No. 30 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Woodside Glen to Maungatuas. E Blackburn, D McEwan. Summer”
Short and long options. (Maungatua climb fairly steep. 5-7 hours. Heavy tussock on top. Route only. Manager: DOC.)
Woodside Glen, Maungatuas – Information and Trips Library
18. 14/2/2024. Trampers. Maungatua Option. Leaders Lyn Keene, Anne Ward and Di Bezett
Travel Distance 40ks, Grade: 3.5, Altitude gain: 711 metres. Total distance: 15.64 ks.
The day dawned to reveal blue skies and temperatures were predicated to be between 28-29 degrees.
12 Trampers arrived at Van Turnhout’s property. We had a steady 3.65 ks climb to the Hut walking through native bush, which at times provided us some shade from the beating sun and at times we could see views over the Taieri plains.
We had morning tea at the hut, choosing to sit in the shade under some Manuka bushes while enjoying views of the coast,
Lake Waihola and Sinclair Wetlands. The hut is 30 years old, owned by the Van Turnhouts for the past 12 years when they purchased the hill block. The hut has two comfortable looking beds, kitchen facilities and a number of trophy heads around the hut.
We followed the 4- wheel drive track gradually climbing through paddocks minus the two bulls we met on our recce. The views were amazing we could see the Balclutha and Clinton Hills, lots of Forestry owned by Wenita Forest Products, pylons from Waipori Dam and at times glimpses of the Kowhai Spur.
We arrived at the Maungatua Scenic Reserve while walking through the native bush, we noticed quite a number of honey bees and colourful butterflies. The bush consisted of Silver Beech trees, Koromiko/Hebe and Harakeke/Flax.
We stopped at Mill Creek and some of the group found a nice spot to cool down.
We then went onto Les and Diane Beattie’s farm to have lunch sitting in the tussocks while enjoying amazing 360 degrees views.
We returned down the same track to the vehicles and stopped at Outram for much needed ice cream and a cool drink.
It was a very enjoyable day, great company and amazing views.
Lyn
17. 24/01/2024. Hikers. Woodside Glen. Grade tba. $6. 20km. Leaders: Cathy Ferguson/Kathryn Fagg
After meeting in Outram and heading to the Woodside Glen, 19 hikers walked the track to the stream where we had morning tea.
At The Creek (Photo & Caption Helen)We then walked back to the track entrance where we were met by Ray Beardsmore who is a local historian.
He told us about the people and businesses that got Woodside established, we then walked to the Ford where he informed us of the locals houses
and then to the local store which is now a home before going to Ray’s home which is the Woodside Manor all quite interesting.
We left there, went up the hill to Harvey’s gardens where we had lunch with lovely views over the Taieri.
We then made our way back to the cars passing the old Woodside School.
Ending our walk at Mitchell’s store in Outram for an icecream.
Cathy Ferguson and Kathryn Fagg
16. 21/09/2022. Trampers. Level 4.5. Woodside Glen/Maungatua. Leaders: Sarah and Phil
The signpost said 1.75km but our GPS said 7.5km in distance. It took 2.5 hrs up with morning tea and a couple of rests. The return took 2 hours, with conditions a little slippery,and some slipped on their derrieres.
This was what we called a team building exercise fit for any Dunedin City Council. There were many laughs as we headed up the steep gradient in the Scottish mist lead by Sarah. The night rain had made the stream flow quicker than usual, with most boulder hopping free of damp feet, but I did see Graeme Souter clamber through water nearly up to his knees.
Onward went the group of 15, with 3 newbie trampers (Leigh, Carol and Graeme, welcome, excuse spelling). Most knew they had found a challenging climb.
Sadly, the mist meant no magic views on the uphill journey. The silence of the still day was quieter than Queen Lizzies funeral. Magic, at the top we could hear the stream flowing down the valley to where we had earlier crossed.
Thanks to some fine track clearing in both the bush and tussocks it was a great place to disappear for a tramp. The odd cackle and chattered ensured all were having fun, and at the end of track we returned to a rock formation for lunch.
At the end of the tussocks on the way back down the mist began to lift and we were entitled to some pristine views of the Taieri Plain, the hills of Hindon, Woodside and the sea.
