No. 76 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Coutts Gully Return Sawmill Rd Farm”. Livingstonia Park distance from car-park: 32 km.
After welcoming a new hiker, Peter Dodds, twenty-four hikers left Livingstonia Park, about 9.30 am, heading to the left (east) to the sand dune track that led out to the road by the bridge and then headed up Sawmill Road to have morning tea beside the implement shed on Alan Gorton’s farm.
After morning tea 19 hikers proceeded along the paddock behind and to the left of the implement shed to the gate to the right at the end of the paddock. We did this to bypass a holding paddock where lambs had just been drafted. Five hikers choose a different route back to avoid further climb.
We proceeded to the left along Sawmill Mill to turn to the left down a farm road through some native bush with regenerating trees including rimu about 50 years old.
The steep descent on the gravel/clay/rock road was followed by a quite long steep ascent on the other side. At the end of the road we followed the faint outline of a farm track up the hill to the right to come to a gate and then followed the sheep track to the left to have lunch at 12 by the trees just past the drafting yards.
After lunch we went down the hill to the east through a gate and then turned right to come to another gate near the bottom of a hill. (Another gate on the top of the hill on the left is the start of a farm track leading back to the implement shed). We continued straight ahead through the gate at the bottom of the hill and down another slope to come to the grass track on the right leading to a bulldozed bush track down the hill and up the other side. A gate was opened near the top and the track ended after a 100 m or so. A large yellow and black sign pointed to the upper part of Coutts Gully Road where the track is grassy between some gorse. We did not go through the gate near the sign.
We proceeded down the track opening a gate about 400 m down the track. The grassy and clay part of Coutts Gully Road then joined the graveled part of the road, just below a sign indicating a private road to the property of J and R Chamberlain.
We went to the left down Coutts Gully Road past the old sawmill and down to the lagoons on the flat part of the road. We noted the entrance to the Allan Green loop track (entrance over a bridge. (The loop track takes about 35 min).
Further along we went through a gate on the left to follow a track around the lagoon to come out on the Akatore Road near a sign with information about the Livingstone Family.
We arrived back at Livingstonia Park after travelling to the right at 2.30 pm in time to have refreshments at the Brighton Café.
Thank you to Allan Gorton for permission to cross his farm, Alex for co-leading and to Adrienne for liaising with the Brighton Café. Distance travelled 12.0 km, total ascent 351 m. The weather was warm and sunny and no rain fell. The new route with the steep descent and climb on a gravel road may warrant a grading reassessment and it was suggested that a 3.5 grade would be more accurate than 3.
Bruce
On Wednesday 31st February a small group of 5 Pikers {pikers just for a day} met at Livingstonia Park at Taieri Mouth with the Hiking group. The Pikers for the day decided for various reasons to do a leisurely walk. We started off with the Hikers going up Sawmill Road to Gorton’s farm and enjoyed morning tea by the woolshed with great views over the Pacific Ocean.
We left the Hikers to do their thing and we took off on our walk investigating various streets in the area. We went through the camping ground to a track that took us on to the beach where we walked to Knarston park where we had lunch and watched the fishermen trying to snag a few kahawais. We then did a nice walk on the Picnic Gully track. After that we headed back to the cars via beach tracks. We completed 11.2kms.
Coffee was at the Brighton Cafe and Betty and Jim came to join us. The hikers arrived shortly after us. Leaders were Jay Ady Pam Liz and Jan Y
29. 15/2/2023. Hikers. Coutts Gully/Sawmill Road. Grade 3. $8. 32km. Leaders: Bruce Spittle, Alex Griffin
Fourteen hikers set off in mild warm weather at about 10 am from Livingstonia Park including three on their first outing with the Club: Lisa, Avis and Wyn. We headed north along Moturata Road (to the right) for about 300 m and crossed the road to enter the lagoon side walkway created by the late Alan Livingtone Green who’s photo as an infant is on the gate.
The Livingstone family farmed in the area and gifted the land for Livingstonia Park. Alan Green died on 27 July 2022 at Monticello Veterans home in his 91 st year.
Several birds, including paradise ducks, were seen in the lagoons. We proceed up Coutt’s Gully road.
Wyn pointed out the oldest still occupied farmhouse in the area on the hillside to the left. It was the Coutt’s family farmhouse and has gables.
We stopped, at 10 40 am, for morning tea in a shady area on the side of the road, about 10 minutes’ walk from the sawmill site.
At the sawmill site several trucks were parked. The house is occupied and some poultry including a black rooster were strolling about.
We continued up Coutt’s Valley road and overshot the paper road continuation of Coutt’s Gully Road, which is a grassy track that continues straight ahead. The gravel road at this point turns to the left going to a private residence. The residence owner kindly redirected us back to the correct route when she saw us over shoot the turnoff.
