04/09/2024. Outram Heritage Trail and Floodbank. Grade 2. Combined. Leaders: Anette MacRae, Katrina McKenzie, Cathy Ferguson, Janette Abbot.
41 happy walkers left the Outram Rugby Club carpark and headed around Outram following the heritage trail looking at old churches, halls, houses and banks. Continue reading “Outram Heritage Trail and Floodbank”
07/08/2024. City to Surf. Grade 2. Combined. Leaders: Gail Williams, Karen McInnes, Jenni and Bruce Wright.
Was it a record? Forty six keen members, including one visitor, met at the Otago Yacht Club carpark in Magnet Street for the City to Surf Combined Trip. Continue reading “City to Surf”
4. 21/02/2024. Hikers. Waihola/Milburn Area. Grade 2 Leaders: Bill and Jill
22 hikers assembled at a car park in Limeworks Road, Milburn on a rather grey morning with a cold head on sou’wester blowing into our faces. After traversing a farm track, we joined the Clutha Gold Trail in Circle Hill Road and began what Jill quite accurately described as a day of quirky bridges and old fossils!
Information Rock and Pillar via Six Mile Creek This climbs 1,005 m. (3300 feet) up the eastern face from Glencreag Station up a leading ridge south of Six Mile Creek. This is the most direct approach. Rock and Pillar via spur south of Lug Creek. Information: Climbs 910 m. (3000 feet) up the eastern face of a well-graded vehicle track up a leading spur south of Lug Creek. Average time to Leaning Lodge is 3 hours on foot. DoC access. 9.5km north of the Middlemarch store on SH87, just before Lug Creek, is a farm entrance (RAPID 7219 – no DoC sign). A short way up the driveway is a DoC car park. There is public access up the vehicle track to the conservation area boundary. The track is now a recreation reserve administered by DoC.
Easiest route to Big Hut from Leaning Lodge (foot only – unmarked – good visibility essential) is another 45+ minutes climbing gently southwards to cross a steep gully and then climb a gentle shelf to above the eastern basins. Sidle several hundred metres past the lower prominent rock tors before gently descending to Big Hut once it becomes visible. Route very wind and cloud-prone. Ice axe and crampons may be necessary to traverse steep snow slopes near Leaning Lodge.
64 km to Middlemarch. 66 km to Stonehurst Track.
Redan Crater- contact for access Ken Rennick.
5. 7/12/2022. Hikers. Macandrew Bay. Grade 2 Leaders: Jill D. and Linda
Twenty eager hikers departed Macandrew Bay car park on a cool grey morning. We walked along the harbourside walkway as far as McTaggart Street where we stopped at the Company Bay reserve for morning tea. Unfortunately, the native plant nursery was closed for the day so we were unable to do the planned visit. However, Jill was able to provide us with some information on the work that was carried out there to provide native plants for planting out on the peninsula.
Jill giving a speech at morning tea. Caption and photo Helen
Onwards and upwards we made our way up the road and on to the track, climbing over some stiles, walking across farmland and up the hill towards Camp Rd.
How many stiles? Caption and photo Phil
We stopped several times to catch our breath and to admire the wonderful views of the peninsula. After the steady climb we reached our lunch stop on Camp Rd near Larnach Castle.
We did as the farmer instructed. Left the sheep to close the gate. Caption and photo Mike
We then continued our walk along to Pukehiki where we visited the lovely little community church, with its loo with a view!
Pukehiki Church is the background for our group photo. Caption and photo Helen
From here we walked along Highcliff Rd to Greenacres track and proceeded downhill to Macandrew Bay.
Screenshot Margreet
Some opted for an ice cream while others enjoyed refreshments at the Duck Cafe, while taking in the view of the lovely Macandrew Bay Beach on a nearly sunny afternoon. Jill and Linda
Phil at Jamestown in the Hollyford, in 2003, telling the grandiose stories of James Macandrew Caption and photo PhilStanding alongside James Macandrew’s grave and memorial Caption and photo Phil
14. 22/06/2022. Hikers. Tunnel Beach/St Clair. M. Leaders: Kathryn and Sue
We all met on a very cold frosty morning at Peter Johnstone Carpark. We then gathered outside St Clair Golf Club where twenty hikers walked along Hillhead Road then onto Blackhead Road in brilliant sunshine.
