10/07/2024. Government Track, Kowhai Spur. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Lyn Keene, Jenny Wilton.
18 Trampers braved a frosty morning to walk the Government Track /Kowhai Spur.
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Frosty Start As Preparations Are Made To Leave The Cars. Photo & Caption John](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Frosty-start-as-preparations-are-made-to-leave-the-cars.-Photo-caption-John-400x266.jpg)
The old pack track sidles along the flank of the Waipori valley through native bush, Beech trees and Manuka. There is a steady climb for 9.64 ks (approx. 2.30 hours) to the top of the track.
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Out Of The Bush Into The Sunshine. Photo & Caption Pam](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Out-of-the-bush-into-the-sunshine.-Photo-caption-Pam-400x300.jpg)
The track was muddy in places with several creek crossings and due to recent high winds there was a lot of debris and fallen trees to climb over and some bush clearing when needed.
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Track Through The Beech Forest. Photo & Caption Pam](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Track-through-the-beech-forest.-Photo-caption-Pam-400x300.jpg)
![10 July Trampers Govt Track I’m Not Struck Gail !photo & Caption Pam](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Im-not-struck-Gail-Photo-caption-Pam-400x300.jpg)
We noticed there was not an abundance of bird song, even though there was evidence of intensive predator trapping, perhaps it was all the talking and laughing from us all. However, we did manage to see several Piwakawaka and Kereru.
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Happy Trampers Enjoying Lunch Photo & Caption John. Jpg](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Happy-trampers-enjoying-lunch-Photo-caption-John.-jpg-400x266.jpg)
After lunch the trampers followed the paper road underneath the power lines for 4 ks reaching to an altitude of 626 metres, then it was mostly downhill from there. We had amazing views of the Taieri Plains, both Waipori and Taieri rivers and Lakes and Saddle Hill to the north and south we could see Kaitangata and the hills south of Balclutha.
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Panorama First Realization Of How High We Are. 2 Photo & Caption John](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Panorama-First-realization-of-how-high-we-are.-2-Photo-caption-John-400x91.jpg)
![10 July Trampers Govt Track Rest Stop. Photo & Caption John](https://trtc.blogtown.co.nz/files/2024/07/10-July-Trampers-Govt-Track-Rest-stop.-Photo-caption-John-400x266.jpg)
We continued our descent of the Kowhai Spur until we reached the landowners hut, for a quick break, then down over the paddocks on a farm track until we linked joined the Government Track.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.