At about this point four of the party Jim, Betty, Margretta and Neil thought discretion was the better part of valour and rather than taking on more climb proceeded back to Livingstonia Park.
The remaining ten started up the rather overgrown grassy track and later opened a cyclone gate on the track. Fewer birds than usual were seen in the QE2 covenanted area.
When we reached the end of the track we entered the farm land on Alan Gorton’s farm and made a sharp turn to the right and proceeded down the bulldozed farm road with a dry clay surface, through another gate way just past a felled and cut up large macrocarpa tree, down the hill and up the other side before stopping for lunch in a shady area with a large rock wall back rest at 11.50.
After lunch were went to the end of the bulldozed road into the open paddocks and turned up the hill to the left. The farmer, Alan Gorton, had kindly mown the thistles for us to make our passage easier. At the top of the first hill we proceeded through an open gate in a slight hollow and then went up the hill to the right following a faint farm track to go through an open gateway which used to have white plastic tank beside it. The tank is no longer there but a similar tank was viewed later on the back of a truck in the farm implement shed.
We continued following the farm road across the farm with views of Moturata Island.
We descended gradually and eventually turned to the left to get on to a better formed road leading through some bush with at the bottom a turn to the right and steep ascent to reach the implement sheds.
We passed the dog kennels on the right. Alec Bruce and Wyn spoke to Alan, who had a knee replacement 5 days previously, and thanked him for allowing us to access his property. Wyn, who wrote a history of the area, used to visit Sawmill Road and Coutt’s Gully Road as a child. Ady, who joined us for coffee later at Brighton, went to school with Alan.
We proceeded down Sawmill Road. Wyn exchanged greetings with a friendly Clydesdale horse in a paddock on the left, just before the site of Astons Farm.
On reaching Moturata Road we crossed it and took the beach access track back to Livingstonia Park, reaching it at about 2 15 pm. Distance 11.12 km, Climb 310 m, weather: no rain, quite hot at times.
Coffee was at the Brighton Café in conjunction with the Brighton Shop where one member bought a milkshake to drink at the Café.
Thanks are due Alan for permission to cross his land, Wyn for her historical comments, Alex for his leadership, and in conjunction with Liz, the liaison with the Brighton Café, and all the Club. members, who came on the tramp and contributed a healthy enjoyable sociable outdoor activity for the day.
Bruce Spittle
28. 24/3/2021. Hikers Coutts Gully Road. Leaders. Bruce Spittle and Alec Griffin
Although the weather was uncertain with drizzle present in both Ocean View and Mosgiel, nine hikers set off up Coutts Gully Road at 9.45 am in overcast conditions after parking on the grass berm in Burma Road beside Livingstonia Park. The Clutha District Council sign referring to suggested payments for parking in Livingstonia Park is no longer present and next time I recommend parking in the park. Some paradise ducks and spoonbills were present in the lagoon on the right hand side of Coutts Gully Road. We stopped for morning tea at 10 am on a dryish piece of road and after this continued up past the sawmill which showed evidence of recent activity with fresh sawdust. Further up the hill was a gravelled side road to the left with a sign JR Chamberlain, Private Property. We did not go up the private road but continued in a straight line on Coutts Gully Road which changed from being gravelled to being a grassy paper road. A sign on the road stated “Extreme caution.”
A number of fantails fluttered near us as we passed the QE2 covenanted bush on the right with one landing on an outstretched walking stick held by Alex. Later we opened and closed a Cyclone gate marking the transition from the public road, Coutts Gully Road, to the private farm of Alan Gorton. Further up the hill the track narrowed to a cleared space between gorse bushes on either side. At the top of the hill there was a view of the Chamberlain residence on the hillside on the right when looking downhill.
We then did an almost 180 degree turn and started down the dry clay bulldozed farm track on Alan Gorton’s farm. Another gate was present further down the hill and the road passed through a flat area where we stopped at 11.30 am for lunch.
Alan Gorton came by in a farm vehicle with his dog Meg.
After lunch we continued on the road up the hill to the left and shortly the track came out into a grass paddock with the track stopping after about 50 m. Vehicle tracks could be seen going up the hill to the left which we followed through an area where the thistles had been cut or flattened before passing between two gate posts without a gate and then continuing up the hill and along to a gate with a white plastic water tank.
