26/11/2025. Bid Easy Track. Grade 2.5. Hikers. Leaders: Barbara Shackell and Avis Williamson
Twenty-six hikers met up at Signal Hill Reserve behind Logan Park High School.
The Reserve has a large car park with public toilets on site. Given Maryam’s ongoing issue with her foot, Avis happily agreed to act as Tail-end Charlie, and given we lost no-one on the day, she obviously did a sterling job! Thanks Avis.
Commencing the Big Easy at 9.30am we stopped for morning tea at 10am on a switchback that had some convenient places to sit.
Some of the big old-man pine trees created quite an imposing spectacle against the blue of the sky, and the birds could be heard periodically warning their mates of our presence. The Plateau (155m), with its big open clearing, provided an excellent view of the City and was a welcome brief resting place coming complete with detailed map and water fountain.
Cycle tracks criss-cross the Big Easy at regular intervals, but the signposting reassures the correct route hikers should take. Full credit due to the folk who maintain these tracks, and clear them after major wind damage.
There were many places chainsaws had done a clean-up job and wood was stacked on the track side, presumably for removal later. A (recently) dead mouse and one (also dead) rat were observed by some of the group.
We reached the top at 11.45am, and found some welcome shade, got stuck into our lunch boxes and hearty conversation. A kind visitor to the site offered to be our group’s photographer – which gave me to think we could all take the initiative and offer to take another’s photographs when we see the opportunity.
We packed up and were back on the track before 12.30, heading down-hill on the same (Big Easy) track that had taken us up. There were fewer pauses on the way back down to the cars and the return trip seemed to take no time.
The Perc Plaza café unfortunately had a large function on that evening and were unable to take the 20 or so of us on this occasion but a quick phone call to Emersons Brewery saw us head there for a cool one.
Congratulations were extended to Noel & Shirley McRandle, who were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on the day and Esther had shouted at Memorial Park for her birthday (not sure if it was “significant”)
It was a pleasant outing, easy to lead, for quite a large group. There was some cycle traffic, mostly heading up hill, but didn’t impinge on us significantly. We crossed paths with another group of hikers too – and yes, they assured us we were “nearly at the top”, the liars! Total distance covered was “about” 12 km, gaining approx. 300m. Going up and back on the same track provided an advantage in the “different views” available on the routes but I’m aware you can access Signal Hill lookout from Ravensbourne or you can create a loop going up the Big Easy then 2km down Opoho Rd to Blacks Rd (on the left) and join the track at the blind end. It’s a steepish track that takes you out on the Big Easy close to the car park.
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.