Morning tea – spot the miscreant walking sticks Caption and photo Barbara
We stopped outside the Cemetery for morning tea then onto Tunnel Beach.
Tail end Charlie Caption and photo BarbaraView down on those who made it Caption and photo Barbara
For those that hadn’t been there before it was a real eye opener and enjoyed by all.
Photo Margreet
We had our lunch in sunshine with great views.
Dispersing for lunch on the little peninsula Caption and photo Barbara
Hikers Lunch Caption and photo Kathryn
We then climbed back up and Ady did comment on the number of stairs she had to climb to get there.
Photo Kathryn
We proceeded back to the cars and went to The Village Green for coffee and a lovely finish to the day. Sue Nichol / Kathryn Fagg.
13. 3/10/2018. Both. Tunnel Beach from Kaikorai Estuary. M. Leader: Keith.
37 members set off on a combined walk from the Kaikoai estuary carpark at Waldronville …
Getting ready to move out, (Gordon pic and caption.)
… on a beautiful day and headed along the beach towards Blackhead.
Heading to Blackhead Quarry. (Gordon pic and caption.)
After smoko on the beach…
Great place to ponder after morning tea. (Gordon pic and caption.)
…we headed up to Blackhead carpark.
Unfortunately some got hit by larger waves with one gentleman
falling over and getting quite wet , while others got wet up to their knees.
At Blackhead, 12 left, walking along the roads back to the estuary to fetch their cars while the rest walked up Blackhead Rd to Tunnel beach car park.
!8 walked down to the tunnel entrance for lunch,
Great spot for lunch. (Gordon pic and caption.)
the rest regrouping in the carpark, much to the interest of a Chinese couple who snapped photos of the group having lunch.
Tunnel beach and carpark were very busy with lots of tourists. There was even a couple in their wedding finery taking selfies.
After the slog back up to the carpark and a breather, and a quick chat to those who had stayed, we set off walking down Green Island Bush Road
Heading back to Waldronville. (Gordon pic and caption.)
through Waldronville to the cars. Distance 15kms.
Hope everyone got home safely as it was impossible to keep an accurate count when there were so many people and several options for walking. – Keith.
12. 16/11/2016. Trampers. Tunnel Beach. E+
Seven trampers decided to just do tunnel beach walk. Weather was not that good. We all decided we had nothing to moan about after being unscathed from the earthquake. We saw a beautiful beach and some stunning rock formations and colours.
Stunning rock formation. (Helen pic and caption.) [Is there an eye, nose and mouth there? – Ed.]Rock stacks off the northern ends of the beach. (Margreet pic.)
Two waterfalls today.
One of the waterfalls. (Helen pic.)The other waterfall. (Helen pic and caption.)
Had morning tea down there in a cave entrance.
Morning tea. (Helen pic and caption.)
Also saw a lot of visiting tourists looking at our hidden attraction. – Helen.
11. 21/9/2016. Hikers. Tunnel Beach from Kaikorai Estuary. M. Leaders: Jan Y and Peter.
Nike app GPS of route. Kaikorai Estuary – Beach – Blackhead Rd – Tunnel Beach Rd – Tunnel Beach – Green Island Bush Rd – Blackhead Rd – Brighton Rd – Kaikorai Estuary.
24 hikers set off on a cool grey morning. Parked at the Waldronville estuary and walked through the dunes to the beach, then along the beach to Blackhead, stopping for morning tea halfway along the beach. 4 hikers walked back to the car park at this stage to drive to Tunnel Beach. The rest walked to the end of the beach, watching a couple of surfers at the end. Then up Blackhead Road which was reasonably busy, but not so many trucks as the day the leaders did the reccie. Headed down the track, which has been widened and upgraded. The sun came out at this stage, and the cliffs round Tunnel Beach looked quite spectacular and jackets came off. A group of hikers elected to just go part of the way down, as it is quite a steep track. The tide was out, and we picked our way across a large number of boulders at the foot of the tunnel …
Tunnel steps exit. (Adrienne pic.)
… to the beach where we had lunch.
