24/06/2026. Graham’s Bush/Mt Cargill Rd Quarry Track. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: John Gardiner & Alison Evans.
An overcast, but dry morning, saw 19 keen trampers convene at the end of Hall Rd, then set off at 10.15 am through Graham’s Bush for Mt Cutten and the nearby Len Lye memorial.
Fantails/piwakawaka flitted alongside, as we made our way up the well – maintained track past magnificent rimu, miro, tree ferns and tree fuchsia with its eyecatching loose sheets of terra-cotta bark.
Morning tea (10.45 am) was beneath a mature kamahi, looking across a gully with several large rimu, and one mystery tree, Graham T. thought could be southern rata.
An hour later, we crossed Mt Cargill Rd and regrouped, before John led us at a brisk (6 kph) clip along to the quarry access road and track to Mt Cutten.
En route through the bush track to Andrew Drummond’s sculpture in memory of artist, Len Lye, there was abundant evidence of pigs with “ploughing” at the track edges, and goats; their scats were everywhere, and many of the more palatable native plants were chewed to nearly ground level.
Our lunch spot at the Len Lye memorial (12.35 pm) gave breathtaking views across to the Peninsula. Most folk sat well rugged up, as the wind had then swung around to the south.
The return to Mt Cargill Rd was via the impressive Mt Cutten Quarry (part of the Blackhead Quarries group), and many of our party took the opportunity to view the benched quarry face and different rock types up close.
A slightly slower pace (4.5 kph) was set for the road walk back to the Organ Pipes carpark, where a head count confirmed our starting numbers were intact (whew!).
The descent from Mt Cargill Rd through Graham’s Bush to the cars was surprisingly rapid, as we arrived back at Hall Rd at 3.15 pm, just an hour after leaving the Organ Pipes carpark.
Thanks to all for a most enjoyable day in great company.
Alison
Tramp statistics:
Moving time 4 h 5 min
Elapsed time 5 h 5 min
Vertical Climb 482 m
Length 11 km
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.