Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Accessed from Mountain Road from old forest HQ 6 hr ret, Route, DOC and private land.

(Green Hut access: 41 km from car park.)

8. 21/04/2021. The Gap. Leaders: Arthur Heenan, Peter Horrell

Eighteen Tampers set off from Mosgiel at 8.00 am and travelled to Waitati and drove up through the forestry  to the start of Yellow Ridge track.  Led by Arthur Heenan and Peter Horrell, we set off in great weather conditions, with a clear sunny day with little wind and the recent dry conditions making the track as good as possible It was a steady walk to the hut for morning tea and then up to Yellow Ridge.

“Time for a rest – morning tea.” – Photo and Caption John

“Which way? – Photo Peter

“Destination reached.” – Photo and Caption John

“No sign of rain.” – Photo and Caption John

“Me at the top!” – Photo and Caption Peter.

“The gap rocks.” – Photo and Caption John

“Amazing views.” – Photo and Caption Peter

“Panorama – as far as the eye can see.” – Photo and Caption John

“Homeward bound stop.” – Photo and Caption John.

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Tramp area map

Suggest leave Mosgiel 8.30am to get to ‘Little Peak about 1km above ‘Walrus rock’.

10. 16/11/2022. Trampers. Nardoo Reserve: Walrus Bridge Rock. Grade 3.5 Leaders: Phil Keene and Graeme Souter

Was this going to be one of those on again off again days? Well no as eleven enthusiastic trampers
turned up ready to go at 8.30am… although we were starting to think of a plan B as we travelled through
rain to the Strath Taieri… however lo and behold the weather cleared, Lake Mahinerangi was calm, yay
no wind on the tops, and the clay extension of Lammerlaw Rd through Waipori Station was dry. Tailing
was underway and the lambs were not gambolling, they were bolting and calling to mum. The Hereford
calves had nice clean socks on and were top of the fashion parade.
We set off at 9.45am and shortly practised our fence and gate hopping and climbing to enter the reserve,
where a ‘before’ photo was taken.

The ‘before’ Caption and photo Phil

We followed the remnants of a graded track that all too soon was lost
in snow tussock country.

Looking back to Lake Mahinerangi and beyond. Caption and photo John

A short sharp start to the day, before settling in to a steady upward ascent,
closely following each other to eliminate miss-steps and help form a clear ‘track’ to assist the return
journey – would it work?

Where we’re heading (ie. up!) Caption and photo John

We had morning tea on a rock outcrop festooned with lichen and a soft ‘magic’ yellow carpet of vegetable
sheep…were we already visioning?

Morning tea on a magic yellow carpet of vegetable sheep Caption and photo Phil

For the balance of the morning we crossed low saddles and followed
a line of drachophyllum that had colonised the initial track and we stayed up on the ‘faces’ zig zagging to
and fro as we got close to the boundary fences. Keep out of the gullies being the mantra of the day.

Happy trampers, during a regroup stop. Caption and Photo John

Initially the Blue Mountains dominated the views to the west, then Mt Wendon and higher still the Old
Man Range. Still no wind going by the blades of the wind farm… the tussock was dry to touch.

Head to Little Peak, that rock on the horizon. Caption and photo Sarah

We veered to the right near the top and made our way to the Walrus Bridge rock, where with dark clouds
building we decided to forgo Little Rock, and had our lunch right on high noon.

Hidden lake lunch stop. Caption and photo John

No sooner had we sat
down than a few spots of rain became steady rain and rather soggy sandwiches were dealt to. Coats and
covers came out, some of the fit and experienced trampers discovering for the first time that their packs
had built in rain covers…..gee no rain on a Wednesday for 3 years according to Charlie!
Clearly this was now going to be a game of two halves and a determined team set off, the descent much
quicker than that done on the recce, but maybe that was enhanced by the much clearer track created on the
way up – yeah right!
We were back at the cars about 1.30pm having stopped at the Reserve sign for the ‘after’ photo, was this
the same group of happy trampers? Yes they are all smiling!

The ‘after’ Caption and photo Phil

Wet gear was quickly placed into the car boots and the cars were soon steaming up….everyone agreed to
forgo coffee as hot showers and dry clothes seemed the more important…
It was heartening to hear the comment that the GPS map showed that we managed to follow the same
‘path’ both up and down… a testament to the leaders! Thanks to Esther and Neil also for taking their
vehicles that got suitably muddied on the way out…..and to Waipori Station for access.
Phil K

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Ten trampers walked back along the road from the Whare Flat pump house carpark, past the Waiora Scout camp, and to the beginning of our tramp about half a Km away.

Keen to start on the Chalkies track. (photo and caption Pam)

We started on Leishmans track and passed by the remains of the hut and weir that were once part of a Mosgiel water scheme.

The old pump house. (photo and caption Pam)

The track progresses up through bush consisting of lots of fuchsia. Our upper body strength was tested at the rock face which thankfully has a knotted rope to aid our ascent.