Lunch. (Ian pic and caption.)Mouth of a low-tide cave. (Ian pic and caption.)Study in angles. (Ian pic and caption.)
Returned to the car park via Green Island Bush Road which had far less traffic. Great views across to Green Island and Saddle Hill from here. Then on to Brighton Road back to the car park, where the co-leader discovered that we had done around 15 ks, which was a bit of a surprise to her. Calculations had been a bit out. Well done to all those who completed the whole walk – quite good to get pushed out of your comfort zone occasionally. – Jan.
4. 7/7/2021. All. Street Art followed by Mid Winter lunch at the Wharf Hotel. Leaders Chris, Gwenda, Clive and Faye
12 Hikers and 24 Trampers met at the Wharf Hotel for Street Art walks around Dunedin.
The trampers headed off to the Vogel Street area and take away drinks from Heritage Coffee in Jetty Street.
They then made their wandering way, via Moray Place and Bath Street, to the University area.
Stunning colours (photo and caption Helen)More bright colours (photo and caption Helen) Love the tui (photo and caption Helen)
There was time to view the University Library’s Colin McCahon painting “Waterfall Theme and Variations”,
Painting at the Otago University Library (photo and caption Helen)
the Castle Street Lecture Theatre’s wonderful mural and
Students at Otago University (photo and caption Helen)
some of the campus sculptures before returning via the rail bridge.
The group on Otago University campus (photo and caption Helen)
The hikers headed to the downtown area over the rail bridge before making their way back to the Wharf Hotel via the Vogel Street area. Morning tea was enjoyed midway at the Vanguard Café on Princes Street.
Jill Dodd and Jay organised a lovely mid-winter lunch to follow which was enjoyed by 50 members of the club at the Wharf Hotel. There we also enjoyed a great slideshow of photos from trips over the last 6 months, put together by Clive and John.
Lunch at the Wharf Hotel (photo Chris)
Chris
3. 3/7/2019. All. Midwinter Street Art walk and lunch. Leaders: Clive and Heather.
Some were small. (Clive pic and caption.)There was a lot to see at 76 Vogel Street. (Clive pic and caption.)(Helen pic.)(Helen pic.)(Helen pic.)(Helen pic.)(Helen pic.)(Helen pic.)Lunch at The Wharf Hotel. (Clive pic and caption.)
2. 6/7/2016. All. Street Art Walk. Midwinter Lunch. E. Leaders: Bev, Judy and Alex.
31 members gathered at the Wharf Hotel car park and set out for a fascinating walk around Dunedin streets, viewing some of the amazing street art adorning our buildings’ walls.
First stop was just along the foreshore where mulled wine was served, (courtesy of Elaine and Judy), really hitting the spot on a coldish morning. Then it was up and across the over-bridge to Jetty Street, to Princes St and Manse St. The back entrance to the Scenic Hotel provided a look at the spectacular Cloud Catcher mural.
Cloud Catcher. Oops Just cut “the catch” off. Dash!
We did wonder just how the artist managed to hang up there to do this amazing work.
A short puff up Rattray St, to Dowling St and then up to Tennyson St,
Got “the catch”! but too far away really. City view from bottom of Tennyson Street.
down View St (glad it wasn’t up), across Moray Place, through the car park and along the alleyway to the Octagon. This alleyway is full of excellent art work, well worth browsing through. From here it was around the Octagon, down Stuart St, and along to Queens Gardens, before crossing to Vogel St again, and over the bridge back to the Wharf just after midday. Thank you Bev for organising this and turning out in spite of a miserable head cold.
Here we found the rest of the crew gathered, raising the number to 62, a great turn out. It was pleasing to see so many ‘senior’ members in attendance.
After birthday greetings to Margaret and Adrienne, Judy ran a short quiz, testing observational skills from the walk. Thanks to Eric for his help, and for the chocolates donated. Judy then read her ‘Ode to the Club’. (Attached [at the bottom of the Club’s History page] if you want to read it for yourselves!).
Congratulations and thanks to the hotel staff, who took orders and prepared and delivered meals so efficiently and promptly. This was much appreciated – the blue cod was great! While some indulged in dessert, the ‘Four Jolly Tramping Mates’ presented two songs, ably led by Bruce.
Thanks boys, you did well!
