15/10/2025. Pineapple Track/ Ross Creek. Grade 3. Hikers. Leaders: Wendy Langley, Val Cayford.
What a magnificent hike we had today. The weather, company, bush walks and views of Dunedin were all top notch.
Meeting at the Ross Creek Reservoir on Burma Rd, off Wakari Rd, 21 of us headed into the native bush across the road. The Ross creek babbled beside us much of the way. The bush had a definite freshness and the scent of recent rain.
We wound our way up through the redwood forest and enjoyed morning tea on logs that provided natural seats beneath the canopy of the tall redwoods.
Our journey back followed the same path through the forest and bush until we reached a track that took us up to McGouns Rd.
A wee walk up the road put us on McGouns Forest Track. This is a beautifully maintained track with wooden walkways/steps, more lush bush, and several streams.
From here we found ourselves climbing steadily up the Pineapple Track. Stopping along the way to admire the native bush, and the views of Dunedin, as we emerged out onto the grasslands. We ate lunch enjoying the stunning view of Dunedin.
After lunch we headed back down the Pineapple Track.
Crossing at the bottom to re-enter another track into the Ross Creek bush area. Along the track we encountered some magnificent huge trees, a ruin of a building from the Rankin family who settled there in the 1860s, and an enthusiastic class of kids from Green Island.
The track led us back to our cars down at the reservoir. Everyone agreed the 10 km hike had been worth every step.
Afternoon tea was at Coffee Culture, Roslyn.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.