02/07/2025. Mid Winter Lunch at Waihola. Grade 2. Combined. Leaders: Noel McRandle, Dave Roberts, Gwenda Farqharson, Karon Reid.
We met at Mosgiel 9.30am and travelled to Waihola. We parked our cars near the entrance to the walkway which was close to the lake and facilities for morning tea.
It was a very frosty morning with a temperature of 1 degree. John Gardiner organised for a bystander to take a photo of our group – 46 hikers and trampers.
We managed to walk along a frosty slippery wooden walkway for approx. one and half hours.
We also decided to walk towards boat ramp and see the new cricket field developed by Calder Stewart and returned at 12noon.
Waihola was originally Waihora meaning spreading waters. The 2175-hectare Waihola Waipori wetland is one of the largest and most significant remaining lowland wetland systems in NZ. It is diverse and highly productive ecosystem supporting threatened species.
Waihola was surveyed in 1861. German and Polish families were sent to establish a railway line dated 1872 and line opened 1875, School established 1869 and in 1996 combined with Milburn.
Lake Waihola was used in the Otago Gold Rush, the Paddle Steamer travelled up Taieri River and prospectors would transverse the hills to reach Gabriels Gully, the first nugget was found in 1861.The small township of Waihola has facilities for fishing yachting hunting and water skiing and is an important rowing venue.
62km section of Clutha Gold Trail between Lawrence and Waihola was officially opened on Friday 25th August 2023.
Everybody enjoyed the meal provided by the Waihola Tavern and it was a good opportunity to catch up with older hikers and we returned home about 2.30pm. Photos of the lunch.
Dave Roberts
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes (Mid Winter lunches)in the same area. – link to previous Waihola trips