The Mates/boys. (Adrienne pic.)
All in all this was a really successful day, with everyone relaxed and happy, enjoying the food, the company and the entertainment. – Judy and Bev.
1. 15/7/2015. Hikers. Street Art Street Walk. E. Leaders: Lance and Lois.
iPhoto GPS of route
It was another of the Lance and Lois’ well-planned, well-commentated walks. We surprised them with our large group, numbering 31, crowding up at street corners and filling pedestrian crossings, but they coped. Beginning at Unity Park lookout, we first walked down Eglington Road to the former Montecillo property being developed for new housing. Lance told us the driveway in was a solid 8 inches thick concrete slab!) We then returned out to walk down through the Town Belt by way of of the ‘Steep Street’ track, stopping on a grassy slope…
Morning Tea stop
…for morning tea just above the zig-zag steps.
The steps are of those awkward sloping kind, enforcing either a stretched stride or two tiny ones per step. Anyway we arrived a bit up Maitland Street above Carroll St, to enter an unobtrusive lane that led into a large centre-of-the-block grassy area that led us diagonally through to Stafford St. Having enjoyed this delightful mid-block section, we turned down Melville St to Carroll St to view the former St Andrews Church. Lance had already prepared us at our morning tea for this visit. He had told us of Rutherford Waddell’s greatest sermon of all time at this church on the ‘sin of cheapness’, where the Minister had declaimed against the sweated labour of the Dunedin seamstresses of the time, a clarion call that was to bring about far-reaching legislation reform of working conditions. So we viewed the historic church which has in more recent times been used by the Word of Life Pentecostals, and since 2001 by the Coptic Orthodox Church. We rounded the large old Bell Tea Co building corner into Hope St and up again to Stafford St to walk down it to our first street art, the Haast Eagle.
Chinese artist DALEast represents New Zealand’s extinct Haast Eagle and is reflective of his unique style which presents the frenetic shape of animals and people as if they have been constructed out of shards of metal. On Stafford St
We continued down and across to the corner of Princes and Jetty streets to view the “Riding Dreams” mural.
“Riding Dreams” by Pixel Pancho demonstrates a complex interweaving of the human form, flora, and metal to create the surreal image of a ‘not quite human’ boy riding a fantastical metal horse reflecting his fascination with 1950s robots.
Around the corner, “Love is in the air” on Bond St was delightful.
Polish artist Natalia Rak’s mural entitled “Love is in the air” is characteristic of her cheeky, playful and hyper-realistic style and reflects her passion for bold colours.
I could go on. We went hither and thither, as you can perceive from he route map, far too much to list here. This reporter can recommend such a stop-go walk, studying buildings, renovated and old, treading pavements some, no doubt we had never planted foot on before.
Just two more ‘works of art’ now, and lunch at First Church before heading back up the hill.
First the waka and steam-punk submarines exiting a fish’s mouth. (Quietly: But aren’t the sails billowing backwards?)
Maori waka and a steam-punk like submarine emerge from a fish’s mouth in this piece by Phlegm. On Vogel St.
Our lunch at First Church.
Panorama of lunch on seats in First Church grounds.
And finally, an art work in Rattray St.
“Chasing the Thin White Cloud” , three stories high is the largest work to date of Fintan Magee.
Then up Maclaggan St and High Street and back to the cars.
Thanks to Lance and Lois for a carefully thought out day.- Ian
(Grateful acknowledgement to Dunedin Street Art Trail information.)
1. 7/4/2021. Takitakitoa Wetland/Lester Harveys 90th Birthday. All. Leaders. Raewyn, Phil and Jill D
Wow, what a magical place, right on our back door, we can come here anytime, a great place to bring the grand kids……. Just some of the comments from 45 folk as we surveyed the wetland from the look out after the initial 20 minutes of walking, and listened to Steve Dixon from Otago Fish and Game wax lyrical about his office and spot for building his house, and who would disagree with him?
“We all looked at the amazing view of the wetland.” – Photo and Caption Clive
Steve clearly had done a Health and Safety assessment, having first created additional steps and boardwalk to aid access to the lookout track. He outlined the land history of the area, including land swaps, to provide an effective area for the wetland, as well as the process of creating the lake through the formation of the bund, and how flows and water levels are managed.
