Bikers – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Bannockburn Camp 2023- Hiking, Tramping and Biking

3 -10 March 2023. Bannockburn. Trampers and Hikers and Bikers. Leaders: Anne and Rod Ward.

The club planned a trip to Bannockburn for three days of tramping and three of bike rides. This all started on Friday 3rd of March with accommodation at the old Bannockburn school now run by the Otago Outdoor Education Trust. Accommodation was a mix of the old schoolhouse, an attached cottage and the barracks for boys and girls at the other end. Anne and Rod had a full programme of activities for the six days, including delegating the evening meals to teams for the first four nights, this included providing nibbles, main course, dessert, and home baking for supper.

Friday 3rd March – Day 0
Travelled to Bannockburn and settled into the camp. It was a beautiful hot afternoon/evening under the veranda soaking up the atmosphere. With rooms sorted some had a swim, others happy to watch. Team 1 prepared scrumptious ham, salads, etc as required for the duty team.

Bannockburn day 0 John — *First night, settling in. Photo & caption John*

Bannockburn Camp Helen Day 0 — *Bannockburn Camp. Photo Helen*

Saturday 4th March – Tramping
Link to Day 1 tramping report: Kanuka Track and Trail to Old Cromwell Town.

Sunday 5th March – Tramping
Link to Day 2 tramping report: Kawarau River Track.

Monday 6th March – Tramping
Link to Day 3 tramping report: Bannockburn sluicings, Stewart Town and Long Gully Loop Track.

Tuesday 7th March – Biking
Link to Day 4 biking report: Bannockburn Camp to Smiths Way and return.

Wednesday 8th March – Biking
Link to Day 5 biking report: Lake Dunstan Trail and Millennium Track to Alexandra.

Thursday 9th March – Biking
Link to Day 6 biking report: Gibston to Arrowtown and Back.

Friday 10th March
All that remained to do for those who stayed overnight was to pack up, tidy up, and head back home.

Thanks to all cooking groups for preparing and organizing meals, that were varied and enjoyable, great menus for the week.

Also to all the drivers for ferrying us to various start and pickup points, your service was invaluable and very much appreciated.

Overall our accommodation was well suited for our tramping group. Bannockburn Outdoor Trust was very obliging to our needs. I’m sure we’ll return for more adventures.

Thanks, Anne

Bannockburn Camp Day 4: Bike from Camp to Smiths Way and Back

<<– Link to previous day

Tuesday 7th March – Biking
Day 4 – Bike to Bannockburn Camp to Smiths Way and return.

This was the start of the biking days so some of the trampers headed home after breakfast. After swapping poles for bikes our (15 bikers) first ride was from Bannockburn camp to Old Cromwell, Pisa Moorings and up to Smiths Way a round trip of about 52kms, on the return we stopped at the coffee shop for mostly our own homemade lunch; jolly decent of them to allow this for just a few cups of coffee. This was a 3-hour trip so we were home early.

Bannockburn Day 4 Cyclists Phil — *Tour de Dunstan starters. Photo & caption Phil*

Bannockburn Day 4 Crossing Bannockburn Bridge Phil — *Crossing Bannockburn Bridge. Photo & caption Phil*

Bannockburn Billy getting in the way Phil — *Billy plays chicken. Photo & caption Phil*

Bannockburn Day 4 Lunch at Pisa Moorings Helen — *Lunch at Pisa Moorings. Photo & caption Helen*

Bannockburn day 4 census night Phil — *The census stumps the brains trust. Photo & caption Phil*

Link to next day –>>

Bannockburn Camp Day 5: Lake Dunstan Trail and Millennium Track to Alexandra.

<<– Link to previous day

Wednesday 8th – Biking
Day 5: Biking Lake Dunstan Trail and Millennium Track to Alexandra.
Getting a bit more adventurous, so this was a big day for some. The logistics keep our coordinator on the ball with lots of options offered and only one trailer to pick up bikes.

Bannockburn day 5 starting at Alexandra Phil — *Starting at Alexandra. Photo & caption Phil*

Some headed off from the camp to the Lake Dunstan Trail and others did the same but went down another 12kms on the Millennium track to Alexandra. Others started at the other end and came back, and a few did only the Millennium track. Everyone met at the Clyde Rowing club for lunch. It was perfect weather.

