11. 05/06/2024. Combined. Town Belt from Unity Park. Grade 2. 18 km. Leaders: Carol Thurlow, Maria MacNee, Linda Partridge, Diane Paterson.
After arriving and enjoying the view on a fine still June morning we left Unity Park with 33 hikers and trampers.
We meandered at a relaxing pace and stopped for morning tea at Jubilee Park.
This grove was established to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of H.M. Queen Victoria 1897. The verse reads:
“Thro’ the coming years we trust
When we are voiceless in the dust
Dunedin’s children brave and strong,
Will guard Victoria’s Grove from wrong”.
Next, we followed the path through the grove of Oak and Ash trees to an asphalt path at the bottom, then through a glen of exotic and native trees onto the gravel footpath around Queens drive and on past the golf course into Robin Hood Park. We walked past the Beverly Begg Observatory with some of us commenting that it would be an interesting place to visit one night. This photo may help with the planning.
From here we wandered through a grove of birch and beech trees to the ‘Queen’s View’ monument erected by the Dunedin Amenities Society to commemorate the visit of Queen Elizabeth11and the Duke of Edinburgh to Dunedin in 1954.
Some wide-open spaces and viewpoints gave good opportunities for conversation and this continued as we sat in the garden for lunch at Olveston, one of Dunedin’s historic stately homes.
On our return journey we walked past Otago Boys High School and Arthur Street School. We walked along Arthur Street, down a track to Canongate to Serpentine, then more steps up to Maitland Street and High Street back to Unity Park.
An awesome day weather wise and a very pleasant, combined walk enjoyed by all. Some of us then drove to Nicholls Garden Centre for afternoon tea where we chatted some more and enjoyed the tasty options and coffees that this establishment serves.
Carol, Diane, Linda and Maria
10. 14/09/2022. Hikers. Street walks of Dunedin – from the Oval. Leaders Jenni and Bruce
Memorials, buildings and landmarks that we drive past regularly were revisited when 24 hikers ventured out on a clear but cold Wednesday. Wearing many layers of clothing, we set off from the Oval, which as one clever quiz team recalled, covers 22.9 acres.
Henry Ely Shacklock, Prince of Wales Hotel, Carnarvon Station, Bell Pepper Blues, the Empire Hotel – the home of the Dunedin Sound, all conjured up memories of time passed.
Further along Princes Street, we admired the beautiful refurbishment of Wains Hotel, now a 5 star boutique hotel and its across the road neighbour, Distinction Hotel, formerly the 1937 Chief Post Office. This building housed a huge number of public servants over the years.
Morning tea was taken in the sunshine on the Dunedin Cenotaph.
There was much to observe and discuss in the Exchange. The Cargill Monument, originally erected in the Octagon, but shifted to the Exchange in 1872. A mammoth effort, considering the detail.
It was interesting to visit Queen Elizabeth II’s, great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, who reigned for 63 years and seven months. What an amazing length of service from our two stoic royals.
Rattray Street, today a crumbling collection of buildings, has huge memories for many of the team ….. Hong Kong Café, Sunset Strip, Dragon Café, Tai Ping Restaurant, the Rolling Stones party place, Calder Mackay and the Crown Hotel to name a few. Along Manse Street, up Stafford Street. Ross and Glendining Ltd, Kempthorne Prosser, Sew Hoys and the St Mathew’s Anglican Church. The architect for the church was William Mason, MP and Dunedin’s first mayor and yes related to Mason and Wales of today.
Next came the stories from the Rugby Hotel, topless waitresses (from one who knows) and the Bell tea building.
The Market Reserve was our next destination, and there’s miles of history around what was formerly a tidal inlet, the original shore of Otago Harbour. The Victorian style men’s toilets were discussed, ladies were no where to be found. The Crown Roller Mills building has now been beautifully restored and houses 12 luxury apartments and a restaurant.
We admired the house Johnny Jones lived in (39 Melville Street) which is still in great shape and then popped our heads into The Dunedin Club which was built for him. Royalty have stayed there. This is used today as a hub for business people, weddings, conferences etc. It also has eight luxurious suites for accommodation. As an aside did you know that Jones donated the land for the building of St Paul’s Church in the Octagon?
We zigzagged up the 98 steps (one of the quiz questions), to Maitland Street and some viewed the Bottled Sunshine sign for the Lanes lemonade factory. Some missed that! Carroll Street which was previously known as Walker Street, was the red-light district of Dunedin and associated crime. The top block of Carroll Street was known as the Devil’s half acre. The arrival of the Lebanese community helped improve the area, but the reputation was renowned. Now, we’re informed the red-light district is all around us, with online ordering and home deliveries!
The team made good progress up the steep Maitland Street and arrived at our lunch stop at Unity Park. The wind chill factor caused us to depart sooner than we would have liked. We were happy to know the Trampers had reached the top of Mt Cargill for their lunch stop but they couldn’t see us waving!
The only other site worth mentioning was from Walter Street and overlooking where Carisbrook once was and pondering what might be in store for the Forbury Trotting site.
Back through the Southern Cemetery, a rather sad place with many delipidated plots.
At the Oval, we popped into the Kensington for a short quiz on the day’s findings. One of the team’s names was “Time for Ovalteam” – clever! The team though who won the quiz was “Outram Plus 1” and received boxes of Smarties, which seemed appropriate. Drinks and homemade nibbles were enjoyed, service was a bit slow.
Walk was around 9 km.
We would like to thank everyone for their keen participation for an enjoyable day out.
Bruce and Jenni.
Note: Toilets on this walk are few and far between. If you want the Oval toilets open, you need to organise this with the DCC – www.dunedin.govt.nz/do-it-online/book/facility-bookings or phone 477 4000. The ones in the Exchange area where the ACC building is being erected, are no longer available.
