15. 06/03/2024. Combined. Waikouaiti. Grade 2.5. $16. 57 km. Leaders: Karen McInnes/ Gail Williams, Carol Morrison/Val Cayford
14. 18/1/2023. Hikers. Waikouaiti – Old Country Track. Grade 2. $13. 58km. Leaders: Jan Butcher, Judy Dennison
20 hikers turned up at the carpark keen to make a start on the new year. 4 carloads set off on an overcast day & met up with Alex from Brighton who had brought along a prospective new member Bill who thoroughly enjoyed his day out he tells me.Turning into Ramrock Road and onto the next right, we travelled up the unsealed Quarry Road, not quite to the top, and parked in the spaces left by the forestry workers (no workers about as area has been cleared).
The start of the track was dry but onto the farmland the grass was wet from the nights’ rain. Although we didn’t see any sun, we could enjoy the view below of the township and out to sea.
We stopped for a cuppa just as we went through the gate and then started our ascent which was not steep but steady and so we enjoyed a few stops to admire the view and catch our breath as it was our first outing for 2023. Also a couple of people were in recovery mode from their recent covid bug. We eventually reached the high point of the farm crossing and it was decided that we would leave the rest of the journey this time and turned around and headed back to the cars. Of course this time it was mostly down so we arrived at the cars just after midday and then journeyed down to the beach where we had lunch. The sun was still not out but it was calm and not cold at all.
After everyone was replenished we walked our lagoon circuit, however this time we did it in reverse (probably because there was a sign down that way marked “toilets”). It was actually quite nice for a change – thanks Alex for showing us the way.
The afternoon refreshments were had at Blueskin Cafe where we were all able to sit outside & also enjoy the surrounding plants etc.
On checking the distance we walked 10k so quite enough for our first hike we thought.
Jan and Judy
Heading downhill we had lunch at the beach carpark…
A sudden hipcup occurred by leader so with the help of Phil Morris we found a track around the lagoon which we finally meet up with the other trampers who took drivers to the Golf Club.
We finished a lovely day with liquid refreshments at Blueskin Café.
Total distance 15kms.
As leaders of the hiking group on this walk, just want to share how great it was to have trampers and hikers together for the combined walk. Was really nice to walk and chat with people and have lunch together with members who hadn’t walked before.
Thanks everyone
Cathy Ferguson &Kathryn Fagg
We finished a lovely day out with liquid refreshments etc at Blueskin Cafe. We had the place to ourselves which was just as well & all sat outside in the sunshine with much chatter & laughter. A fitting way to finish off another good day out.
11. 20/11/19 Hikers Waikouaiti Matanaka Leaders Shona and Ady
10. 30/5/2018. Hikers. Hawkesbury Lagoon area. Leaders: Judy K and Elaine
After a frosty start in Mosgiel, 25 hikers parked at the end of Beach St, Waikouaiti and walked along to the river mouth, enjoying the views and watching the horses training on the beach. The track up through the pines was followed to a morning tea stop just before the Reserve, where a leisurely break was enjoyed in the sun.
The walk into the Reserve …
… showed us plenty of bird life – especially ducks, geese and swans. At the end of the first causeway we turned right to cross the little bridge to follow the track round the edge of the water, across a stile, up through the paddock, and across another stile to Dumbarton St.
We turned left here, and followed Dumbarton St to the T junction at the end, turning right into Nairn Stand then left into Inverary St, which took us to the northern entrance to the Reserve. Just before the bridge we made a right turn onto the causeway which was followed out into Scotia St. A left took us into Beach St, with a toilet stop at the Camp and so back to the cars. Lunch was had on the grassy area just below the car park.
Some new signage in the Reserve, and good track surfaces, show that this special place is really being cared for.
After lunch the majority opted for a quick visit to Matanaka, which was new to about half of the group.
Arriving at Blueskin Nurseries for the obligatory coffee stop, we found we had been pipped at the post by the trampers, who were cosily huddled inside. The more intrepid hikers chose to brave the elements outside (well, most of them). A great day out for the last 9 0’clock start of the season.
– Judy and Elaine
9. 30/11/2016. Hikers. Hawksbury Lagoon and beach. E. Leaders: Judy K and Jay.
A blustery sou-wester did not deter 30 hardy souls from the drive to Waikouaiti where we gathered at the end of Beach Rd. Along the road to the pines we had the wind behind us so it didn’t feel too bad, and the walk through the pines brought us to a sunny spot for a leisurely morning tea break. Then it was out into the open again, across the first causeway to the bridge, observing a variety of bird life on the way – mostly paradise ducks and their young, and plenty of black swans and cygnets …
… learning foraging skills.
A short detour over the bridge to the right, and on round the inlet proved to be rather rough and overgrown, but provided an interesting diversion. We went back to the bridge, turned right and then left, to cross the next causeway, with a brief stop to decide whether to pass the female swan sitting on an egg right in the middle of our path. With some reluctance she let us by, with a blustery display of spread wings to protect her nest. A little further on another nest with two eggs lay unprotected.
