Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Location: 10 km.

Click Flagstaff Creek Walking Track for background information.

Park at Three Mile Hill lookout, or Bullring or Pottery, Whare Flat.
Permit from City Forest, Dunedin 455 5512.

GPS of route, courtesy Ken. Unaccountable lapse in record. Deduce omitted route yourself!

17. 28/4/2010. Hikers. Flagstaff Forest walk. Leaders: Bruce and Marjorie.

Thirteen hikers parked at the Taieri lookout and set off on the bush track opposite which was a very pleasant walk. Although it had rained, pine needles made a soft dry carpet. The variety of trees and bird calls, including rosellas, provided interest and we admired the tall straight trunks of the giant trees.
We had morning tea and lunch at the same spot by the Flagstaff stream but between we did a circular walk around forestry roads. These provided us with good walking underfoot and although it was quite a grind up Stuart Street we all managed it with ease by taking our time and stopping to admire the view of the Taieri Plains and Saddle Hill. After lunch we completed the bush walk back to the cars.
It was quite a short walk, although no-one took up the offer to go round again. Another time a further circle could be added on at the top of Stuart Street. The weather was ideal with not a breath of wind and mild temperatures. – Marjorie

16. 1/7/2009 Both Hikers and Trampers. Flagstaff Forest. South Rd, High St, Laings, High St, Stuart St, South Rd. Leaders: Neil, Ria

14. 20/9/2006. Hikers. Three Mile Hill area. Easy. Leaders: Jean, Anne R, Eleanor B.

12. 11/9/2002. Alt. Three Mile Hill. Leaders: Les W, Mary M, Peg C

11. 27/6/2001 Three Mile Hill. Leaders: Daphne, Eleanor, Mavis

10. 25/4/2001. Three Mile Hill. Leaders: Daphne, Peg C, Mary M.

9. 19/7/2000. D.C.C. Forestry Circuit. Leaders: Shirley R, Arthur and Barbara.

8. 18/8/1999. DCC Forestry Walk. 3 Mile Hill. Leaders: Margaret D, Winifred, Joan H.

7. 11/11/1998. DCC Forest – 3 Mile Hill. Leaders: Betty, Joan H, Winifred.

6. 28/5/1997. Flagstaff Forest Walk. Leaders: Peg A, Peg M, Margaret D

5. 22/1/1997. Flagstaff – Creek Forest. Leaders: Peggy M, Margaraet D, Peg A.

4. 26/6/1996. D.C.C. 3 Mile Hill Forestry Round Trip from Coburns. Medium. Shorter alternative in some areas. Leaders: J Roy, Ian, Catherine.

3. 30/3/1994. D.C.C. Forestry, Whare Flat, Look-out, Three Mile Hill Road. WET FEET! Medium. Leaders: Ria L, Wendy B, Evelyn M, Doreen

2. 9/12/1992 DCC Forest. Round trip. Cars meet Three Mile Hill Lookout. Average. Leaders: Marie F, Nel K, Doreen, Lesley S

1. 22/6/1988 Three Mill Hill from Taieri Lookout. Pleasant pine walks. Leaders:

4. 31/5/2017. Hikers. Green Island street walk. E. Leaders: Elaine and Chris.

The above route map gives some indication of the intricacies of Elaine’s   planned route, designed to cross and recross, by way of tunnels and bridges galore, the barriers of railway line, stream and motorway dividing  Green Island from Abbotsford. It was a street-walk, most suitable on the day for an off-and-on light morning drizzle. We were treated to a whole gamut of lower Abbotsford house designs, most instructive of fashions favoured in different decades, complete with one or two older ones looking very old and very neglected. At the latter part of the hike, we also got to peek into some of the large industrial goings-on at the north end of the town, not least Harraways. All most impressive.

At one point where a railway line once crossed the old main road (remember it?), Elaine stopped us to point out how it once served a coal-mine of her grandfather. She has a photo of a small steam engine about to head north across the road.

Many were the remarks appreciative of the cleverness of the route. A big thank you to Elaine and Chris for a great day out. – Ian, (for Elaine [without her knowledge – yet!] whose recent rapidly failing eyesight prevented her from tackling a report.)

3. 25/2/2009 Hikers. Green Island. Farm Walk. Leaders: George, Dot B

2. 10/5/2006. Hikers. Green Island street and farm walk. Leaders: Chris, Dot B.

