27/05/2026. Pineapple Track / Nicols Creek. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Karen McInnnes and Sarah McCormack
17 mud loving trampers met at Tanner Road on a brisk Dunedin morning for our “workout”.
With thermal layers either on or off to suit we enthusiastically began. It was a steady uphill until we branched off to climb up the old pineapple track. Very rutted in places but a beautiful route to take.
We had morning tea at the OTMC memorial seat tucked out of the biting breeze overlooking the northern motorway and the harbour.
We made our way up then branched off onto the track with no name. It was slippery in parts but lots of bird life and sculptural trees, especially fuchsias, made it interesting.
We crossed over the Moon track and onto a very well formed mountain bike track which took us down to our early lunch stop also overlooking the city.
We walked back up and crossed over the Moon track again
retracing our steps before branching off on another unnamed track. There was a bit of everything to make the tramp a great adventure. Beautiful bush with lots of hidden rocks and roots made for a great “leg day” workout. Plenty of muddy boggy sections to keep the laughter going and thankfully no one was injured.
We eventually emerged on the Pineapple track which we followed down till we turned right onto McGouns track.
We followed this down to the access road and back to the cars. Thanks to everyone who participated in the mud-a-thon, it was great fun.
Final headcount was 16? What! we lost one? surely not!
Nah, we’re good at counting we promise. One of our party was completing an abbreviated tramp which we were aware of.
Distance approx 8kms and elevation gain about 320metres.
Karen and Sarah
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.