The area was quickly adopted by a range of water fowl and aquatic life and the mai-mai’s are available and open to junior and novice game bird hunters, principally on the opening day of the game bird season.
“Steve from Fish and Game.” – Photo and Caption Clive
Following morning tea we backtracked from the lookout and carried on, past extensive and fast growing native plantings to skirt the wetland and finally to arrive on the bund, that effectively controls water depth in the wetland at around 800mm.
“Walking around the wetland.” – Photo and Caption
We strolled and shambled across the bund, where Steve outlined the fish pass process, including the inanga (whitebait) breeding habitat.
“Looking back to lookout.” – Photo and Caption Gordon
In addition to brown teal, mallard, ‘parries’, black swan, and one or two white faced heron were also observed. Some perch maybe establishing themselves in the wetland as well. The fishermen turned their eyes to the pools….In thanking Fish and Game for their hospitality it was commented that it was great to see a vision achieved so quickly, and with the right environment and support to see how nature can quickly be re established. Thanks also to the NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust for funding .
“The water comes and goes through here! – Photo and Caption John
Folk stretched out for the return walk to the cars, with Steve providing some assistance for hitch-hikers over the last few hundred metres. Thanks again Steve.
From the Wetland car park there was a steady procession of cars headed for Momona Hall to enjoy a convivial lunch with guest of honour Lester. The chairperson of the Hall committee provided an interesting over view of the history of the Hall, and outlined in some detail the restoration efforts, principally the magnificent murals and overall presentation of the Hall. Yes a great secret that should be more widely understood and appreciated.
“We are told the history of the hall and murals.” – Photo and Caption PamLester’s 90th birthday function.” – Photo and Caption Pam
Arthur outlined to the group Lester’s work and community contribution, including to the Club and presented a card to Lester, which was followed by a fairly rousing version of Happy Birthday Lester. In his response and subsequently the cutting of his chocolate and fruit cake, the latter so expertly baked by himself, Lester managed to squeeze in quite a bit of comment, acknowledging also Mrs Harvey’s 93rd birthday as well as their 65 years of marriage. Well done!
“I made my own 90th birthday cake.” – Photo and Caption Clive
In true tramping fashion justice was done to the lovely food, to which everyone had so ably contributed.
Many thanks to all involved in making the day first and foremost such a wonderful social occasion.
1. 7/4/2021. All. Takitakitoa Wetland. Leaders. Raewyn, Phil and Jill D
Wow, what a magical place, right on our back door, we can come here anytime, a great place to bring the grand kids…….Just some of the comments from 45 folk as we surveyed the wetland from the look out after the initial 20 minutes of walking, and listened to Steve Dixon from Otago Fish and Game wax lyrical about his office and spot fng his house, and who would disagree with him.
“The popular view” – Photo and Caption John.“Steve from Fish and Game talking.” – Photo and Caption John
Steve clearly had done a Health and Safety assessment, having first created additional steps and boardwalk to aid access to the lookout track. He outlined the land history of the area, including land swaps, to provide an effective area for the wetland, as well as the process of creating the lake through the formation of the bund, and how flows and water levels are managed.
The area was quickly adopted by a range of water fowl and aquatic life and the mai-mai’s are available and open to junior and novice game bird hunters, principally on the opening day of the game bird season.
Photo and Caption John
Following morning tea we backtracked from the lookout and carried on, past extensive and fast growing native plantings to skirt the wetland and finally to arrive on the bund, that effectively controls water depth in the wetland at around 800mm. We strolled and shambled across the bund, where Steve outlined the fish pass process, including the inanga (whitebait) breeding habitat.
“The water and whitebait come and go from here!” – Photo and Caption John..
In addition to brown teal, mallard, ‘parries’, black swan, and one or two white faced heron were also observed. Some perch maybe establishing themselves in the wetland as well. The fishermen turned their eyes to the pools….
In thanking Fish and Game for their hospitality it was commented that it was great to see a vision achieved so quickly, and with the right environment and support to see how nature can quickly be re established. Thanks also to the NZ Game Bird Habitat Trust for funding .
Folk stretched out for the return walk to the cars, with Steve providing some assistance for hitch-hikers over the last few hundred metres. Thanks again Steve.