On the reece we spotted the pollen being blown from pines behind West Taieri Cemetery. The bonus was that after a neat tramp, we could call in to the friendly 4 square who provided lattes, double coned icecreams and other goodies. A smashing day tramp thanks Sarah.
GPS 7.5km, tramp 5hrs, walking time 4.5hrs, 586 altitude.
Cheers Tail End Phillie
15. 3/11/2021. Trampers. Woodside Glen. Leaders Peter Horrell, Judy Dennison, Yan Campbell.
13 Trampers set off from the car park at Woodside Glen at 9.30.
The sign post said 1.75 km but having done a recce this is misleading as this tramp was no stroll in the park and I graded it as medium plus due to its steep ascent to 650 metres and its equally steep descent where poles were very helpful but you still needed to keep a careful eye on where you placed your footsteps. At 7.5 km return it can’t be classed as hard but it certainly gave us all a good work out.
The walk in to Lee Creek is a well maintained track and very pleasant. The creek has some large rocks to clamber across. If you don’t want wet feet and with hindsight those with good waterproof boots should have guided the others across as we did on the return trip as one tramper had wet feet all day.
Once over the creek the track is more challenging and the gradient is mainly steep and slow going through tree roots and broken rock. We were all very thankful that the track was dry as in the wet it would be difficult to keep your footing.
We stopped for morning tea and peeled off a layer as we set off continuing ever upwards through the bush.
We got a glimpse of the Taieri Plain well below about 11.00 am and then back into a steep incline as the bush started to thin out and finally we broke out into the open tussock. The track has three marker poles showing the way to the rocky cairn but no actual track and this was quite challenging wading through them and thankfully they were dry.
We reached the rock just after 12.00 taking us 2.5 hrs. The wind was brisk up there and it was into coats and woolly hats for lunch. The views were obscured a little by the threat of a passing shower but still a full panoramic view of the Taieri from the wetlands right up to Mosgiel and out to sea.
We didn’t linger too long in the cold and once back in the bush it was much warmer.
We did the return descent carefully with plenty of stops to rest and arrived back in Outram by 2.30 for an ice cream sitting in the sun at the shop. Peter.
14. 3/11/2021. Hikers. Woodside Glen. Leaders Kathryn Fagg and Sue Nichol.
All 22 of us met at the Woodside Glen.
We walked up the track as far as the creek where we had morning tea. We then walked back down to Woodside where we walked around the little township.
We then made our way back to the carpark where we had lunch.
We then drove to the West Taieri Cemetery and had a look around there before going to the Wobbly Goat for coffee. It was a very relaxed walk with great company. Leaders Sue and Kathryn
One of our best tramps ever!!
26 of us were met by Richard from Good Tour Bus Company leaving at 8:25am and driving an hour up to the Woolshed road, past the sheep yards for 3kms (saved an uphill walk) on Horsehoof Station.
The weather was calm, with low cloud and fog in places. We set off up the access road for about 6kms to the summit at 895 metres.
(Photo and caption Gordon)
Smoko was at 10:15am at the aerials, beside the boundary of the D.O.C. Reserve.
The fence into the Reserve was crossed and soon after a little detour to the rock outcrop was had to enable some to test their rock-climbing ability.
We continued upwards following a faint track along the fence line, through scrub, dominated by dracophyllum. The summit in the rolling tops can now be hard to find as the trig has gone and only the base and a pole remain. This high point for us was reached at 11:30am. From here the views were truly spectacular.
(Photo and caption Gordon)
This was the end of the days climbing, soon to be followed by about another 9kms down. We crossed the fence again and stopped for lunch at 12:15pm, amongst colourful, interesting plant varieties.
It was a great walk out in the afternoon, still enjoying beaut views, particularly the intricate set of channels, swamps, and lakes between Waipori and Lake Waihola, and, the Taieri river at the start of the gorge. Dunedin Airport was small in comparison to the vast Taieri plain.
Continuing downhill we passed the lone rock outcrop before passing by The Three Kings rocks outcrop (which are much more of a landmark when viewed from the flood free highway). Finally, we came through a patch of native bush, including some great specimens of Beech trees. Then, rounding a bend we saw our bus was parked up waiting. We arrived to it at just after 3pm.
