05/02/2025. Mt Stuart Reserve to Mt Stuart Tunnel (Clutha Gold cycle track). Grade 2.5 and 3 Combined. Leaders: Clare Banks, Barbara Shackell, Sue Beal.
Thirty-seven Hikers and Trampers (plus one driver/reader) gathered at the Mt Stuart Reserve in the Manuka Gorge on a warm and windless day to tackle what, for many, was a new track – part of the Clutha Gold Cycle trail.
While the 12 Hikers explored the Reserve and had their morning tea, the 25 Trampers were ferried, or drove themselves up to the car park at the Johnstone Road turn-off, 3 km before Waitahuna.
The Hikers departed up the track immediately their ferrying leader returned, taking time to deplore the vandalism that has caused the Reserve toilets to be closed; enjoy the cool bush; and stop to marvel at the focused kereru feeding in the bush just a few metres from the track (and us).
Interestingly …. Kererū are the only birds left (all others are now extinct) that are big enough to swallow the large fruits of the karaka tree. Some seeds need to pass through the gut of a bird to properly germinate. With the extinction of the moa, kererū are the only seed dispersers with a bill big enough to swallow large fruit!
The Mt Stuart Tunnel, 4.4 km up the track from the Reserve, was an interesting section, with the Tunnel interior being simply blasted rock, and not with the more commonly seen brick lining. Constructed between 1875 and 1876 it measures 442m in length.
The sound of a (wooden) train whistle was only briefly startling. Five minutes more saw the Hikers arrive at the Mt Stuart Tunnel car park. The Hikers group split at this point, with seven folk electing to continue further up the track to meet with the Trampers, the remainder awaited the return of the larger group (in the company of the driver/reader and provider of a comfortable picnic chair for the leader).
The Trampers, meanwhile, after a brief morning tea, commenced their return at 10.20am, arriving at the Round Hill Tunnel at 11.20am, after a gradual uphill walk on the excellent surface of the cycle trail and with torches in hand.
This Tunnel was built in 1876 and is 226m long. At noon, and 7.1km later, the Trampers met up with the Hikers coming up towards them. Together, we then all continued down to the rest area by the Mt Stuart Tunnel (9.3kms), arriving at 12.40 very ready for some lunch and a catch-up with those Hikers who had remained behind.
All 37 of us then walked back down through the Mt Stuart Tunnel, arriving at the Mt Stuart Reserve at 2.10pm, 13kms later.
A very grateful thank you to Grant Shackell for ferrying some Trampers up to the starting point, then all the drivers back to their cars at the end of the day.
Some sections were close to the highway, which made nattering whilst walking a little hard but lots of the trail was through lovely established trees, away from the road.
Even with reduced numbers stopping, the Milton Night ‘n Day store still did a reasonable trade in ice creams and one iced affogato (to be recommended!).
As far as we’re aware, only one H&S incident remains to be reported, it was electrifying – talk to Bill!
Barbara Shackell with TEC Sue Beal (Hikers)
Clare Banks (with co-leader John Gardiner) & TEC Dave Roberts (Trampers)
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.