29/10/2025. Smaills Beach (Karetai Track) to Boulder Beach Outlook. Grade 3. Hikers. Leaders: Jenni & Bruce Wright.
Was it cabin fever that brought 39 adventurers out after a rough bout of weather the previous few days?
The Nardoo tramp was postponed due to weather conditions but conditions were great for the coastal walk up Karetai Road to the Boulder Beach lookout.
We left the Memorial Park and regrouped on the flat in Tomahawk Road where others ex-Mosgiel joined us. We drove through a new subdivision beginning on Ocean Heights and came out on Centre Road where luckily there was space for all the cars. The walk down to Smaills Beach was necessary as there was remedial work on the erosion of the only road in and vehicles were prohibited. It only took around 15 minutes though so wasn’t a biggie.
Jenni briefly outlined her family’s involvement (1955 to 1969) as a town supply dairy farm. The original homestead has been added to and the Tautuku Fishing Club use it as a function centre. Back to the entrance of Smaills Beach for morning tea.
This area has been beautifully planted out in natives to protect the sand dunes and is a huge transformation of Jenni’s memory some 60+ years ago. Great to see the work of Tomahawk Smaills Beachcare Nursery in providing these plants and presumably to other areas.
Up the Karetai Track which is a wee puff, we stopped frequently and admired the coastal and city views of Dunedin. The wind was on our backs as we proceeded along the track. It is disappointing to see the proliferation of gorse amongst the farmland as this was a constant battle to eradicate when we farmed there.
The track was well defined and a short road walk ensured we made our way to McMeeking Road which joins on to the Highcliff Track. Co-incidentally perhaps that the only vehicle we encountered on that route was from the Halo Project! We admired the amazing stonewalls some of which had crumbled over time, but a picture to behold.
We proceeded to the lookout to Boulder Beach where it was decided to hunker down amongst the boulders and have lunch. What a stunning view, with Sandfly Bay in the distance and sheer cliffs to be enjoyed.
We retraced our footsteps and meandered down the hills, the chatter was constant, and it was great to enjoy each other’s company.
Back to the cars and onwards to Nichols for afternoon tea.
We covered around 10.3 km. Thanks to all for participating and especially the photographers.
Jenni and Bruce
Link to background information and earlier tramps and hikes in the same area.