We turned to the right at this gate and followed the line of the farm track and ridge line through several more gates including going down a steepish area with a bulldozed track visible to the right. Moturata Island could be seen in the distance. Further down the hill the track veered to the left to link up with a section of vehicle track which passed to the left before turning to the right up hill and leading to the farm implement and vehicle sheds. We turned right at the sheds and when down Sawmill Road went past a Clydedale horse on the left and some dogs in their kennels on the right. We opened the gate for Alan Gorton as he returned to his house on the right by the gate. He suggested that we could consider carrying on up Sawmill Road to a deer farming area another time and that this would add half an hour to the hike. (e.g. continue up Sawmill and take the track to the left to pass through the bush. The track can be seen at Property (cluthadc.govt.nz) Click on this link and enter Sawmill Road in the Search Box. The farm at 125 Sawmill Road will be shown by the bright blue outline. Use + on Zoom to increase the magnification to show the tracks.)
We proceeded down Sawmill Road to Moturata Road and turned right and, after 40 m, took the beach access track towards the beach.
We inspected the Taieri Mouth crib built by Zac Williams that inspired him to build a dwelling incorporating a similar structure in a house at Ocean View.
Near Livingstonia Park, Alex and Sabina took the track through the Park and the others followed Bruce along the beach before returning to the park by a beach access track marked by a pole. We
We arrived back at the cars at 2.05 pm and then drove to Brighton for refreshments at the Brighton Café where we were joined by Liz and Faye. The distance travelled was approximately 11.5 km, as measured by GPS on 5 April 2017. The weather remained overcast until we encountered some sunshine on the farm near the Gorton house. Thank you Alex for being co-leader, Liz for liaising with the Brighton Café, and all who came on the hike or joined us at the cafe when the weather was unpromising.
Bruce Spittle
27/2/2019. Hikers. Sawmill-Coutts Gully Roads. Leaders: Clive and Francis.
22 Hikers and ramblers arrived at Livingstonia Park in time for the rain to set in. The hikers set off along the beach in a bracing breeze and made their way in a loop up to Alan Gartons’ farm at the top of Sawmill Road. Alan offered us shelter in an a barn to have our morning tea out of the elements.
All refreshed we set off Westerly in what was remembered as a more level walk. (it got quite steep in places). After passing several points remembered from the earlier visit we struck off towards Coutts Gully Road and the paper road extension. Several spots were greasy under the steady rain and a few ended sitting on the track!. Just as the rain eased we turned East along Coutts Gully Road and reached the old sawmill about 12.30pm, in time for lunch in warm sunshine.
From there it was a straightforward walk along the formed road back to the cars and onward to Brighton for afternoon tea. – Clive.
Ramblers. Leaders: Mutually agreed.
The four of us first fortified ourselves with a leisurely morning tea at Livingstonia Park. We then motored off in search of a faintly-remembered-by-Ian Livingstone-Green family bush walk. First try: Sawmill Road. Surprise! Ahead, the Hikers. Nothing to do but to gaily sail past to find our bush walk but it was not on that road. Returning back down to the Hikers with what dignity we could muster, we enquired of Leader Clive who confirmed it was on the other road, – Coutts Gully, – so we retreated thence. Only to realise when we arrived, the extreme narrowness of both board and track, a bit unnerving for some of us to tackle. Anyway, it was too hilly as well.
But back down the road a bit was a lovely flat walk diagonalising across from the C-G Road to Moturata Road bordering the shallow private wetlands estuary there, with which Ornithological-Society-of-New- Zealand-member-Lesley was familiar. Out with the binoculars, identifying Stilts (flighty), Fern Birds (invisible but with distinctive clicks), a white duck, a Spoonbill, a Shoveller and half a dozen others. Most enjoyable to watch them feeding, floating and flying, accompanied with Lesley’s learned commentary. Rain? Hardly any. Sun? Occasional. Shelter from wind? Great. (Just a pity I forgot to get the camera out.)
We walked back up the road to the aforementioned Livingstone-Green walk entrance to lunch under a rain-proof tree which sheltered us from a brief shower.
Well… What now? What else, but to precede the Hikers with coffee at Brighton, and then home. – Ian.
19. 5/4/2017. Both. Sawmill-Coutts Gully Roads. Leaders: Bruce and Marjorie.
Eighteen hikers and trampers set off from the grass berm in Burma Road after most of the cars parked on the berm. Five hikers, including Les, Margaret, Leslie and Bev made a separate excursion in the area. The main group walked beside the trees on the beach side of the park and then followed a track through the sand hills to Moturata Road near the bridge, following the 2 signposts with first a turn to the right and secondly a turn to the left. We crossed Moturata Road where the track emerged and then walked 50 m to Sawmill Road on the left. We proceeded up this road and stopped for morning tea just past the house of the farm owner, Alan Gorton, through a gate and just before the dog kennels.
