Author: Ian

Haast, Fox Glacier, Greymouth, Hanmer

11/5/1993. West Coast Bus Tour. Leader: Bob H.

Thirty-five members of the Taieri Recreational Tramping Club recently completed a most enjoyable and very successful ten day bus tour around the South Island.

Two nights were spent at Haast, three at the Fox Glacier, two at Greymouth and two at Hanmer Springs. Day walks into various places included trips to Lake Ellery, Gillespies Beach, Lake Matheson, The Punekaiki Rocks and concluded with a walk up Mount Isobel at Hanmer Springs.

All members agreed the trip was very well organised and were keen to do another trip some time in the future. Taieri Herald article

Leith Saddle Boardwalk – Jack Merrilees

Jack carrying timber
Jack carrying timber

Left: Taieri Recreational Tramping Club member Jack Merrilees with some material for the track.

The Ministry of Youth Affairs Conservation Corps based with the DOC filed Centre in Dunedin has been making steady progress on the boardwalk to the Leith Saddle. When completed this boardwalk will be about 1.6km in length and pass through unique forest featuring miro, rimu and the mountain cedar.

The logistics of carrying the timber up the ridge to the work site is a major obstacle to speedy progress. Recently however this task has been made lighter through the voluntary efforts of some local tramping clubs.

The corps is especially indebted to the WEA over 50s tramping club and the Taieri Recreational Tramping Group members who carried tonnes of timber up the boardwalk to the work site over two work days recently.

Thanks also to the generous contributions of two major Dunedin businesses, training funding  from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and expert help and materials from Department of Conservation Field Centre. Soon interpretation plaques will be in place, a contribution from a major sponsor. Some sponsorship is still needed to complete the boardwalk. Please contact David Blair, Department of Conservation, Dunedin. – Dunedin Star Midweek, Wed 7/4/1993