Frasers Gully

No. 92 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Frasers Gully – Brockville Rd Year Round”
16 km from car park.
Frasers Gully – Information and Trips Library


Square Thumbnail32. 24/04/2024. Trampers. Frasers Road/Southern Resevoir. Grade 2.5. 16 km.  Leaders: Gwenda Farqharson/Graeme Souter

A perfect calm sunny autumn Dunedin day for our tramp greeted 17 trampers at Frasers Gully carpark. It was thought that after last weeks heroics a 2.5 graded tramp might have been a bit too easy for some, so it was great to see good numbers coming along.

Beautiful Autumn Colours At Ellis Park John
Beautiful Autumn Colours At Ellis Park (Photo & Caption John)

Once organised our leader headed off down the main Frasers Gully track where we took a small detour up what will become a new track branching off the main track. We investigated this on our recce and found it lead to a keep out sign and onto a yard just behind the Wakairi hospital. Our initial plan was to follow this track but unfortunately we subsequently
found out that this was not yet open to the public and as such we had a quick look see before returning to the main track.

Upon our return it wasn’t long before we tackled the zig zag track (a bit of a gut buster) that took us to our morning tea stop in the Waikari Hospital grounds.

Morning Tea In Wakari Hospital Grounds John
Morning Tea In Wakari Hospital Grounds (Photo & Caption John)

Following morning tea we headed up Taieri Road and over Halfway Bush Park back to the zig zag for a descent down to the main Frasers Gully track.

Walking Back Down Frasers Gully John
Walking Back Down Frasers Gully (Phot & Caption John)

Following the main track ultimately took us up to Dalziel Road and then it was onto Brockville Park for lunch where we were treated to a sight most of us townies were not expecting.

Lunch At Brockville Park John
Lunch At Brockville Park (Photo & Caption John)
Rural Outlook, Ripirere Weo Disc Golf Course, Brockville Park
Rural Outlook, Ripirere Weo Disc Golf Course, Brockville Park (Photo & Caption John)

Of course the farmers in the group were well aware it was tupping time and Cecil the ram (Footrot Flats) was very busy doing his thing. After watching this rural pornography and following a few laughs as Cecil’s advances were rebuffed a number of times, probably due to headaches, we headed off down Sanda (not Sandra as originally thought) Road,
around Cockerell St to Turnbull St and back onto the Frasers Gully Reserve where we followed the track back to the cars.

Noah's Arc The Animals Came In 2 By 2!!! John
Noah’s Arc The Animals Came In 2 By 2!!! (Photo & Caption John)
Stunning Views On Walk Back To Cars John
Stunning Views On Walk Back To Cars (Photo & Caption John)
Eight Wheeled Mower Really Can Handle The Steep Stuff John
Eight Wheeled Mower Really Can Handle The Steep Stuff (Photo & Caption John)
Nice To Have The Lawn Mowed For Us John
Nice To Have The Lawn Mowed For Us (Photo & Caption John)

A great day out with great company and lots of laughs, we had covered a little under 10kms and finished the day with the obligatory coffee at the Coffee Culture in Roslyn.

Nearly Back At The Cars John
Nearly Back At The Cars (Photo & Caption John)
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Screenshot NZ Topo 50 (Photo Marijke)

Gwenda and Graeme

31. 12/10/2022. Frasers Gully and Friends Hill. Leaders Jay and Jan

On a fine morning, not too hot for our climb up Friends Hill, 19 hikers commenced our hike from PJ Park along the Silverstream, turning up a greenway onto Centre Road and over to Hagart Alexander Road until we came to a track taking us along to Wingatui Road, stopping to pat a couple of handsome horses and spotting a couple of rabbits along the way.  From Wingatui Road we turned left into Gladstone Road where we stopped at the Wingatui Raceway to fortify ourselves with morning tea before the climb.  It was a pleasant day for the climb thankfully and we took our time, stopping frequently to admire the panoramic view behind us!  We were pleased to eventually reach the top about 12.15pm and settled comfortably down with a stone wall to rest our backs on, to relax and eat our lunch.  After lunch it was all down.  We walked down the road a little, turned right down a track between farmland and on down past the Water Treatment Plant, along Dalziel Road and into the commencement of Frasers Gully track.  This track was in great condition despite a bit of rain the day before and after an hour 10 minutes arrived at the bottom of the hill with a lovely big comfortable bus awaiting to take us back to PJ Park.  The trip was 15ks which the body felt as it was a little longer than we were used to.  However we survived, and some of us adjourned to the Wooden Table for refreshments and a chat about the day.