Gwenda climbing the cliff face with the aid of a rope. (photo and caption Pam)

Phil looks keen! (photo and caption John)

Almost at the top Jill. (photo and caption Pam)

The track winds uphill steadily and steeply in places, and the bush changes to manuka and kanuka. Morning tea was an unhurried rest sitting on the side of the track.

Morning Tea on the track. (photo and caption John)

It was still and humid in the bush so layers were shed. Further on there were good views to be had over North Taieri, Saddle Hill and out to the coast.

Looking back over to Saddle Hill from The Chalkies. (photo and caption Pam)

We continued upwards and into the boggy area which had dried out a bit since our recce. We emerged onto a grassy lane between Larch and Douglas Fir then branched off to the tussock area at the top of Powder Hill where we stopped for photos at the old trig.

“This way team.” (photo and caption Pam)

Happy Trampers at Powder Hill Trig. (photo and caption Pam)

We carried on to the Chalkies limestone formations for an early lunch. The cliffs have crumbled in places and unfortunately have been visited by taggers.

Lunch at “Chalkie Rocks”. (photo and caption John)

As we lunched, the temperature dropped a few degrees, and wary of the forecast rain arriving, we headed downhill. It’s a steady descent and steep in places. There were lots of patches of native clematis on the hillside opposite. We joined the private road at the bottom of the track and continued on down to the ford where our boots got a bit of a clean in the water.

At about 7.5km and climbing to an elevation of 525m, it’s not a long tramp but it’s a good workout out for the lungs and legs. We were lucky to have avoided the rain. Refreshments and debrief at Blackstone Cafe.
Karen

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For many years the Silverpeaks has been a major recreation area for Dunedin people. Since the 1920s excursions have been regularly organised into the hills and some very old huts used by musterers and trampers of earlier days can still be visited.

The walkway follows 15 km of one of the mot popular tramping routes through the Silverpeaks. Continue Reading »

12.  10/4/2024 Mt Charles Grade 4 Leaders: Graham and Carol Thurlow

28 trampers gathered at Allan’s Beach. Continue Reading »

20. 20/03/2024. Hikers. Broad Bay Future Forest (New Hike), Grade 2.5.  30 km. Leaders: Jenny Flack, Vivienne Manning.

Twenty hikers gathered at the end of Bacon St for this new walk. Continue Reading »

14. 14 February 2024. Hikers. Waldronville Wander. Grade 2. $5. 10km. Leaders: Phil Keene, Helen Morris.

After leaving PJ park right on time and catching up with the locals at the Estuary, 24 Hikers set out in orderly fashion back down the road towards Waldronville and crossed over into Island Park through the new gate, noting the sign ‘ no dogs allowed’. Must be to keep all the professional dog walkers out? Continue Reading »

Hikers: Leaders Heather and Val Cayford

‘Pathway to the Sea” – 7th February 2024 at 8.45am on a grey overcast morning with slight drizzle 15 hikers left Peter Johnstone Park and arrived at the small coastal settlement of Aramoana at approx. 9.45am – a peaceful place with 260 permanent residences as of 27th January 2024. Continue Reading »

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Ocean Grove, also known as Tomahawk, is a suburb in the southeast of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. … The suburb was known as Tomahawk until the 1930s, the name not being a reference to the weapon, but rather possibly an anglicised form of the Māori words tomo haka, meaning “dance by a gravesite”.

• Classification – Hard
• Time – Approximately 45 minutes.
• Parking – Limited at Highcliff Road. No dogs.
• Dogs – No

43. 06/12/2023. Trampers. North of Tomahawk. Grade 3. $7. 22km. Leaders: Esther Willis and Julie McKenzie

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Cars park off motorway at Leith Saddle yard (alternatively down side road at bridge (restricted space). 25 km from car park.
Walk across side road to track.
Gravelled track 1.5 km. (morning tea on lookout seats a little further on)
Transmitter Tower 2 hours.
Going further: along road past doppler radar to DoC sign.
Right along Rustlers Ridge track to junction with Burns Track.
Through junction and up and round hill on Rustlers Ridge Track. (Lunch on hill)
Down ridge to pipeline. (Alternatively turn right at junction for Burns and down to pipeline)
Turn right along pipeline.
5.5 hours in all.
Burns – Rustlers circuit Maintained by Green Hut Track Group. DCC land.

35. 22/11/2023. Trampers. Burns/Rustlers Ridge. Grade 4. 25km. Leaders: Phil Morris/Carolyn Pridham.

On an overcast muggy day, 20 Trampers headed to Leith Saddle. We set off down Leith Valley road, and left up Burns Track entrance onto Pipeline Track Continue Reading »

25. 15/11/2023. Orokonui Circuit. Grade 3. Leaders: Graeme Souter & Gail Williams

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16. 8/11/2023. Trampers. Mt Hyde. Grade 3.5. $7. 24km. Leaders: Anne Ward, Di Bezett, Lyn Keene

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