From the Wetland car park there was a steady procession of cars headed for Momona Hall to enjoy a convivial lunch with guest of honour Lester. The chairperson of the Hall committee provided an interesting over view of the history of the Hall, and outlined in some detail the restoration efforts, principally the magnificent murals and overall presentation of the Hall. Yes a great secret that should be more widely understood and appreciated.
“Learning of the History and murals of the hall.” – Photo and Caption Pam
Arthur outlined to the group Lester’s work and community contribution, including to the Club and presented a card to Lester, which was followed by a fairly rousing version of Happy Birthday Lester. In his response and subsequently the cutting of his chocolate and fruit cake, the latter so expertly baked by himself, Lester managed to squeeze in quite a bit of comment, acknowledging also Mrs Harvey’s 93rd birthday as well as their 65 years of marriage. Well done!
“I made this 90th birthday cake.” – Photo and Caption Clive
In true tramping fashion justice was done to the lovely food, to which everyone had so ably contributed.
“Lester’s 90th birthday function.” – Photo and Caption Pam
Many thanks to all involved in making the day first and foremost such a wonderful social occasion.
2. 7 Mar 2918. Both. Clarksbrae, Clarks Junction. Leaders: Jay and Jan.
Route Map, courtesy Ian. Station House to Deep Stream.
On Wednesday 7th March 40 trampers and hikers completed a walk on “Clarksbrae” farm, Clarks Junction. After a 30 minute car ride we arrived on a lovely summer’s day at “Clarksbrae” Farm and parked close to the woolshed. I must say the tidiest and cleanest woolshed I have ever seen.
From there we had to take 6 cars to the end of the walk to shuttle people on completion of the walk.
It was 10.30 when we started
Some cars were hidden in a valley about 10k from Clarksbrae and we set out to find them. We set out across well tended farmland … (Clive pic and caption.)
and the walk was on a designated stock laneway. It was a steady but gentle climb through beautiful farmland
… and live stock. (Clive pic and caption.)
and wonderful views of the Maungatua, The Lammermoor Range, the Rock and Pillar Range through to Middlemarch. At the end of the laneway we turned left and walked up to the trig station where we had our lunch at 12.30.
With a late start we missed morning tea but made the most of lunch at the trig point. (Clive pic and caption.)
After lunch we followed a track that in places was marked out with painted arrows and warratahs with plastic bags on put in place by the farmer so as we knew which direction to take to get back to the cars. This part of the walk was generally down hill.
Downhill to search for the cars. (Clive pic and caption.)Hurray, we found them. (Clive pic and caption.)
Many of our walkers filled plastic bags with beautiful fresh mushrooms.
The distance travelled was 11.5ks. Coffee was at the ” Wobbly Goat” in Outram. – Jay and Jan B
30 August, 2017. Hikers. Clarksbrae, Clarks Junction. Leaders: Jay and Jan.
Tramp Report from the hikers group. Our walk today comprising of 21 enthusiastic folk started at “Clarksbrae” Farm, Clarks Junction. Farm owner, Richard Nichol gave permission to us to walk along the stock lane way which was very comfortable under foot. The walk was a gentle climb with three steep short gullies to get the heart rate up a bit. Very doable for all concerned. The scenery encompassed The Maungatua, the Lammermoors, the Rock and Pillar Range and the Kakanui Range. We had lunch at the trig station which gave us 360 degrees views. The walk back was all down hill. All up we walked 10.3ks. – Jay and Jan.
1. 1/7/2015. All. Midwinter Dinner. Concord Tavern. E. Leaders: Elaine and Eric.
GPS Route Map
Well! Records set. At least for the tramp. 40! Yes, 40. And 50 for the meal. Much due, this reporter suspects, to the way Elaine crafted the walk’s publicity. Easy? Well, not altogether with a bit of a climb into Abbotsford maybe a bit hard for some.
First problem was to number the carpark’s milling crowd off, but Fred got it right by standing at the corner by the road. Elaine set off at a brisk pace down …
Down from Inn (John pic)
… the “Main South Road” (surely it’s time to name it the Old Main South Road), around the corner at the bottom and then level walking towards Green Island. Then a stop. Question time.