12 Oct Friends Hill Morning tea at Wingatu Racecourse Ady
Morning tea at Wingatui Racecourse (Photo & caption Ady)
12 Oct Friends Hill Going up hill Noi
All uphill (Photo Noi)
12 Oct Friends Hill Great views noi
Great views (Photo Noi)
12 Oct Friends Hill Going over the stile Noi
Re grouping at the gate (Photo Noi)
12 Oct Friends Hill Frasers Gully lunch Noi
Lunch time (Photo Noi)
12 Oct Friends Hill Frasers Gully Margreet
Frasers Gully (Photo Margreet)
12 Oct Friends Hill Margreet
Frasers Gully (Photo Margreet)

12 Oct Friends Hill Strava map

Jan and Jay


30. 06/10/2021. Frasers Gully and Friends Hill. Leaders Jay Devlin and Jan Butcher

19 of us plus Bob’s grandson Hunter travelled via Kaikorai Valley Road to the entrance to Frasers Gully track.

Fraser Gully resize
Into the mist and drizzle (photo & caption Adi)

It was a cool day but the track afforded us good shelter from any wind. We had morning tea in a clearing up the track a bit and then proceeded on upwards onto Dalziel Road and turned right up Brinsdon Road passed the Water Treatment Station turning left to the end of the road joining up with a track which took us on to Friends Hill Road.

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Sheltered spot for morning tea (photo & caption Jan)

We walked along to the top of Friends Hill and down the hill a little way then turned back and retraced our steps to Brinsdon Road where we sheltered amongst the trees from a cold wind which had sprung up. We didn’t sit around too long in the cold and soon headed back down Dalziel Road but this time we took the loop track back down Frasers Gully. This track was a little steeper with quite a few man made steps to make the going easier. The track passed the backyard of a few houses which were on Dalziel Road along the way before heading down and around and coming out further down the gully with a bridge & ford crossing back to the main track and on to our cars.

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Ford and boardwalk across stream (photo & caption Jan)
End of the day hikers resize
The end of an enjoyable hike (photo & caption Jan)

We all adjourned to Sunnyvale for refreshments and a chat before heading home. 10 or 11 ks was walked according to who you spoke to!!


29. 30/9/2020. Frasers Gully / Friends Hill. Leaders Jay Devlin and Jan Butcher

27 Hikers/Trampers met at the Wingatui Racecourse where we boarded a bus to take us to the Frasers Gully Track just off Kaikorai Valley Road. 27 Hikers/Trampers were well rugged up against the chilly wind. The track winds uphill in bushland and follows the Kaikorai stream.  We stopped and had morning tea in a nice clearing.

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Photo and Caption John – “Morning tea in Frasers Gully bush”.
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Photo and Caption John – “Smoko over – on the go again”.

The end of the track comes out in Dalziel Road in the Brockville area.  We then took a right turn going past the Mount Grand Water treatment station.

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Photo and Caption John – “Mt Grand water treatment plant.”

We followed this road to the end and then walked through a track that took us up to the Halfway Bush road to the end which is commonly known as Friendshill Road.

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Photo and Caption John – “Quiet country road so close to the city”.

From there it was all downhill with fantastic views over the Taieri and down to Taieri Mouth.

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Photo and Caption John – “Regroup to admire first glimpse of Taieri plains”.

We made such good time in the cold wind that we reached the Wingatui Racecourse in time for lunch at 12.15pm where we sat in the grandstand and enjoyed the sunshine.

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Photo and Caption John – “Lunch back at Wingatui”.

It was a 9 and a half kilometre walk. 15 of us enjoyed coffee at Blackstone.

Jay Devlin and Jan Butcher


28. 13/11/19. Hikers. Frasers Gully. Leaders Jay and Jan B

23 hikers set off for Frasers Gully on a cool clear

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Photo and Caption Clive – “Setting out up Frasers Gully”

We left 5 ramblers to set their own pace and proceeded up the well formed gully track.