A brief rain squall caught us just before the end and we were pleased to find the shelter of the trees. A gentle road walk followed, out to Beach Rd and back to the cars just before midday. Lunch was had in a sheltered spot on the grass between the car park and beach.
After lunch 17 members opted for the beach walk, while some of the others headed for home and some up to Matanaka to explore. The beach walkers …
… strode out into the head wind to reach the end of the spit in 45 minutes. Here we had quite a different view of Karitane.
The return walk with the wind at our backs was more pleasant, as was the coffee stop at Blueskin Nurseries. – Judy and Jay.
8. 4/11/2015. Hikers. A walk around Waikouaiti’s back streets. Leaders: Jan, Jay.
28 Hikers and Trampers parked at the car park down at the corner of Beach Street and Matanaka Road. We walked down to the beach and along to its northern end. We were struck by the damage heavy seas had made to the beach edge.
The Lagoon had completely sanded up. We stopped for morning tea at the car park at the beach end. We walked back along the beach to reach the sanded-up outlet of the Hawksbury Lagoon Wildlife Refuge area and entered by the forest edge.
We followed the path up and across the lagoon onto the end of the Nairn Street track which led us out of the Lagoon where we turned right onto Inverary Street, which took us along the back of a long large building under repair which some thought might be Waikouaiti’s chicken farm, left down Cromaty Street, right on Clackmannan Street and a look-in passing the back gate of the Waikouaiti Racecourse.
Left along Edinburgh Street, left again along Glasgow Street and left along SH1 at its end. We stopped along the way to look into, and some to shop in, Beano’s Pies and Artisan Bakery.
A little further up and across SH1 (opposite the end of Mount Street) into a park beside the Events Centre with seating to have lunch,
placed conveniently behind very new public toilets, with sliding doors operated from within by lighted buttons, ridged to the touch and promising to have locked the door only by faith. Cross SH1 again at crest of the rise, a little further up and into Kildaire Street. At next crossing, right along Collins to its end and go down Henry Street to its end. Down Henry Street and left around corner at the bottom into Fell Street and right at its end out onto Beach Street with only a block further down it to arrive at the car park again.
Thanks to Jan and Jay for looking after us and taking us on a new and interesting back-streets-walk to open up a Waikouaiti few if any of us had known of before. Garden flowers and trees bright with colourful blooms
and houses new and old made interesting viewing. – Ian.
7. 31/10/2012. Hikers. Matanaka. Leaders: Fred, Judy.
6. 17/10/2012. Hikers. Matanaka. Leaders: Peter and Wendy.
5. 28/3/2012. Trampers. Matanaka, Cornish Point. Easy.
4. 10/3/2010. Hikers. Matanaka. Coast Walk. Leaders: Barbara, Molly.
3. 6/5/2009 Both. Waikouaiti. Beach walk: Waikouaiti – Karitane. Easy+. Leaders: Lesley S, Bill H, Bill M, Pat.
We rounded the spit to lunch on its landward side to admire the settlement of houses and the two (cray-fishing – Ken thought they might be) boats and the splendid view up the river of Mount Watkins.
After the leisurely lunch, it was a leisurely strung-out amble back along the beach to the cars. A good day and thanks to Bill H and his team for this variation on the usual Matanaka walk. – Ian
2. 9/4/2008 Leaders:
What a glorious day for hiking it was and 11 hikers were really looking forward to their day when we parked our cars in Beach St, Waikouaiti, and set off to the beach. We walked a short distance along Beach St, then turned right into Fell Rd and from there went into the Forest where we sat in a lovely patch of sun and had our morning tea. Then off down to the beach. Couldn’t have had a more perfect day for walking along the firm sand, lapping up the sun and really soaking up the beautiful views. Great to see several lots of horses being exercised along the beach. Some trotting behind a vehicle, attached to a cart, others with riders in sulkies. At the end of the beach it was up the hill to Matanaka. A fascinating and very interesting place to visit. We spent a bit of time looking in the old school house and
inspecting the other old buildings which are all very well maintained and looked after. Then it was a leisurely lunch, sitting in the sun and taking in the view, really making the most of a super day. Then it was back down the hill and along Matanaka Rd. and then Matanaka Dr. to the back of the Motor camp which we walked through back to our cars. We all agreed we had had a fabulous day. – Bev
1. 17/10/2007. Matanaka, Cornish Head. Medium. Leaders: Graham, Glenice
Didnt realise there was an active walking group in Waikouaiti, would like to know more. Thanks Lynne
Sorry Lynne.
We are just the Taieri Recreational Tramping Club who do only occasional tramps as far away as Waikouaiti.
However you are welcome to join us if you see on our tramping programme any walks within a distance convenient to you. Just contact us and ask, and we can arrange a meeting place and time.