We covered about 16kms over 6 hours.
This MAUNGATUA Traverse was a first for all of us, apart from President Arthur. Our thanks to you Arthur for leading us today. Also, thanks to Heather for leading, along with Horsehoof Station Owners, the van Turnhouts at 3 Kings end and bus driver Richard Trainer.
I hope you all enjoyed this tramp as much as I did. We are so lucky to have strong bodies and good health to enjoy tramping in the hills we love.
No. 30 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Woodside Glen to Maungatuas. E Blackburn, D McEwan. Summer”
12. 28/10/2020. Trampers. Woodside Glen to Maungatua. H Leaders Gordon Grant and Phil Keene.
22 keen trampers were motivated by the great spring morning promising blue skies, golden tussock, native forest and birds, and a promise we would not get blown away, either from the NW or the SW.
At Woodside everyone was ready forthwith as we set off, according to the sign a target of 1.75km to the tree line, gosh we’ll be there for morning tea. The initial track to the stream supported that supposition but we were slowed down by the rocks, depth and flow of water, no one wanting to get wet – well what’s new we had been just going for 10 minutes; but also it was evident that chivalry was not yet extinct. Well done Art.
After that well reality set in as apart from some sidles to encourage us, it was generally onwards and upwards, and upwards. The chirpy birds welcomed us but the focus was mostly on where to put your feet, who had the best grip, and the thoughts of dirty backsides coming down. Dave was very subtle with his hints of the benefits of his new crampons, and as interest built on the cost and where they were purchased from, started a rumour about how he could get a deal for us, but it would have to be managed by him…….
A well earned morning tea provided a good break and time to take in the regenerating forest; with some good stands of Totara around.
As the altitude changed so did the vegetation, with beech saplings prominent, some sporting what was thought to be large beech seed capsules; but on closer inspection and touch, these turned out to be soft sticky beehive like formations. Maybe new aerodynamic golf balls, or pale strawberries ? (these needed greater investigation post walk and have been found to be a fungi, cyttaria gunnii that is a parasitic fungi on the southern hemisphere beeches; and yes depending on country they are known as beech strawberries, beech oranges (when ripe), golf ball fungus and yes beech honeycomb treats and are edible and full of sweet nectar. But most importantly they were used by Aborigines to darken the white hair on old men’s whiskers….eat your heart out Bruce and Graeme).
Shortly thereafter we broke out in to the open and after a couple of zig zags were in tussock country with time to survey the great 270 degree views from the Rock n Pillar/Kakanuis/Silver Peaks /Peninsula and Chain Hills etc., not to mention the Taieri, and how big Outram is now and who lived where?
We selected various tracks in the tussock and headed to the Rock on the skyline, where a longish lunch break was enjoyed with a bit of shelter from the zephyr breeze, and well the views were…..
2 and ½ hours up proved to be 1 and ¼ hours down, mmm sounds like some formulae at work there. Yes some dirty backsides were experienced on the descent, but everyone was chirpy with no pride really dented.
With a few stops for water we were soon back at the stream; and well this proved how attitudes had changed as most were happy to go on through and get wet feet rather than seek to test their balance on rocks after having had a good work out, and at any rate fit and experienced trampers can put up with wet feet for 10 minutes at least!
Well then on to the Goat for a mix of drinks, some seeking ice creams from up the road.
Yes the fare was fine but the doors were closing….an inspiring 7km day out in the hills of home.
Phil K
11. 24/10/2018. Trampers.Woodside Glen to Maungatua. H. Leaders: Gordon and Art.
13 determined trampers left their cars at Woodside Glen, to begin their tramp.
Once across the Lee Creek it was uphill all the way until we reached the tussock.
Onward, the track was ever upward, and the perspiration flowed freely. A couple of steeper and trickier bits were safely negotiated,
and in due course we all reached the first viewing point above the bush -and where the tussock began. Two of the group elected to wait here for our return. Into the tussock now,
the height of which reduces with altitude. We lost 5 more at the next rocky knob.
The remaining 6 trampers carried on for another 20 minutes before eating their lunch (10 minutes early) in the shelter of a rocky knob, with great views out over the Taieri Plain, and far away.
Shelter was absolutely necessary as it was quite windy up here.