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Photo and Caption Clive – “Zig zag through the bush”

We stopped for morning tea in an area with some dappled light and beside the creek before continued on up to the top of the track which came out on Dalziel Road.

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Photo and Caption Clive – “Morning tea beside the track.”

We walked along this road for a bit and then turned right taking us up past the Mount Grand treatment plant then left and on up past the Penno block and around the corner until we came to Halfway Bush road.

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Photo and Caption Jan – “Walking and talking along the track”

We walked down this road until we came to the end of it where it meets with the top of Friend’s Hill and as we were a little early for lunch, we walked down Friends Hill for about 20 minutes and found a place to stop for lunch which was nice and sheltered.

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Photo and Caption Clive – “The view across Taieri Plain”

 

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Photo and Caption Clive – “Lunch at Halfway bush road.”

After lunch a couple of guys decided to continue down Friend”s Hill and back to their car which is another option we can try in the future.  The remainder of us returned back to our cars by the same route.  It being all down hill this time.  About 11 kms were travelled.

Afternoon tea was at Sunnyvale.  I can recommend the Bundeberg.  They have half a dozen different flavours!

Jay and Jan B


27. 2018-07-11. Hikers. Fraser Road Dalzier Road round trip. M. Leades: Jay and Jan B.

Map of route, courtesy Ian.

23 Hikers gathered in lovely sunny weather in Frasers Road . From there we trudged up the steep zigzag track …

Up the zig zag track beside Fraser’s Gully Track. (Clive pic and caption.)

… which took 30 minutes with many stops on the way to admire the city views or so was the excuse to
have a breather. At the top we stopped for morning tea …

Morning tea. (Clive pic and caption.)

… and then followed the track up to Mooltan Street. From Mooltan Street we turned into Ashmore Street until we reached Taieri Road.  From there we made our way along Dalziel Road to Townleys Road for our lunch stop. The weather by this time took a change and it was very windy and cold so we didn’t dally too long.

A cold place sheltered from the wind for lunch. (Clive pic and caption.)

After lunch we made our way down Brockville Road, with the weather improving again, admiring the lovely city and beach scapes. We turned into Glenross and went through a lovely park and over a quaint little bridge …

Across the bridge in Fraser’s Gully. (Clive pic and caption.)

… that then took us back to our cars in Frasers Road. A very pleasant ten and a half km walk with plenty of variety. We had coffee at Sunnyvale Stadium. – Jay and Jan


26. 12/10/2016. Both. Frasers Gully area. E+.  Leaders: Alex and Liz.

Route Map
Route Map, Roslyn-Frasers Gully Recreational Reserve: 1. Fresh Choice; 2 Ann St; 3. Falcon St; 4. Frasers Rd return; 5.  side track Frasers Road to grassy Tilburn St; 6. Tilburn St; 7. different return track Tilburn St to Frasers Road; 8. side track Frasers Road across to  Glenross St; 9. Glenross St; 10. Brockville Rd; 11, Kaikorai Vly Rd; 12. Falcon St; 13. Ann St; 14. Fresh Choice. – Ian.

Frasers Gully walk was enjoyed by Trampers and hikers together owing to Trampers leader away.

Frasers Gully "Road".
Frasers Gully “Road”. (Liz pic.)
Barred
A forceful “Barred!” near the top . (Helen pic.)

Weather held off, however some of the track was a little bit slippery but support from all concerned worked well.It was interesting that one track was a new experience for some old members which made it even more enjoyable.

Lunching on the flat. (Helen pic)
Lunching on the flat. (Helen pic)
Steep climb ahead.
Steep climb ahead. “Why do we do this?” (Ian pic and caption.)
Plodding up Falcon Street steps. (Keith pic and caption.)
Plodding up Falcon Street steps. (Keith pic and caption.)
You'll reach the top eventually. (Helen pic.)
One step at a time will get you to the top e…vent…ual…ly. (Helen pic.)

The walk was not long but seemed to be accepted by all concerned. Coffee to follow at Roslyn worked out well which had a good attendance of 24.

Coffee. (Helen pic.)
“We’re not sitting with that lot over there.” (Helen pic.)

The total numbers to start the walk was 32, with the main group leaving from Fresh Choice Roslyn car park.  (Permission to park there was appreciated.) – Liz and Alexander.


