No. 24 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Lovers Leap – The Chasm – Sandfly Bay. N Strang. Farm. Year Round.” No. 73 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Sandymount – Lovers Leap. Year Round”.
29 km from car-park.
See Sandymount for area background information.
Sandymount closed for lambing Aug-Oct. Track unformed in places, grassy, slippery when wet. (See also article on pingao planting.)
25. 27/03/2024. Hikers. Sandymount Grade 2.5 Leaders: Jenni and Bruce Wright
This was the first cold snap for the year and it was heartening to see the determined spirits despite the bitter conditions at Sandymount. There were some snippets of views of Harbour Cone, Mt Charles, Hoopers Inlet, Allan’s Beach and Papanui Inlet but the dense cloud prevailed.
We relished the walk through the beautiful macrocarpa forest which led to the paddocks where the sheep had more sense than us and were sheltering in the trees.
We were heartened to see they had lovely long woollen coats on and not a shivering one in sight.
Some ventured down to the lookout, a well-constructed viewing platform. The views gave a little tempter to those who haven’t yet explored this part of our coastline.
The walk down and back was a test of standing upright in a howling Southerly. It was at this stage that we agreed to abandon our adventure and retreat to the carpark.
The bedraggled group made its way to Glenfalloch where we enjoyed delicious food and drinks, great service, warm conditions and the rain pelting down outside.
Many of our group had not been to Sandymount before and we can’t wait to take you back in more pleasant weather.
24. 22/06/2022. Trampers. Sandymount – Sandfly Bay. Leaders: Diane and Pam
After taking in the views, we made our way back down to the carpark where picnic tables and rocks made for a good morning tea venue. Our route from there was following the Sandymount track to Sandfly Bay. The start of the track was through an avenue of Macrocarpas and then into open tussocky paddocks with spectacular views in every direction.
We spent some at the viewing platform looking across at Hoopers Inlet, Allans Beach and Mt Charles, familiar places to many. We then followed the well-marked track around the peninsula where the vegetation and terrain changed to native scrub, flax and sand underfoot.
We completed our loop around Sandymount and then made our way down to Sandfly Bay.
The beach is home to sea lions and seals and we put plenty of space between them and us so we did not disturb their siestas. A couple of sea lions did however pose for us which was great to see.
We found a lunch spot at the end of the beach near Morris creek where we were not disturbing the locals.
After a leisurely lunch, we followed a track along the side of Morris Creek. This took us through sand dunes, across farmland and then finally to Ridge Road.
We walked up Ridge Road to the intersection with Sandymount Road. We had left a couple of cars there to take the drivers back to the Sandymount carpark and then return to pick up their passengers. This meant we did not walk the long and windy road back to the carpark. We walked in the vicinity of 8kms and had a wonderful day with plenty of chatter and laughter that continued at Nichols where we had afternoon tea.
Diane and Pam.
23. 20/1/2021.Trampers. Sandymount-Sandyfly Bay. Leaders: Jill Dodd and Joy Nicholson.
Wednesday morning was a little ominous with rain threatening while we were at the car park. I was fully aware we had a 45 minute drive out to the Peninsula where weather conditions could be quite different.
22 members along with 3 of my grandchildren went to Sandymount carpark. Here we had a leisurely walk through the avenue of trees…
Back the same way to the cars and a pleasant coffee stop…
22. 12/8/2020. Hikers. Sandymount. Leaders John Gardiner and Dave Roberts
21. 2018-07-18. Trampers. Sandymount. Leader: Phil.
Eager anticipation of another day ‘just like yesterday’ saw 12 keen trampers travel to the Sandymount carpark, to be greeted by great views to all points of the compass. People could be seen walking and congregating down below at the N end of Allans Beach – could it be the Hikers and could they see us? One of the day’s and life’s enduring questions!
Despite promises of a morning tea at Lovers Leap we ascended the steep track to the Trig and view point, made more challenging by sand; the view point ( and much of the track overall) had been cleared and tidied since the recce. View shafts abounded including to the Lammerlaws, Silverpeaks, Saddle Hill and the Kakanui and beyond…aah all was well with the world.
We then retraced our steps back to the carpark and followed the start of the track through the avenue of Macrocarpa
and followed the markers down to the lookout over the Chasm which was not unlike ‘staring into the Abyss’.
One was left wondering how and when the volcanic basalt collapsed into the sea to create the formation since formed 10-13 million years ago.
Moving onto Lovers Leap vertigo again made it’s presence felt across the group.
and we pondered another of life’s mysteries such as how could the farmer get his ploughing equipment to the pastures far below?
We then completed the loop track of Sandymount and started our descent down the long sand dune towards Sandfly Bay (made a wildlife refuge in 1908); some ‘young at hearts’ (Guess who?) needed to try sliding on plastic down …
… the dunes, but with no success, due to the laws of physics, lack of suitable toboggans but probably more importantly the shape of the protagonists’ backsides that were no good for backsliding! (oh dear)
We approached the beach with some caution due to the strong smells and compressed grasses, and yes we were proved right with 20 sea lions, large and small scattered along the beach.
Lunch was taken on a well placed grouping of logs, and then circumventing the wildlife we set off down the beach (where the sand was not flying) finally turning inland and tip-toing across the stream a few times ( with Dave demonstrating how to walk on water) we crossed and ascended farmland to Ridge Road.
From here we completed the round trip UP the roads back to the carpark …
… where it was agreed coffee should be taken at Nicolls; and lo and behold to be greeted there by the large contingent of Hikers – who the barista informed the writer must have been the fast pack! – Phil
20. 15/6/2016. Trampers. Ridge Road. Farmland, Bay, Sand-hills, Sandymount and road return. M. Leader: Jill.
