Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

18 km from car-park to Logan Park or Marina.

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No. 48 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Pyramids & Beach Area. (Victory Beach) Beach Walk only. Year Round”

Location: 38 km from car park.

Gabriels Gully. Key to Maps

7. 5 April 2023. Combined.  Gabriel’s Gully, Lawrence. Grade 4 (trampers) & Grade 2 (hikers). $20. Leaders: Phil Keene (Trampers), Jan Butcher (Hikers)

Hikers’ Report (scroll down for Trampers’ Report):

At 8.45am we travelled in convoy with the trampers to Lawrence, where we had a comfort stop before continuing onto Gabriel’s Gully. Halfway down the road the brakes were on as we came across a large STOP sign and barriers preventing us from going any further.

It turns out contractors were cleaning up a large tree which had fallen across the road, so we retraced our steps back to Blue Spur Road, a gravel road taking us up and up, around and down, meeting up with Munro Road and down into Gabriel’s Gully. Whew!

We all had morning tea on arrival and then said goodbye to the trampers as they set off in another direction and 19 hikers commenced the Interpretation Loop Track.

The first 20 minutes was up and up and a couple of “breathers” needed but soon we reached the top with great views over the Gully floor below.

We continued around the well-groomed ridge walk and down Blue Spur/mining sites checking out the information stations along the way and stopping at points of interest.

It was then back down the hill to our cars and a short walk along the road to Grey’s Dam where we sat under a large tree to enjoy our lunch break, after which we dropped our packs back at our cars and took a short walk around the gully floor.

Fortunately, the return road was cleared and we stopped off at the ‘Prospector’ for refreshments before returning to Mosgiel. The weather played its part – not too hot and no wind to speak of. A very enjoyable 4ks walked on the day.

Jan and Jay

Trampers’ Report:

32 very keen walkers set out on time, in 8 vehicles, to make their fortune in the hills of Central Otago; we suffered all sorts of setbacks as traffic delays, or ‘hold ups’ frustrated us. Most of us felt better for the stop on the corner in Lawrence; and some just had to get that takeaway coffee…..another ‘hold up’ on the road up to GG with a sign that had multiple meanings and road block. On up around the bend Jan B walked and got the low down (tree clearance) so the cars did an about face and detoured over Blue Spur – once farmed by Chris and Ant Wither and down into GG. Chris outlined the local well known activity of sheep rustling, and apparently ‘not just back in the day’.

With a school group also present the GG car-park really did feel as if another gold rush was underway. The delays did not lessen the need for morning tea, as the sun was shining, but we were finally off on our way by 10.45am.

13 trampers skirted the SW ridge of GG, through the man-made landscape now dominated by Sycamore trees, feeling very much at home here as well as adding a nice splash of Autumn, passing the mine tunnels and North of Ireland battery. Some of us musing where was the South of Ireland battery?

We crossed Victoria Road, the main entrance to the Glendhu Forest and on past Victoria (Milburn’s) Dam and started the steady ascent, initially through a larch forest, then up through the remnant beech forest and gorge/ ravine/gully of the Munro track.

Progress was tempered by the intimate feel of the walk, as well as the little dips into streams (they looked gold bearing to me) then the challenge of all those man made steps.

Finally, we emerged into the Glendhu pine forest and onto road 21, are we at the top yet? being a common question. The answer being ‘no not yet, we’ll just go up and around the bend a little way for lunch, which will give a lovely view into the West, Blue Mountains and all’. And of course, this happened as planned.

After lunch we continued the steady ascent, mostly now on Victoria Road; no trucks came past to enjoy our bright coloured tops…..We took the first turn on the right into Road 22 and continued down, shambling through fir and gum forest and along the very well maintained forestry roads and drainage systems.

Upon a slight rise in the road, we enjoyed a view down into Otago Dam which was full to the brim as usually there is just a trickle of a stream.

