30/07/2025. Purakaunui/ Mopanui. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Carol and Clare.
After a very foggy departure for some from Mosgiel, 16 trampers gathered at the top of Osborne to head up Mopanui Hill at 10.30am, in overcast but still conditions.
After a short walk through some lovely bush, we stopped by the main trunk railway line for morning tea. From there, we headed up McKessars Track, veering left and on up through bush, then up through a stand of macrocarpas. After this, we were back in the bush on a not well-defined track which required some clambering over large slippery rocks, due to overnight rain. We reached the top of Mopanui Hill just after midday and enjoyed 360-degree views- mostly! Some drifting fog/mist made the panorama a little hazy at times.
After some nourishment, we set off down the other side of the hill, again dealing with large slippery rocks causing some challenging moments- but beautiful bush! As we got nearer to the end of the track, the bird sounds, mainly tuis, were a delight to listen to. Soon we were out onto Mopanui Road, walking beside the Orokonui Sanctuary fence line. We stopped briefly to read about the dry-stone wall beside the road, built in 1875 and restored in 2012/14 as it has heritage status.
At the end of the road, we headed back into the bush on McKessars Track, which took us around the hill.
We went past the ruins of McKessar’s farmhouse (with some walking in through it), which was burnt down in the early 1900s after he had sold it. In the late 1800s, George McKessar would take his milk down the track by horse and cart to meet the daily train, for Dunedin town supply.
We arrived back at the cars at 2.15pm, just before it began to rain, so decided the weather gods were on our side today!
Clare Banks and Carol Thurlow ( with lots of help from Graham on recce day!)
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.