We progressed along the beach giving wide berth to 5 sea lions 2 of them were a sandy colour and we wondered if they were the youngsters.
Went to a locked up viewing hide before plodding our way through sand-hills, sand-hills and more sand-hills till we finally climbed through coastal scrub emerging at the Sandymount car park. From the car park we had a very panoramic view of the Otago Harbour, Hoopers, and Papanui Inlets that were surrounded with Harbour Cone and Mt Charles with Allans Beach at its base. Lunch
was sheltered at the entrance to the macrocarpa avenue of trees
which we walked through after lunch to view both Lovers Leap
and the Chasm. Venturing around Sandymount we finally spotted the trig just above us on the track where some wandered up but the scrub was rather high blocking the view which was better at a lower level. The final stage of our trip was on the Sandymount road back to the cars. We covered 11kms and felt we deserved liquid refreshments at the St Clair salt pool cafe enjoying the last of the winter sun. – Jill.
19. 28/1/2015. Hikers. Lovers Leap, The Chasm. Leaders: George, Alex.
Thirty-nine of us, yes THIRTY-NINE (did include a number of school children due back at school the following Monday) turned up at the Sandymount car park for what was promised to be a shorter walk with not too much climbing. George and Alex had recceed a round trip clockwise, deciding to lead us in an anti-clockwise direction on the day. So we set off.
New (well, to the writer at least) signs at the first junction indicated that Lovers Leap was via Sandymount Hill,
the other sign indicated Sandfly Bay. BUT! The writer has never climbed the hill before, as on previous occasions we have always gone on round and past the entrance to the fence-lined Sandfly Bay track, a MUCH less hilly route. Had George forgotten that? I DID query George’s choice of the hill option, but didn’t press the matter.
So it was up, up a track that got quite steep in places. However all made it, even the hiker who had requested assurance of not too much climbing. (He’s not coming out next week, when we do the Leith Saddle track, which except for one wee saddle, is all climb.)
The hill summit rewarded us with the foggy view we had expected, but it was good to stop here for the morning cuppa.
Steeply down the other side, sidle further round the hill, soon to arrive at Lovers Leap. (I wonder if they really do, or is it their personal possession. It’s fun omitting the apostrophe [before or after the ‘s’?] to allow for the ambiguity.)
We pushed on. Bit of a climb till we reached the open gate giving entrance down through paddock, new style and paddock to the Chasm. Too much of a drop for some to even go near the viewing platform.
Back up onto the track, further around, past the sheep shed and a stop for an early lunch
at the beginning of the impressive double macrocarpa-lined avenue.
Then through the avenue, and, for some never here before, the shock of the cars’ sudden appearance at the avenue’s end.
There were some sheltered areas and some areas exposed to the cold wind that never stopped blowing.
Elaine had designated Nichols Cafe again for the last cuppa, and 25 of us adjourned there for coffee and company.
Thanks to George and Alex for leading a record number of us, (39!!) with nary a one missing or going over the edge. – Ian.
18. 31/7/2013. Trampers. Ridge Road, Lovers Leap, Sandfly Bay.
Then off up the climb to the top of the track, where we had lunch at the top of the sandhills, before the easy conditions of the downhill slide onto Sandfly Bay, where we did the obligatory side trip to the viewing hide, only to discover that there are now two hides there, one of which is locked, & is for the tourist operators use only. We did see a sample of the wildlife that inhabits this coastline, one of them didn’t bother with us at all,
We all enjoyed the walk, although it wasn’t a very long day, as we arrived back at the car around 2:30pm. Distance – 10km, @ 4km/h. – Ken
17. 18/4/2012. Trampers. Ridge Road, Lovers Leap, Sandfly Bay.
16. 7/7/2010. Both. Sandymount, Sandfly Bay return, Lovers Leap, The Chasm. Medium. Leaders: Bruce and Marjorie.
15. 13/8/2008 Trampers. Sandymount summit, Lovers Leap, Chasm, Sandfly Bay. Medium. Leaders: Tash, Pat.
A wonderful tramp on the peninsula… A small but enthusiastic group of 5 parked our cars at the end of Ridge Road, and then walked back up to the junction, where we turned up towards Sandymount. Near the top we had morning tea in a sheltered spot whose first discovery was attributed to George. At the carpark at the top, the gate to the left said “track closed”, so we took the track to the right instead and made our way back round to Lovers Leap. The views were amazing and as 4 of them stood on the platform, there was much discussion as to who would do the “Leap”. There were no volunteers so we retraced our steps and ended up above Sandfly Bay. Here we had our lunch with beautiful views in all directions. We discussed the fact that lunch stops are a very important part of the tramp and that that spot is often what we remember. And then down, down ,down the wonderful sand hills that looked like scenes from Lawrence of Arabia. Running down like kids… A quick visit to the Penguin hide and then onto the beach where some very large sea lions were lolling about on the sand. Two large ones emerged glistening black from the sea, reminiscent of when the first creatures left the sea to live on the land all those millennia ago. Near the end of the beach we came to a stream where Leonie suggested we sit and take in the great surroundings we were in, with powerful waves in the background crashing onto the beach amidst a surge of foam.
And then after some cunning navigating by Ian we were onto a poled track through a farm, up a small hill and back at the gate, beyond which magically were our cars. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. – Tash
14. 14/3/2007. Trampers. Sandymount, Lovers Leap, Sandfly Bay. Medium. Leaders: Bruce & Marjorie, Doug M
12. 6/7/2005. Hikers. Sandymount, Sandfly Bay. Leaders: Joyce, Eleanor.
11. 17/3/2004 Trampers: Ridge Road, Sandymount, Sandfly Bay Leader: Ria L
I love the photo of the animals at the trough…Very clever.
Lovely to have those records from the past too. Thank you Ian