The entrance onto the Dam is now much clearer than other recent club forays and we stopped to pose, as you do in these sorts of places. From here it was a slow and steady descent through beech forest for a couple of hours, as a little care was required on the steeper parts, as well as completing half a dozen stream crossings, and of course the banter about the number of flood warning signs there were and how many hundreds of metres did each sign say?

As we emerged around Grey’s Dam into the bright open car-park many mused on the fact ‘that last time this was where the bus was parked, and we took our boots off and lay in the sun…..’

After the inevitable team photo with the autumn coloured back drop, we set off for the last ten minutes of walking to the cars, where we did take our boots off; the general consensus being it was to be each car for itself back into Lawrence (the tree had been cleared) and get an ice cream on the run which we did do, helping us to get back to PJ park at 4.45pm, just as the first bus pulled in to take folk to the Rod Stewart concert. For those that went, is he still sexy? Is he still sailing? Did Cyndi just want to have fu-un?

A great day out, thanks to the drivers especially and to Rayonier Matariki Forests for access to Glendhu Forest. For the trampers 11km, walking time 4 hours 30 minutes, 350 m altitude gain and I’m sticking with Grade 4.

Phil

 

6. 3/2/21. Combined. Gabriel’s Gully/ Munro Gully Track/ Glendhu Forest

Gabriel’s Gully:  Lawrence 3 February 2021

Well then, what about the best laid plans of mice and men…… thanks to everyone for being early, and money in the bank, but we were undone by an accident near Burnside that held the bus up!  Fortunately there was no walk out, and once it arrived, everyone jumped on board to go for a ‘walk about’ at Gabriel’s Gully, on a near perfect day, not too hot & not too cool.  Just perfect you might say.

Richard the bus driver did his best to get us back on schedule, and after a short stop at the corner in Lawrence, we arrived at Gabriel’s Gully just after 10am; so naturally the 40 participants partook of morning tea and readied for the walking, as you do!

With map in hand the 7 (including the driver) in the Jan Team (thanks Jan B and Jan Y) headed up the hill to undertake the Interpretive Track, and to spend an hour or two absorbing the history of the area.

The remaining 34 headed to Munro’s Gully on the opposite side of the Gully, with the groups able to wave to each other, almost ‘Bon Voyage’ like at a wharf.

Passing both an old Mine Shaft and the North of Ireland Battery, the self-named Team B (29 walkers) led by Phil, opened up a bit of a gap on Raewyn’s Team A (5 walkers). 

Crossing Munro Road and heading for Milburn’s (Victoria) Dam, there was time to stop & take in the reflections, no hint yet of any early autumnal colouring.

From the Dam it was a steady ascent through the lovely beech forest, with those pesky red Rowan berries trying to outdo the red colouring on the native Horopito (pepper) trees. 

Some impressive bracket or shelf fungi were visible (Ganoderma);  in days of old, these were sent back to China by early immigrants apparently having amazing medicinal properties; at a more practical level they are rock hard and used for intricate wooden jewellery.  They attack the diseased heartwood of a still living tree.

The rise and fall of the track gave time to take in the babbling brook, ferns, mosses etc and the dappled light was well, beautiful.  For Team B we were welcomed about 2/3 of the way up by some Falcon screeching, with some brief sightings – this was in the same place as the week before recce, where 3 came much closer and all being very visible. I was reminded in this time and place of Wendell Berry’s lines “Always in the big woods when you have left familiar ground, and step off alone in to a new place there will be, along with feelings of curiosity and excitement, a little nagging dread.  It is the ancient fear of the unknown and it is your first bond with the wilderness you are going into”.

After an hour and a bit, pine cones were lying on the track, an indication we were getting near Glendhu Forest, ‘the top’ and not long after, we emerged on to Road 21, the lunch spot right on 12 noon. Most sat on the road with feet downhill, almost meant to be!

The arrival of Team A gave rise to enthusiastic acclamation – well done!  After some chit chat, 4 of Team B were welcomed into Team A.  They returned to the Gabriels’ Gully car park via Cornishman’s Dam, down through the forest beside water races to Pollard’s Dam and then followed the Interpretive track to their destination.  Once reconnecting with Jan’s Team they all drove off to Lawrence to enjoy the local delights.