9. 16/02/2022. Hikers. Town Belt Circuit. M. Leaders Linda Partridge and Diane Paterson
Thirteen keen hikers met at Woodhaugh Gardens for morning tea before setting off on a circuit of the northern/central part of the town belt.
We began by taking the zigzag path and steps up from Duke Street. When we reached Queen and Warrender streets, after our first ascent, we viewed the university in the distance and saw up close where many of the students lived in their hillside flats. We met some students from Auckland moving into their new abode and friendly banter ensued between the students and the sprightly TRTC hikers. We also marvelled at the parking arrangements in these narrow steep streets.
We continued on to Cosy Dell and took time to view the tennis courts and the array of historic homes, many now flats that are located in a small area.
More steps (and groans) and we made our way along Park Street to Heriot Row, London Street and then around by Moana Pool to our lunch spot at Olveston.
Unfortunately we felt we were a little early for lunch so low and behold another set of steps were located and we climbed up to Wallace Street and then found a pleasant route back down to Olveston for a well-earned lunch.
After lunch and a brief look at the lovely Olveston gardens our route back took us along streets and tracks through the town belt until we regrouped at Stonelaw Terrace. Given we were making good time we did a detour down Cannington Road and Braeview Crescent before descending on the historic Bullock Track to our cars at Woodhaugh Gardens.
It was a great day with lots of interest including history, panoramic views, friendly students, the very special Green Belt and a few laughs along the way. The circuit we took was around 9kms.
Afternoon tea was enjoyed at the café in the Botanic Gardens.
Linda and Diane
8. 11/9/2019. Hikers. Town Belt- walk, bus trip. Leaders: Pam and Jenny.
7. 25/7/2018. Hikers. Town Belt Ramble/bus ride. leaders: Dawn and Pam.
…and walked up Maitland Street to steps that led to Eglington Road. Morning tea stop was at the Petanque grounds, above Zingari Rugby club.
We meandered through Queens drive and several side tracks,
arriving at Olveston to have lunch in their lovely grounds. Then walked through to the bullock track down to Malvern St…
…and caught the bus from George Street back to our cars. Had coffee at Kensington Hotel. A pleasant day was had by all. – Dawn.
Looking up towards Flagstaff and Swampy, we wondered if we might sight the trampers, but no luck. We guessed they were lunching further over, out of sight.
After lunch the trail took us back to Cannington Rd …
Down Ross Creek with steep cliffs on the right, bubbling brook and beautiful bird song, to the Leith and the wander back to the cars. A coffee stop at the botanic gardens was enjoyed by all 22 and we were home early enough for a nana nap before dinner. – Judy.
5. 29/3/2015. Amenities Society Town Belt Traverse.
“It was a very good trip. Weather was fine and we had a good group. Someone said 600 people did the trip.” Elaine met up and went with Jim and Betty.
“We did not win any prizes this year. It was a lot of fun.” – Ian.
4. 20/8/2014. Queens Drive. Leaders: Elaine, Fred.
The Town Belt Walk.
The town Belt walk was enjoyed by appprox 28 hikers on Wed 20th August.
Everyone met at the Southern Cemetery (1858) by the old morgue (1908).
It was a calm Dunedin day as we made our way up thru some very old grave sites and skirted around
to Steep St path. (Was this a street in the early days?)
We approached Maitland St which looked very steep but as we all took it fairly slowly everyone managed it.
Crossing High St was a mission for some. Some of us went to the crossing which proved a very safe option.
Passing High St School, which is now closed, it was interesting to read on a notice that 26 houses are to be built.
We followed the town belt as best we could, passing thru Robin Hood Park and Littlebourne Grounds, skirted around the back of Otago Boys’ High School and again crossed a busy road – Stuart St – but this had lights so all was well.
We stopped for lunch at Olveston House which was built and owned by David Theomin in 1904.
We ate our lunch outside in the grounds where we had permission …
… and admired the house and grounds.
Continuing on to Queens Drive we arrived at the Bullock Track (a track that was formed in the early days of Dunedin to take the cattle to the works).
This track was all down hill on to Malvern St, Duke St, and we made our way to a DCC bus stop. 26 of us all hopped on a bus, free for all of us, as it was before 3pm. Back to our cars which we had left at the south end of Princes St. 23 of us then went for coffee
at the Kensington pub which has been there since the 1890s. The Mine Host made us all very welcome.
Thanks to FRED for his great skills in leading us thru the belt and for the CHOCS once again.
There is a heap of info on Google if any one wants to find out about the town belt, Olveston, and any of the grounds like Robin Hood. Also the Dunedin Amenities Soc. have a wonderful web page as well. Worth having a look. – Elaine.
3. 15/1/2014. Start of year. Both. Combined streets and bush. Leaders: Pam, Pat R.
And what a beautiful spot it was. Four courts, beautifully green with their artificial turf, surrounded by lovely bush. From there we made our way down some frighteningly steep steps onto Queen Street, up Park St into Heriot Row and up 103 steps, as counted by diligent Dawn onto Duchess Ave and out briefly onto Drivers Road. Then via Chamberlain St, Henry St and Stonelaw Tce, back to the corner of Prospect Park where we had emerged from the Bullock Track earlier. (Route detail here subject to revision.) But now it was straight along Cannington Rd to reach the John McGlashan Sports Field for an early leisurely lunch on seating aligning a running track that was in the process of having the lanes repainted. Here we were entertained by a father and his two little pre-school sons practising some very competent cricket with bat, ball and wickets.
2. 8/6/2011. Hikers. Street Walk: Town Belt. Leaders: Beverley, Chris.
1. 27/8/2008 Town Belt. Leaders: Carmel, Evelyn