10. 28/9/2016. Trampers. Woodside Glen to Maungatua. H. Leader: Arthur H.
The westerly wind was cold here, but a brief stop to admire the view was made.
A few minutes before 12 noon we reached a hugh knob from where the view was magnificent. This was our lunch spot…
…and in Antony Hamel’s book is marked as being at an altitude of 686 metres. (See his map on page 9.05).
The sky was rather hazy, with cloud down on the hills to the north and northeast – on Swampy, for example. But the climb had been well worth it for the view nevertheless.
Out of the tussock and down…
…into the bush, where there are two or three difficult patches – not to be rushed.
9. 23/10/2013. Hikers. Woodside area. Easy. Leaders: Arthur and Barbara.
Woodside GPS of Route. 10.5km in all. (GPS recording started rather belatedly.)
We started from the West Taieri Cemetery and walked directly down Woodside Road to the intersection at the old Store and Post Office building, where we stopped for morning tea on an inviting lawn.
We then turned left and walked down McDonald Road past the grand Beardsmore property gates …
Gate
.. till we made a right turn up Mann Rd (3 km on route map) before returning the way we had come back to the old store corner.
Now a different route was to go left up Berwick Rd, right onto Helvellyn St and to almost complete the circumnavigation of the block, right again down Crossfeld St to then go left up Ravensburn Rd and finally left again via Mountain Rd into Woodside Glen. We entered the walking track alongside the Lee Creek (name?), finding it rather dangerously narrowed in places by slips, to discover it connecting with a newer, wider track further up which led eventually down to the Maungatua tops track stream crossing, where we lunched. (6 km on route map). Three of our group ventured to rock-hop across the stream to lunch on the far side,…
Lunching across the stream.
… the rest judging the nearer side a safer spot.
Our return route to the Glen was by the safer new track which we found kept further up and more safely around the ridge (but made less interesting by its divorce from the stream) before descending to the Glen.
Here we met the group supporting blind trampers, who were just about to set off up the track, with much happy greeting exchanges. We went back out along Mountain Rd, down Ravensburn Rd to the old store again, to return back up Woodside Road to the cars.
Obviously a Woodside Glen walk needs a lot of road walk to fill out a decent day. Thanks to Barbara and Arthur for planning this well filling the day with much interest. – Ian.
8. 30/4/2008. Hikers. Woodside Glen. Easy. Leaders: Bev H, Bev M.
7. 16/4/2008. Traquair/Whare Creek Track & Woodside Glen.
Viewing Traquair Creek
With inclement weather threatening the joy of a beach walk (Purakanui and Canoe beaches) and only 2 hikers along with 2 leaders, a decision was made to seek dry bush cover instead, and so we headed for the recently-upgraded Outram Glen walk. Neil B. diverted us however to a nearby track he had lately helped to clear – the Whare (or Traquair) Creek track – starting at the Historical Museum. This turned out to be a great delight as it echoed with bird song and followed a dry-clad, benched course through both native and deciduous trees beside still waters and sometimes beside falling waters over large, mossy boulders.
Neil was an informative guide too, giving us the history of the track, showing us the site of the first flourmill in the country and noting features such as an underground water source, a high, man-made retaining wall, and origins of one of the first reticulated water supplies. We had morning tea back at the Museum and rewarded Neil for his services with freshly-picked mushrooms. We then proceeded to an ‘urban crawl’ through the streets of Outram, with a particular focus on new, spec houses. A decision to lunch at the West Taieri cemetery was thwarted by our driver whose momentum carried us on to Woodside Glen where we were
Lunching by Lee Stream
led up a different creek (Lee Creek) without a paddle, and took lunch beside the stream where the track crosses it. A nice spot indeed. Neil then took us on a ‘conducted tour’ of the once-thriving metropolis of Woodside, noting old shops, churches,
Old church?
school and houses from one of which 2 sisters daily used to bike to the railway station and catch the train to Factory Road and thence to Mosgiel Woollen Mill to work. How times have changed!! So, we didn’t get to the beach or the river or the cemetery, but we did enjoy our varied walk. – Bob
6. 11/7/2007. Hikers. Woodside Glen. Easy. Leaders: Bev H, Bev M
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