 

This left 25 in Team B, and so we headed off up through Glendhu Forest on Road 21 thence Victoria Road.  At the top, this provided great views of West Otago and I think Northern Southland in the murky distance.  Thence down Road 22 through a delightful archway of Douglas Fir and at the intersection of Roads 22, 23 and 24, we found a ‘yellow ribbon tied around a wineberry tree’. Amazing.

Click Ben Rudd Article for background information.

Click Pineapple Track for background information.

Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.

 

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4. 15/03/2023. Hikers. McGouns/ Wakari Bike Track Grade: 2.5 Leaders: Jay and Jenny

17 keen hikers  gathered at the bottom of the Pineapple track in Tanner Road. We entered the Cragieburn track at the Corner of Wakari Road and Tanner Road. We walked up a short distance to an historical site where there were remnants of dairy farming in 1860. This area is well preserved and a lovely new seat has been installed for people to sit and enjoy the views over Dunedin and its surrounds.

We then proceeded on to the Wakari Bike track which took us through attractive bush and meandering Ross creek.

The track was good underfoot and pleasant walking. We reached the top of the track in 45 minutes where we had our morning tea.

After that we carried on the track which was a mixture of lots of ups and downs.

The trees here were a mixture of natives and exotics. The redwoods were huge and stunning.

We carried on then to join the McGouns Track which has beautiful unspoilt bush. This was steep in places but nothing like getting the heart rate up to feel alive. At the end of the McGouns Track we were supposed to turn right but the leader took us left up another steep climb where we had our well deserved lunch break and there we enjoyed views of the city and harbour.

After lunch it was all downhill for a change to the cars.  We had two prospective hikers with us today, Margaret and Kay.  Coffee was at Sunnyvale.

 

Continue Reading »

24 km from car park.

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7. 8/8/2023. Combined. Scorgie’s Farm.  Combined. Grade 2.5 (based on hikers valley walk).  Leaders: Jill Reid (Trampers), Jan Yardley (Hikers).

Hikers
There were 22 Hikers and trampers on this tramp as a large contingent were at Bannockburn on camp.

The group stayed together until morning tea, when those wanting to go up into the hills went off with Jill Reid.
The remaining 11 hikers carried on up the valley, firstly on a stony Traquair Road until we came to Scorgies Farm.

This was more of a farm track and much easier underfoot. It was a perfect tramping day, warm and calm and there was no mud (unlike the previous couple of times it has been done). We didn’t quite make the big shed as it had turned quite hot by lunchtime and the co-opted leader spotted a shady roadside spot and elected to lunch there.

We could see the shed not too far away, so figured that was close enough. Had a chat with the farm manager as we started off back down the valley.

Returned to the cars by the same route, very hot by then, and no shade so it was a relief to get to the end.
Cold drinks at the Wobbly Goat completed the day.
Jan Y.

Trampers.
The combined group of hikers & trampers parked by Lee Stream on Mahinerangi Road and all walked along the valley, initially on Traquair.

After morning tea 13 trampers headed “to the hills”, enjoying the huge vistas on Michael Scorgie’s Lee Flat property.

After a steep descent we crossed the Lee Creek – thank you Graham Thurlow for showing us how to correctly place feet and poles – very important if there is a large water flow!

We lunched by the Allendale homestead then crossed over Mahinerangi Road and looped through more of the Traquair property – lovely seeing the cattle grazing these hills.

A very enjoyable 15.5 km walk. Many thanks for your assistance Graham.
Jill R.

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6. 7/8/2019. Both. Scorgies Farm. Leaders: Jan Y, Peter D, Jill R.

