Ross Creek Reservoir

Reservoir square01/10/2025. Ross Creek Reservoir. Grade 3. Combined. Leaders: Yan Campbell, Graeme Souter, Jenni Wright, Wendy Langley.
Given the weather last Wednesday I think most of us were happier at the prospect of walking in the sheltered tracks of Ross Creek than the exposed paths at Victory Beach. Continue reading “Ross Creek Reservoir”

Fairfield via Abbotts Creek Track to Wingatui and Mosgiel

Mosgiel square 103/09/2025. Fairfield via Abbotts Creek Track to Wingatui and Mosgiel. Grade 2.5. Combined.  Leaders: Barbara Shackell, Jenni Wright, Sandy Webb and Esther Willis.
Barbara Shackell has certainly set the bar high for both effort and organisation for this combined tramp.

Continue reading “Fairfield via Abbotts Creek Track to Wingatui and Mosgiel”

Waikouaiti – Matakana

20250507 105601~2 Thumbnail07/05/2025. Waikouaiti – Matakana. Grade 2.5. Combined.  Leaders: Carol Thurlow, Jill Thomas and Clare Banks (with much help from Graham Thurlow)

35 hikers and trampers set off from the Waikouaiti Sports Ground walking down to the beach heading north, marvelling at how peaceful the sea was on a very still sunny day.

Continue reading “Waikouaiti – Matakana”

Inch Clutha

Inch Clutha Square02/04/2025. Inch Clutha. Grade 2.5. Combined. Leaders: Phil Keene, Graeme Souter, Bruce & Jenny Wright.

“Well it may be a case of third time lucky that we finally made this trip, especially with the help of Graeme’s map. 43 members in 11 cars enjoyed the ‘sunday’ drive to Kaitangata where we met up at the local you know what, before travelling on in convoy up and over that impressive bridge onto the island and around to the pumping station where we all parked up.

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Mt Stuart Reserve to Mt Stuart Tunnel (Clutha Gold cycle track)

150x15005/02/2025. Mt Stuart Reserve to Mt Stuart Tunnel (Clutha Gold cycle track).  Grade 2.5 and 3 Combined.  Leaders: Clare Banks, Barbara Shackell, Sue Beal.

Thirty-seven Hikers and Trampers (plus one driver/reader) gathered at the Mt Stuart Reserve in the Manuka Gorge on a warm and windless day to tackle what, for many, was a new track – part of the Clutha Gold Cycle trail.

Continue reading “Mt Stuart Reserve to Mt Stuart Tunnel (Clutha Gold cycle track)”

Takitakitoa, Wetland, Waihola Hall.

11/12/2024. Takitakitoa, Wetland, Waihola Hall. Grade 2. Combined hike and Christmas Lunch.  Leaders: Jan Butcher, Wendy Langley, John Gardiner, Graeme Souter.

Square 150This, our final event of 2024, promised to be a fitting farewell to the year’s activities, and a prelude to the Christmas cheer that awaited us all. About 50 keen hikers and trampers assembled at Peter Johnson Park. Continue reading “Takitakitoa, Wetland, Waihola Hall.”

Deep Creek Reservoirs

6 Nov Square Photo06/11/2024. Deep Creek Weir. Grade 3. Combined.  Leaders: Barbara Shackell, Wendy Langley, Carolyn Pridham, Sue Johnstone.

28 set off in absolute perfect weather, past Rocklands Station on the Old Dunstan Road, until reaching the Te Papanui gate.

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Outram Heritage Trail and Floodbank

 

Thumbnail Image Square04/09/2024. 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”

Waihola Walk

4. 21/02/2024. Hikers. Waihola/Milburn Area. Grade 2 Leaders: Bill and Jill

Bridge Square Thumb22 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!

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Middlemarch Area Tramps

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.

Middlemarch Area – Information and Trips Library


Sutton Salt Lake Katrina Square16. 06/12/2023. Hikers. Sutton Salt Lake – Glencreag Track. Grade 2.5. $16. 60km. Leaders: Wendy Langley/Katrina McKenzie

17 of us headed to Sutton where we walked the Sutton Lake loop. Continue reading “Middlemarch Area Tramps”

Macandrew Bay, Company Bay, McTaggart St, Camp Rd, Pukehiki, Greenacres St

Distance from car-park: 24 Km.

MacTaggart St track closed for lambing September and October.

Macandrew Bay, Company Bay, MacTaggart St, Camp Road, Pukehiki, Greenacres St – Information and Trips Library


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
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.

IMG20221207104711
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 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
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 Margeet
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 Phil
Phil at Jamestown in the Hollyford, in 2003, telling the grandiose stories of James Macandrew Caption and photo Phil
standing alongside James Macandrew's grave and memorial Caption and photo Phil
Standing alongside James Macandrew’s grave and memorial Caption and photo Phil

Continue reading “Macandrew Bay, Company Bay, McTaggart St, Camp Rd, Pukehiki, Greenacres St”