25. 18/2/2015. Hikers. Frasers Gully Area. Leaders: Bev and Adrienne.

GPS of route
GPS of route. Kms: 1. Frasers Rd Gully. 2. Brinsdon Rd Cnr. 3-4. Brinsdon & Halfway Bush Rds. 5. Three Mile Hill Rd. 6. Taieri Rd. 7. Ashmore and Mooltan Sts. 8. Track rejoining Frasers Gully nr its foot.

Bev and Adrienne led us through two of Dunedin’s Recreational Areas, up through the Frasers Gully and the down through the Tilburn Street reserve, the latter incorporating a very steep track, entailing an unavoidable recce UP it to ascertain its top entrance off Mooltan Street, imperceptible between two properties.

Anyway, for 27 Hikers, it was up the Frasers Gully ‘road’ as it says on the map

Up the Frasers Gully track.
Up the Frasers Gully track. (John pic)

and along Dalziel Rd to stop for morning tea in welcome shade at the corner of Brinsdon Road (2 km on map).

Cuppa
Cuppa time panorama

Then it was on up the road to join with Halfway Bush Road.

Ascending Brinsdon
Ascending Brinsdon Road (John pic)

Along Halfway Bush Road, down Three Mile Hill Road and surprise: around the corner by Ashburn Hall and onto Taieri Road and behold: a new (to this reporter) lovely grass-mown reserve. (Nr 6 km point on map.) Time for lunch.

Lunch panorama
Lunch panorama (John pic)

A little further on, a turn into Ashmore Street and further on still the bus stop.

Bus stop
“Room for one more” (John pic)

On, into Mooltan Street, around and the insignificant grass strip between two properties that would take us into the Tilburn “Street” Reserve. Well, paper-street, then. This took us around below the back of Moultan Street’s properties for some distance before plunging into some bush and out again into the scene below.

Steep down
Steep down

And was it steep, with careful shuffling by the more cautious. Zig-zags back and forth eventually landed us out on the flat of the Frasers Gully track within sight of the cars.

Thanks to Bev and Adrienne for a well-planned walk through two of Dunedin’s reserves bringing the bush into the town, and interspersed with welcome shady stops on a hot day. – Ian.


24. 5/6/2013 Both. Frasers Gully. Leaders: Evelyn and Fred.

Frasers Gully
Frasers Gully. 8km as crow flies, 9km with ups and downs. Cars parked at Ashmore St.
Friends Hill
Lunch finished. Top of Friends Hill.
Apple
Judy feeds apple to horse with very fashionable cover. At Halfway Bush Road exit.

23. 26/9/2012 Hikers. Frasers Gully Leader Evelyn
16 of us met at Frasers Road. Heading on up towards the start of the Frasers Gully track at 9.26 a.m. the word “Earthquake” was called out we stopped looked at each other and decided the ground wasn’t shaking so didn’t rush out to the field and “Drop, Cover and Hold On”, as workman were using machinery on the field, and decided we were more likely to get hit by a machine than a falling tree so carried on. We passed the newly opened up track going up to Mooltan Street which we would come back down on the way home. This track has been there for many years but had become quite overgrown and hard to find but after the tree felling took place it has been opened up resurfaced with gravel and had many plants and shrubs planted up both sides making it a very pleasant walk up the hill.
We stopped for morning tea about 20mins up the track at a clearing, but by the time we had finished it was starting to rain lightly but on and up we carried on. Alas the rain decided to get heavier the further we went but we were reasonably sheltered by the trees on the track but eventually had to stop and put on rain-gear. When we reached the top of the track it was raining quite heavily and didn’t look like stopping so a decision was made to go back down the track with the shelter of the trees (instead of carrying on as planned up past the water treatment station to the top for lunch then back along Halfway Bush Road down Three Mile Hill Rd around Ashmore & Mooltan Street and back down the new track to Frasers Gully).
When we did get back to Frasers Gully the rain had stopped so we decided to go up the new track for a bit to see the view, some of us found it quite steep going so came back down and had an early lunch while some of the others carried on to Mooltan Street then carried on around the road and came back down a clearing further on to meet up with us all at the bottom then back to the cars. Distance travelled was aprox. 8 km.
A good walk was had by all even though we didn’t cover the original distance.