After morning tea with the trampers, a group of 21 hikers carried on down the valley and on to Scorgies Farm.  The first part over the farm land was a bit wet, but Ok to walk on.   However, as we progressed further on the farm track, the muddy spots became more and more frequent.  My contact had told me ‘the track was a bit muddy, but just skirt around these areas’.  That was the understatement of the year – there was no bypassing the mud and we had to wade through which was heavy going.   Got as far as a pile of baleage, and decided to call a halt. Probably only a km or so short of the big shed, which was our preferred spot for lunch, but mud was getting progressively worse.  Some of the group lunched amongst the baleage, and the rest of the group headed up the hill a little to find a sheltered spot in the lee of the hill.  Met up again and returned the same way (same mud!!) back to the cars. It was certainly a pleasure to get back on to the Traquair land (which constitutes the first few ks of this tramp) and onto their well maintained gravel road.  One bonus – no one slipped over on the mud.  Jan and Peter.

Trampers – Scorgies Farm.

After a combined group morning tea by  Lee Stream, …

… 21 trampers headed for the hills!

We climbed up a face between magnificent rocks,

walked over rolling hills bearing pockets of snow,

then, taking a more circuitous route than planned,

reached the normally small tributary of Lee Stream at the bottom of Roundhill.

Today it was much higher than expected due to snow melt over the last couple of days. We decided it would be unsafe to walk through the creek  – just too much water swiftly flowing  over the slippery rocks!!!! Instead we enjoyed our lunch on rocky outcrops, looking across to the Allandale  homestead surrounds,

then returned to the Lee Stream Track by a different route.

Distance walked : 16 km. – Jill.

5. 25/6/2014 Hikers.  Lee Stream Ramble, Scorgies Farm. Easy. Leaders: Arthur and Barbara.

I now title this tramp Lee Stream Road Ramble. The route is an actual road at each end, connecting Mahinerangi and Black Rock Roads, joined by a paper road in the middle, having reverted to a barely discernible track across paddocks marked only by  occasion ditch crossings, with one actual bridge over a more sizeable Lee Stream tributary.

26 Hikers parked outside the Mahinerangi end of the road, to be surprised by this notice on the gate.

At this stage of course, the road was well paved.

With a winter 9.30 a.m. start and quite a bit of a drive up SH87, the leaders stopped us early for morning tea on the following slope.

Paddocks were still saturated from frosts and rain. Today was astonishingly warm with a drying wind, but not enough to even begin to dry the ground out. Ditch crossings, although well gravelled (under the mud, if you could find it), were atrociously, extraordinarily, slipperarily muddy. Not everyone got through without a fall.

Here is the bridge separating Traquair from Scorgies’ Stations.

We trudged on, and on. A kilometre or two short of the end, about half a dozen of us had had enough and made their lunch stop there, leaving the rest of us to go on to the big implement shed. Its contents were well splattered with bird droppings, but each of us managed to find a seat acceptable to them.

Or if you prefer it, here is a video John took of us.

Retracing our route we found to be just as muddy, we several of us knowing we had done one of the longer tramps that the Hikers attempt. It was a good day out. While the rest of the country seems to have suffered heavy downpours, we benefited from the warmth of the storm’s margin. Thanks to Arthur and Barbara for thoughtful careful leadership. – Ian

4. 23/11/2011. Hikers. Lee Stream Ramble, Scorgies Farm. Easy. Leaders: George, Fred.

(Remembered for cattle alarm.)

3. 7/5/2008 Both. Lee Stream Ramble, Scorgies Farm. Easy. Leaders: George, Doug M

2. 5/3/2008. Both. Lee Stream Valley and Scorgies Farm. Easy. Leaders: Bob H, Molly.

1. 2/8/2006 Both. Lee Stream ramble, Scorgies Farm. Easy. Leaders: Bob & Evelyn, Lesley G, Eleanor W
Great farmland trip. Turn down 1st Mahinerangi Rd. Cross Lee Stream and park car park up other side. RH. Thru gate. Meander along well formed road on true right of stream. Lunch at Hay barn en route.  Return same way.

