23/04/2025. West of Flagstaff via Spiers Track. Grade 4.5. Trampers. Leaders: Pam Cocks & Karen McInnes.
Heavy rain overnight put the Tramp Grade up to 4.5 where John and his Harem of 8 departed at 9.20 from Spiers road. A short walk up a shingle road over a style took us onto Spiers Track. We followed the 4 wheel drive track uphill over scruffy farmland for 30 mins before entering Spiers Track proper.
We soon warmed up in the somewhat cool morning stopping to admire views back over Dunedin. From here the track was steep, narrow, uneven with rocks and at times water running down. We past a well built stone fence which has been said “was built by Ben Rudd” when he owned his first property before selling it in 1919.
The lower half of this track was over grown with gorse, broom and flax but thanks to the Green Hut Team, they had cleared the top half.
We reached the Flagstaff/Pineapple track 30 mins later, carrying on the Pineapple track to Ben Rudd’s Shelter for a late morning tea in the sun.
( Those magnificent Green Hut team were out on Ben Rudd’s track- it was nice to chat with Arthur H). We then set off down Jim Freemans track which was very steep, wet and slippery with exposed tree roots. A few whoopsies were heard and grazes were compared later.
Despite this track on the day having its challenges, it does have lovely native bush and ferns. Coming to a crossroad we branched off onto Possum track, eventually onto McQuilkin’s track where the fun began. After Tuesday nights heavy rain the streams were up, stepping stones were submerged, the track was like porridge and the bog was ¾ up Gail’s walking pole.
With Karen and Julie holding back the branches we all got across the bog without any mishaps.
Carrying on, the track went through Manaka stands till it opened out onto flax where we had our lunch at the top near Swampy Ridge track.
On Swampy Ridge we dodged water across the track mud, and eventually onto Pineapple track, back down Spiers track to cars where chocolate was consumed.
A fun filled day of 12.6kms: 5.50 Elapsed Time: Elevation 660. (Top50)Pam and Karen.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.