Q1 (John pic)
Date of motorway completion? Wow. Peter had the exact answer. 1974. Take a prize! Then on. Stop again, outside an imposing gateway. What do the initials IRMO stand for?
IRMO. (John pic)
More knew the answer this time. A prize again. Onward. Stop – outside Harraways Office. Now a generous distribution …
Harraways (John pic)
… of complimentary Oats Singles packets. Take more than one. Onward again. Across rise where most recalled the railway line that once crossed the road. To collect coal from Saddle Hill once, someone said. Last stop, at the curly beginning of the impressive overhead footbridge, spanning Kaikorai Stream, the motorway, …
Bridge (John pic)
… bush, and finally the railway before turning right into Neill Street and left into Matthew Street, and second entrance on our left into a property with a wonderful back covered porch.
Porch (John pic)
A further surprise. We were regaled with mulled wine or soup served in pottles with generous refills. (A recent email from Elaine says a further whole thermos of mulled wine got overlooked. – Damn, as she so feelingly put it.) Next, in through a door leading under the house to view …
Train set. (John pic)
.. a model train set.( This reporter can testify it was even more elaborate than any he saw at the recent display put on at Wobblies.) It was N gauge (9mm). Unfortunately, the owner didn’t have it going, lest he exposed himself to an embarrassing derailment. Too bad. It was capable of running two trains at once. There’s a wealth of ancillary detail also, all to scale. A close study will prove most rewarding! To this reporter, this is the engineering equivalent of close needlework.
After this wonderful surprise break, it was back down Matthew Street and away along Neill Street to our left to reach a hidden pedestrian underpass at the foot of Armstrong Lane …
Underpass
… and to emerge onto a little path that skirted round to the foot of Harraway Road, across a Kaikorai Stream bridge, out onto the “Main South Road” and back to the Concord Tavern for the Dinner. Here we met with the non-walkers and filled an almost overcrowded dining room. Some of us neglected to pick our table first as we found we were supposed to (including this reporter) before we lined up at the servery to place our meal order, but waiters found us eventually and all was well.
Again, due to Elaine’s homework with her sponsors, there were little prezzies on the tables and under-the-seat tickets for rewards. What a girl she is!
So, thanks to Elaine and Eric for such an imaginative midwinter dinner function effort. Well done, to put it mildly. – Ian.
16/8/2000. Concord – Blackhead. Leaders: Les W, Diana and Ray.
26/5/1999 Concord from Tavern to Blackhead. Leaders: Jean, Ngaire, Bev McI.
19/5/1993 Concord Corner, Blackhead, Beach, Brighton Road, Allan Road, Green Island Bush Road. Round Trip. Leaders: Jack, Rosemary, Joyce I, Joyce S
23/9/1989 Concord Hills from Wine and Spirits carpark. Easy+ Leaders: George, Ria L, Pam, Ria H
06/11/2024. Deep Creek Weir. Grade 3. Combined. Leaders: Barbara Shackell, Wendy Langley, Carolyn Pridham, Sue Johnstone.
04/09/2024. Outram Heritage Trail and Floodbank. Grade 2. Combined. Leaders: Anette MacRae, Katrina McKenzie, Cathy Ferguson, Janette Abbot.
07/08/2024. City to Surf. Grade 2. Combined. Leaders: Gail Williams, Karen McInnes, Jenni and Bruce Wright.
03/07/2024. Combined. Tunnel Beach, Concord Tavern Lunch – Mid Winter Catchup. Grade 2. Leaders: Phil and Helen Morris, Jay Devlin and Margaret Maxwell. Continue reading “Midwinter Lunch – Tunnel Beach and Concord Inn”
22 hikers assembled at a car park in Limeworks Road, Milburn on a rather grey morning with a cold head on sou’wester blowing into our faces. After traversing a farm track, we joined the Clutha Gold Trail in Circle Hill Road and began what Jill quite accurately described as a day of quirky bridges and old fossils!
11. 17/01/2024. Hikers. Warrington. Leaders Jenny Finnerty and Jay Devlin
16. 06/12/2023. Hikers. Sutton Salt Lake – Glencreag Track. Grade 2.5. $16. 60km. Leaders: Wendy Langley/Katrina McKenzie