14. 15/02/2023. Trampers. Silverstream (Raceman’s – Little Coal Creek – Steve Amies- Raceman’s Loop). Grade 4. $5 Leader: Phil Keene

The residue of Cyclone Gabbie hovering off the coast and threatening some rain seemed to have an effect on today’s turnout – only one car, one car, headed for the hills, but it’s hard to hold back quality! So we were parked up at the Powder Ridge car-park and on the track by 9.20am and shambled off up the road and we crossed the surging Silverstream with trepidation a couple of times, before hitting our straps on Racemans.

Birdsong was prevalent, nearly drowning out the chat, with the whoosh of a pigeon or two over the stream. As on the day of the recce we were overtaken by a surging team of 5 collies out for their daily run with their Goddess mistress fast coming up behind.

We morning tea’d after 45 minutes, looking out through a clearing across the valley, why is it ‘the other side’ always seems so more interesting. 1.5 hours from the car-park we took a deep breath to prepare for the ascent up Little Coal Creek and off up up and up we went.

It was nice to have some of natures hand holds as we pulled ourselves up, being dry, very dry underfoot, just like walking on powdered cement.The going was slow though, to such an extent that these modern devices that people wear were sending out warnings that they were not recording any movement! Are you alright?

After 50 minutes of huffing and puffing I’ll blow your house down, I swear I could have, we were at the junction of Little Coal and North Coal Creek tracks.

From here the climb was more steady, drifting into plateaus, before the next bit of up. Time was taken to enjoy the views out through the bush to Pulpit Rock and Raingauge Spur plus poke our noses out over the rock ledges.

3 hours from the car park we stopped at the Steve Amies/ Little Coal Creek junction and decided to have lunch here, with both sun and shade to help dry out the perspiration. Bees were prevalent and seemed to take a liking to the creams on our skins, some coming back for more, but no harm was done.

At 12.45pm we were up and off down what was a lovely Steve Amies track and the gradient was such that there was more time to take in the impressive Kanuka trees, some as big as the mature Pinus Radiata that have also made their home here. As to be expected, the track had to get steep again, and care was required as we ‘dropped’ back down onto Racemans, to be followed by a 40 minute stroll back to the car- park arriving back 5 hours and not a minute more from when we left.

Altitude gained was 509m and a little over 11kms completed. Grade 4 seemed about right. Consensus was a great day out and just 10minutes from home.
Phil K

 

13. 18/11/2020. Trampers. Racemans, North and Little Coal Creeks, Steve Amies.  Leaders: Ross and Wyn Davies. M.

18 trampers set out from the car park just off the Whare Flat Road, towards the pumphouse at 9.25am. It was a nice morning. We arrived at the Tunnels Track junction after half an hour; time for morning tea.

We reached the junction with the Little Coal Creek Track after about an hour. We carried on up the Little Coal Creek Track for another 15 minutes to a lunch spot with a view to the north.

We had a good panorama of Powder Ridge and Long Ridge, Mt Allan behind, Pulpit Rock and Green Hill in the centre of the Silver Peaks.

The weather started to look more threatening after lunch, as we continued up the Little Coal Creek Track for another 20 minutes to the junction with the Steve Amies Track.

By this stage there were a few showers; enough to make the track down the Steve Amies Track increasingly slippery. Everyone took the descent carefully and we made it safely without any proper falls. It took us about an hour and three quarters all the way down to Racemans Track, by which time the rain was getting more frequent.

Getting progressively wetter we retraced our steps along Racemans Track and back to the car park in about 40 minutes, arriving back at 3:50pm. Distance was variously measured at more than 15 kms, with an average of about 15.5 kms. It was a relatively longer day in terms of distance, time walking and ups and down, which everyone coped with OK. Some decided home was the best direction but 8 of us diverted to Blend Café for hot drinks and varying amounts of food.

 

Thirty-one keen walkers headed south and after regrouping at the turnoff to Quoin Point road parked in a paddock opposite the wool shed at the end of the road where lambs were being drafted.

We followed the farm road leading down the hill towards Quoin Point and then turning right opening closing gates where appropriate before stopping after 15 minutes near an inlet with a choice of sun or shade. Shade was more popular.

