track.  After some back and forth we turned around and went back.  Lunch was had and then we walked back all finished by 1.30 and 8.5kms later.  a good easy walk for this time of the year. Coffee at Blackstone. Ady Whitson

14. 26/9/2018. Trampers. Taioma, Parera, Viaduct. Leader: Keith.

Eight trampers left the car park and drove to the carpark near the Wingatui viaduct.
A strong tail wind helped push us up the hill on the forestry road before we found a sheltered spot  for morning tea, behind a bank with sun and no wind.
We continued on up a long ridge before tracking off road through some newly planted pine trees until we reached the Taieri River.

Following the railway around to the Parera tunnel,

The Parera railway crossing. (Dave pic and caption.)
Old railway house well maintained. (Dave pic and caption.)

where we climbed up Bacon track and did some bush bashing to get past a washout,

Makin Bacon track. (Dave pic and caption.)
The team at the tunnel!. (Dave pic and caption.)
Jill sees the light at the end of the tunnel!. (Dave pic and caption.)
we followed the railway again, then onto  “Garraways” track where we had lunch then under the viaduct
(Janine pic.)
Railway viaduct – magnificent engineering! – pic.. (Dave pic and caption.)
and back to the vehicles.
Coffee for 6 at Blend. Distance 9.3 km. – Keith

13. 20/6/2018. Hikers. Wingatui Viaduct, Taioma. Leaders: Jenny, Shona.

Route map, courtesy Ian.
Top of tunnel climb. A track washout stopped us getting very far down the other side. (Ian pic and caption.)
The tunnel we climbed over. (Ian pic and caption.)
lunching on a new breakout of portable seats. (Ian pic and caption.)

12. 12/4/2006. Hikers. Taioma, Viaduct, Parera. Leaders: Joyce, Lesley G.
11. 5/10/2005. Both. Taioma, Parera. Leaders: Doug J, Jacqui, Lesley G, Anne R
10. 1/9/2004. Both. Taioma, Parera. Medium. Leaders: Bob H, Colleen, Molly

Parera siding. Evelyn, Pat, Wendy
Parera siding. Evelyn, Pat, Wendy
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Lunch at Parera. Judy, Pat, Dorothy, Ria, George, Peter
Taieri Gorge Train on Wingatui Viaduct. Ria, Pat, Peter, Evelyn, Judy, Helen, George
Taieri Gorge Train on Wingatui Viaduct. Ria, Pat, Peter, Evelyn, Judy, Helen, George

9. 4/9/2002. Combined. Taioma, Wingatui Viaduct. Medium. Leaders: Bill H, Lesley S, Wendy J.
8. 16/1/2002. Combined. Taioma – Parera. Medium. Leaders; Molly, Pat and Bill.
7. 8/11/2000. Taioma – Parera – Wingatui Viaduct. Leaders: Bob H, Colleen, Shirley McN.
6. 5/5/1999. Taioma – Parera – Viaduct. Leaders: George, Hazel, Ian.
5. 26/11/1997. Taioma, Parera. Leaders: Joyce, Eleanor, Ted.
4. 9/8/1995. Taioma. Parera. Medium. Leaders: Bob H, Bill and Lesley, Jack R.
3. 25/8/1993. Taioma, Viaduct to Parera, up the hill to Mount Allan Road and return. Easy. Leaders: Bob H, Penny & Peter, Jack M
2. 14/10/1998. Hindon Railway Viaduct. Leaders: Hugh and Judith.
1. 20/4/1988 Taioma to Parera. Leaders: Bob H, Denise

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