Bannockburn Sculpture on the trail Phil — *Sculpture on the trail. Photo & caption Phil*

Bannockburn the bannockburn starters arrive Phil — *The Bannockburn starters arrive; the following numbers to weigh in are… Photo & caption Phil*

Bannockburn Day 5 Lunch in the sun Helen — *Lunch at the rowing club. Photo & caption Helen*

Link to next day –>>

Bannockburn Camp Day 6: Biking Gibston to Arrowtown and Back

<<– link to previous day

Thursday 9th – Biking
Day 6: Biking from Gibston to Arrowtown and Back.

Final day, so we loaded the trailer and two cars with 12 bikes and headed to Gibbston Tavern, from there we rode to Arrowtown on the Gibbston River Wine Trail and Arrow River Bridge Trail, via the bungee jump bridge: 22km each way.

Last day Well spotted Phil, congratulations Phil — *Well spotted Phil, congratulations. Photo & caption (other) Phil*

Last day bridge Phil — *Crossing the rubicon? Photo & caption Phil*

Lunch at Arrowtown was pretty much a pie for everyone with a coffee or tea to wash it down, the riders returned to the Gibbston Tavern for a cool drink and pizza mid-afternoon, tea that night was light with all the leftovers from the week.

Last day pie Rod Phil — *What a pie, definitely not a Jimmy’s. Photo & caption Phil*

Last day animals Helen — *Friends in the paddock and Dave. Photo & caption Helen*

Last day gibbston tavern Helen — *Pizza and cool beverage. Photo & caption Helen*

Last day lunch Phil — *A well earned pizza and ginger (alcoholic) beer at the Tavern. Photo & caption Phil*

link to back to main page –>>

West Coast Bike Trip

Oct, 2017. West Coast Bike Trip.

Nine happy bikers, set off for the Coast.

To do the famous Wilderness trail- not that we will boast.

First to Kaniere, to drop off all our gear.

At a cottage in the bush – and then we had a beer.

A barbecue for dinner (after happy hour)

Then off to bed we all did go – we needed muscle power.

The morning dawned quite sunny, so down to Ross we drove.

To climb upon our bicycles, feeling fit, by jove.

The trail was good to start with, but then there came a hitch.

Jill and bike fell off the trail, right into a ditch. (A wet one)

Up she got, and carried on, but oops, what’s happened now?

A conveyor belt was in the way, right across our bow.

The track was closed, or so they said, to build a bridge one day.

We couldn’t let that stop us! We had to find a way.

The brave, strong men took over. They carried all across.

A dangerous operation, we did it without loss.

To Hokitika we did come, eventually, at last.

And had some lunch, ‘twas well deserved – we really went quite fast.

That unisex toilet, was a wonder to our eyes,

A mural weird and wonderful, it really took the prize.

After lunch we carried on, mostly up-hill now.

At last we reached the cottage, I really don’t know how.

Another night of merriment, more good food and wine,

And in the morning, oh alas, the weather wasn’t fine!

The vehicles taken down the road, Kumara was the goal,

The rain it stopped, the sun came out, and we were on a roll!

Up we went, and up – and up. Judy’s turn to fall –

Right off the trail, it was quite steep, her bike it did a stall.

To Cowboy Paradise we came, I think they’ve got it wrong.

We weren’t even greeted, with rodeo or song.

We carried on, and on and on, mostly now it’s down.

But oops, where’s Keith? He’s lost the trail, what a silly clown!

At last we’re sorted out again – don’t need another stunt.

But what’s this Dave, you silly B, your helmet’s back to front!

Kumara was a welcome sight, comfy huts and all.

And yummy dinner in the pub, we really had a ball.

The final day was misty, and cold about the knees,

But we didn’t seem to mind it, as we zipped among the trees.

Easy riding all the way, right beside the road.

And then along beside the beach, the ocean ebbed and flowed.

Into Greymouth at top speed, Jim and Betty first.

Thinking they were at the back, they (almost) boilers burst!

Nine happy bikers, aches and pains galore,

Headed home with smiles, wishing there was more. – Judy.