27/05/2026. Grahams Bush and Organ Pipes. Grade 3.5. Hikers. Leaders: Mike Webb and Bruce Spittle.
On a cold frosty morning 18 hikers rendezvoused at the Emanuel Church car park in Sawyers Bay at 0930 for what proved to be a challenging hike.
We set off on a leisurely stroll up Hall Road to the start of the track through Grahams Bush to get our hearts started.
Parts of Hall Road were a wee bit frosty so we zigzagged gingerly up the road finding grassy bits to walk on to avoid any slips and trips early in the hike.
After navigating a couple of stiles and a gate and passing a couple of farms we soon entered the bush which was alive with bird life.
The first part of the hike was undulating and thankfully not as wet and slippery as when we did the recce.
After about 30 mins we stopped by a creek for morning tea.
A short hike later we came to the part in the hike where we had agreed that the four Ramblers would turn back and complete a more leisurely hike around Port Chalmers.
From here it was a steady slog up the track to Mt Cargill Road which we crossed and caught our breath before tackling the track up to the Organ Pipes.
Emerging out of the bush at the Organ Pipes into brilliant sunlight at 1230 was very welcome and we all found rocky perches to eat our lunches and take some photos.
One lady who shall remain nameless did manage to get her foot jammed between some rocks. Taking her foot out of her boot to free herself was preferable to a bush amputation and no incident report needs to be filed.
A chilly breeze sprung up during the lunch break so after we were all fed and watered we commenced our mainly downhill trek back to the cars.
During the lunch break the Leader Mike Webb spoke a little bit about his gorse cutting activities at the Orokonui Ecosanctuary and that on Monday of this week he encountered two DOC Rangers who with their tracking dog were locating and catching 14 Kiwi to be relocated into the wild in The Haast. The Kiwi in the Ecosanctuary have been found making burrows under the piles of cut gorse.
There are at present 70 Kiwi at Orokonui. The plan is to wait until they reach 1.2kg in weight before being released into the wild. At this weight they are able to defend themselves against stoats.
A very tired group of hikers got back to their cars at about 1500 and decided to go straight home without an after match function.
The Ramblers had a walk around Back Beach in Port Chalmers and lunched at the Flagstaff overlooking Port Otago. (Ramblers Walk Report)
Consensus of opinion was that though this is a challenging hike it is a good one to keep on the calendar as the track is full of switchbacks and plenty of places to stop and catch your breath.
Distance hiked was 11km. Walking time 4.5 hours. Elevation 600mm. Grade 3.5
Leaders Mike Webb and Bruce Spittle
Thanks to Bruce Spittle who filled in as Tail End Charlie and for all the hikers who made this a great but tiring day out.
Mike Webb
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.