22. 16/7/2011. Hikers. Frasers Gully. E. Leaders: Bev, Chris.


21. 18/11/2009. Hikers. Frasers Gully, Mount Grand Water Treatment Station, Brockville, Dalziel Road. Leader: Evelyn.

Dalziel
Dalziel Road. Evelyn, Bill, Bev. (Elaine pic)
Garden enhancement?
Garden enhancement? (Elaine pic)

20. 25/3/2009 Hikers Frasers Gully,Townley Rd E+ 30km ret. Leaders: Les & Margaret, Bev H


19. 16/7/2008 Frasers Gully

Fraser's Gully
Frasers Gully

Those who assembled at the car park on a cold and foggy morning all went on the hikers walk today. This began at Townleys Road on Kaikorai Valley Road and, thanks to Peter’s detour, took us along the recently-established Stream track as far as Donald St. Very picturesque and a worthwhile addition to the Dunedin walking landscape. 5km along KV Road we turned into Ellis Park and had morning tea on the steps of the changing rooms.

Morning Tea
Morning Tea

The next section of the walk up Fraser’s Gully follows a vigorous and attractive Kaikorai Stream as it foams and musically cascades over weirs and rocks overhung by beautiful bush. The wide, well-gravelled track winds through stands of fuschia and broadleaf trees and under the occasional old totara, and slowly climbs to the road. The fog still wrapped the heights but warblers’ song penetrated. Very picturesque. You can tell that the writer has never been there before and really appreciated the opportunity! At the top we were still in a shroud of mist as we skirted the invisible reservoir at the Mt Grand Water Treatment Station.

Lunch in the mist
Lunch in the mist

Our lunch stop was roadside in an avenue of ‘grand’ old pines on Dalziel Rd. Bob sneaked a swing on the neighbouring property – he thought the owners wouldn’t detect him in the fog. Then on down Townleys Rd, at times quite steeply, the cool mist growing even cooler, until back to the start some 12km later. Thanks to Neil for not losing any of us (well, we did find Joyce again after not too long!) – Bob


18. 16/7/2008. Hikers. Frasers Gully from Townley Road. Easy+. Leaders: Neil, Ray.
17. 9/5/2007. Townley Road, Frasers Gully. Easy+. Leaders:
16. 10/1/2007. All. Frasers Gully far end, Dalziel Road. Easy+. Leaders: Lex, Bob H, Joyce, Eleanor B.
15. 19/4/2006. Hikers. Frasers Gully, Townley Road. Easy+. Leaders: Les and Margaret, Peter.
14. 9/3/2005 Mary M, Les W, Ray
13. 31/7/2002. Alt. Frasers Gully – Townley Road. Leaders: Les W, Mary M.
12. 21/3/2002 Betty B, Denise
11. 19/9/2001. Alt. Frasers Gully. Leaders: Jean, Mavis, Denis.
10. 21/3/2001. Frasers Gully to Brockville. Leaders: Mavis, Betty, Denise
8. 28/6/2000 Frasers Gully – Brockville Road. Leaders: Bev McI, Mary L, Eleanor
8. 31/3/1999. Frasers Gully – Brockville Road. Leaders: Margaret D, Betty, Peg C.
7. 27/5/1998. Frasers Gully, Brockville. Leaders: Les and Mavis.
6. 16/7/1997. Frasers Gully, Brockville. Leaders: Judith D, Denise, Jack M
5. 14/9/1994. Frasers Gully, Circle Hill, Southern Reservoir.Medium. Leaders: Eric and Dot, Peggy A, Chris.
4. 24/3/1993. Frasers Gully to Brockville. Return via Townley Road. Long, but easy. Leaders: Evelyn M, Wendy, Eric and Dorothy.
3. 11/9/1991. Frasers Gully to Brockville. Native Bush. Good views. Easy. Leaders: Margaret S, Bev H, Bev McI, Janice.
2. 28/3/1990. Brockville from Frasers Road. Interesting tramp. Leaders:  Nancy, Norman, Peg M
1. 24/5/1989 Fraser’s Gully into Brockville Road. Unusual views. Meet at Ellis Park sports ground. Leaders: Mary Y, Denise, George

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