After morning tea we proceeded up the road about 200 m and turned to the left, passing an old coal range and some implement/vehicle sheds, opposite the Mongolian style dwelling, a Yurt (Mongolian: Ger). We followed a farm road which wound down to the right through some bush and then went up hill through the farm. After some distance we followed sheep tracks straight up a steep part of the hill …
… rather than following a bulldozed track to the left. At the top of paddock was an open gate with a steel bar attached to it. We went through the gate and continued to the next gate which was closed and had a plastic water tank with sides about 1.3 m in length. We went through this gate and then turned to the left and proceeded in a straight line through a further 3 open gates, noticing a bulldozed track down the hill to the left but not going towards it. At the top of a brow of the hill, at the end of the straight line of travel, there was bush ahead and soon a grassy track was visible to the left which we went along for 100 m. We then noticed the start of the bulldozed track on the right which led down the hill through bush. The start of the track was not easy to see until we almost reached it because of the slope of the hill. The bulldozed bush track crossed a stream and then went up hill to reach a grassy paddock. We turned sharp left here and proceeded along Coutts Gully Road. The road in its upper parts is just a narrow path between some gorse bushes. We closed the Cyclone gate some distance along and erected 2 netting fences, with plastic bags on them, which were there to keep stock in. We had lunch at the sawmill further down the road.
Near the bottom of the hill the group split in two with some doing the 40 minute Livingstone-Green family bush walk …
… with a loop at the end. We went to the right side of the loop.
The rest of the group proceeded back to the cars. The last of the bushwalkers reached the cars at approximately 2.15 pm. The distance was approximately 11.5 km without the bush walk and 12.5 with the bush walk. The weather was cool but the rain that had threatened in the forecast some days previously did not eventuate. – Bruce and Marjorie.
Twenty-seven trampers and hikers, including two guests from Wales who had been on the Turf to Surf cavalcade walking group, Jeremy and Mary, departed from Livingstonia Park, Burma Road, Taieri Mouth, at 9.45 a.m. on a calm sunny morning via the marked beach access track closest to the Burma Road entrance.
We proceeded north along the beach and turned to the left to the white marker pole on the beach edge which led to Moturata Road, just before we came to an assembly of some hundreds of seagulls, or, in the view of George, terns arranged in a square like a cohort from a legion of Roman soldiers.
We crossed Moturata Road and proceeded up Sawmill Road, stopping to admire two Clydesdale horses…
…that were patted and fed some grass by Chris.
Further up the road, we were greeted by a frisky pup, and then at 10.30 am we stopped for morning tea near a caravan, some houses and a yurt, a Mongolian style tent. After morning tea,
we entered the gate on the left, with the permission of Mr Allan Gorton, son of the late Bill, and continued down a steepish winding farm road through native bush into a gully and then up the other side into open farmland…
…which gradually led further up the hill.
At a gate some distance up the hill near a bush gully we veered to the left to go through another gate. After cresting the hill brow and passing a further gate we climbed another undulation and on the far side of this came eventually to a greenish track that led into the bush on the right. We noticed a further gate away to the left but did not go to it.
The bush road was also somewhat rocky and steepish. At 12.05 pm we stopped for lunch near a corner of the road at which a bank with a rocky backrest provided some seating. Proceeding again at 12.45 pm, we descended further and then gradually climbed up the other side and out of the bush into farmland.
The exit was adjacent to the upper part of Coutts Gully Road which continued towards the top of the hill via a gully on the right. We took the part of the road to the left and descended down towards an old truck parked in the bush on the left side of the road and the sawmill. The initial part of the road was a relatively narrow gap in the gorse. We then came to a Cyclone gate and subsequently a netting gate. Several birds chirped in the QE2 covenanted bush, including melodious korimako (bell birds), on the left of the road. Piwakawaka (fan tails) flitted around in the trees. After passing the sawmill, which had a pile of fresh sawdust indicating it had been recently used, we continued down the road until it emerged from the bush.
Then on the left, we had the option of doing the Livinstone-Green 30–40 minute Green Family bush walk.
A little over half the group did this travelling over a narrow well maintained bush track with steps, bridges and hand rails. We stopped for a rest near a seat that gave a view of Moturata Island,
set in a turquoise sea, from near the top of the loop track near the end of the bush track. The grass track up to this along the fence line had been recently mown. We then proceeded back to the start/finish of the bush track.
The final portion of the walk was along Coutts Gully Road and Burma Road to Livingstonia Park, where we arrived back at approximately 3.30 pm. – Bruce.
14. 24/11/2010. Hikers. Coutts Gully, Sawmill Road. M. Leaders: George, Dorothy
13. 9/6/2010. Trampers. Coutts Gully Road, Finlayson Road, Sawmill Road, Taieri Mouth.Leaders: George, Bob.