We continued across the paddocks and paused for a time near a caravan and new home above it on the hillside with natives planted in two paddocks while Bruce chatted to the land owner Peter O’Connor of Riversdale. Peter said he was happy for trampers to traverse his property and did not need to ask his permission in the future. The two paddocks are linked by a pipe gate and the best exit to the beach and Bull Creek was at the far corner nearest the sea of the second paddock. The path goes down the hill over some grey rocks and then along the coast to Bull Creek. He plans to mow a track across the lower part of his property in about two years to make access easier.

We had lunch on the North side of Bull Creek in case the rising tide cut us off. A seal was spotted in the water at Bull Creek and another mammal seen in the distance on the rocks on the way back. Clare’s family had built a dam across the creek so that the seaweed in the creek could be flushed out once the dam broke.

Clare kindly arranged for 3 of the party to travel back by car; a 25 minute journey going near Milton.
The weather remained fine. Distance 13.56 km, Climb 384 m. We started walking at about 10 am and were back to the cars at 3 pm. There were many views of the coastal rocks. Hay tedding was in progress on one paddock and for the others the hay had been cut and baled since the recce.

Future walks on the property might be considered for mid-February or after when the sheep are likely to have been shorn, the lambs drafted and the hay cut which makes walking easier. Thanks to the co-leaders Alex Griffin, Helen Morris and Phil Morris for their valuable leadership. Also to Neil for his opening the gates, waiting for the last person to go through and then, remarkably, being in position to open the next gate. He was also better at spotting where the next gate in paddock was, possibly due to his eyes operating at a higher elevation. Thank you again Neil. Our thanks are also due the land owners Alan Shaw, Gwen Lane and Peter O’Connor for their kind permission to be on their properties and to Clare for her local knowledge of the area and assistance with offering transport back to the cars for three persons.

Because the Brighton Café closes at 4 pm the group was given the opportunity to make their own choice for coffee, such as at Waihola or Mosgiel, or an ice cream at Brighton.
Bruce Spittle

15 km from car-park.

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10. 26 October 2022. Hikers. Brighton. Grade 1.5. Leaders: Liz Griffin & Faye Lamb

On a very pleasant and warm Brighton morning 22 hikers set off towards McIntosh Road led by Faye (with an E).

We visited Star Fish Gallery for morning tea and a friendly inspection of premises hosted by owner.

From here we headed back down the hill to explore different parts of Brighton and Ocean View led by Alex as Liz was off the scene with slight injury caused earlier in the week. With such a pleasant day it was good to enjoy sea views and other interesting sites before a stop for lunch at Ocean View.

Up the Bennett Road to inspect the Mosaic Wall …

… which leads us down the steep track back to Brighton and local Coffee shop for more relaxation and welcome visit by Bev Harvey and Dot Bennett.
Alex And Faye.

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27 km from car-park.

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7. 14 June 2023. Hikers. Allans Beach. Grade 2, $9, 39km, Leaders: Bruce Spittle, Alex Griffin

Fifteen hikers, including new hikers Heather and Val, set off from the car park at the end of Allans Beach road with clear skies but a chilly breeze. We briefly explored the east end of the beach as far as the waves allowed and then had morning tea in the shelter of the sand hills where there was some sun.

We walked the length of the beach to the outlet of Hoopers Inlet where the tide was coming in noticing two sea lions on the way.

We then followed the sand on the edge of the inlet to near the fence at the end where the inlet turns to the right and had lunch, at about 12, in a relatively sunny sheltered spot.

After lunch we explored the salt marsh area as far as the tide allowed and some more sea lions were spotted.

We retraced our steps to the west end of the beach and ascended into the sand hills about 100 m from the end of the sand hills near the inlet and after finding our way through some vegetation found the track through the farm leading back to Allans Beach road.

We arrived at the cars about 1405. Distance travelled approximately 9.5 km. The weather was reasonable for winter with sunshine and little wind most of the way. The views of the inlet and hills were tranquil. Coffee was had at Nichols.

Thanks to Co-leader, Alex Griffin and to Liz Griffin for liaising with Nichols.

Bruce Spittle