1. 8/2/2006. Hikers. Street Walk: Green Island Street and Farm Walk. Leaders: Dot B, Chris.

Distance for carpark: 31.5 km.

11. 29/3/2017. Hikers. Murrays Farm. M. Leaders: Keith and Shona.

It was a foggy, misty morning when 19 Hikers met at the gateway bel0w Murrays Farm before ambling up the road to having morning tea in the implement shed.

We then followed the fenceline up and across the paddocks before descending to explore around a container being used as a crib.

We exited onto the coast …

… where we had lunch …

… out of the northerly wind.

We followed the water’s edge around past the old boat shed, climbing up the hill and visiting an old dwelling also being used as a crib and back along the farm tracks to the hole in the hedge and down the hill to the cars.

Coffee was at Macandrew Bay cafe. – Shona and Keith.

10. 20/2/2013. Hikers. Murrays Farm. Medium. Leaders: Peter and Wendy.

Five trampers scaled the almost vertical ascent to the Sandymount road before descending further by the bush.

Hoopers Inlet video

We sampled the beach at the mouth but a keen wind persuaded us up around the point to a boathouse in a more sheltered position.

Just along a little bit from the boathouse, we came upon this nest.

Then it was just a case of following our noses back across paddocks to the cars. – Ian

8. 10/2/2010. Hikers. Murrays Farm. Medium. Leaders: Margaret and Les, Fred.

7. 14/5/2008. Hikers. Murrays Farm. Easy. Leaders:Chris, Gwen.

Chris, who knows the area well, ably led us and, before returning home, some of us were lucky enough to stop off with her at a relative’s house on the hill and walk around the interesting garden, admiring both the plants and the panoramic views. – Marjorie.

5. 18/1/2017. Hikers. Moores Bush – Sullivan’s Dam. E. Leaders: Bev and Lesley.

4. 19/9/2012. Hikers. Moores Bush, Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Bruce and Marjorie

3. 17/2/2010 Hikers. Thompson Rd, Moores Bush, Leith Valley Rd, Sullivan’s Dam, Leith Valley Rd. Leaders: Bev, Leslie.

Have included the website for anyone interested in looking it up. http://www.ecoimages.co.nz/ForestandBird/mooresbush.html The photos are ones from that site.

Just a short walk to the entrance of Moores Bush for our morning tea and then off we went through the bush. Track rather overgrown and we had to wade through Leith Stream to get to the exit but everyone was interested to see Moores bush and check out what work had been done by the Forest and Bird Soc., over the years. We didn’t see much “bird”, but we loved the “forest”, with  some grand Rimu trees, lots of mature Fuchsia, a Big Red Beech, many mature Lancewoods, heavy undergrowth, and more recent plantings of Totara, Rimu

We exited again onto the Leith Valley Road. From there it was up the road to Sullivans Dam with a very pleasant walk round the dam to find a sheltered spot on the motorway side for our lunch as it had turned quite cold. We admired the birdlife on the ‘lake’ and the unusual North Island Cabbage Tree planting. Then it was back down the Leith Valley Rd to the cars. While it was not a long walk, it was varied and satisfying for the 12 people most of whom were discovering new territory. – Bev and Bob. (Amalgamation of two reports. Thank you, Bev and Bob. – Editor)

2. 5/6/2002. Combined. Patmos Avenue, Pigeon Flat, Moore’s Bush. Medium. Leaders: Nancy, Barbara and Arthur, Barbara McC

1. 3/5/2000. Patmos Avenue, Leith Saddle, Moore’s Bush. This incorporates and longer and shorter walk. Starting together. Leaders: Nancy, Pat and Bill.

Location: 31.8 km.

Click Taieri River Geology for background information.

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17. 5/10/2016. Hikers. Millennium-John Bull; Taieri Ferry to Taieri Mouth. Bus at both ends. M. Leaders: Bob and Doug.

Millennium Track – combined trip Wednesday 5th October 2016-10-05

A dampish morning did not deter 40 intrepid club members who boarded the bus at the Bush Rd car park promptly at 9am.  Packs were stowed in the luggage compartment and our driver Richard transported the happy crew out to Highway 1 and along to Henley and the start of the track – well, almost the start.  24 hikers disembarked in persistent light rain and trudged along the road for 45 minutes to a morning tea stop on the veranda of the white house just over the style, at the true beginning of the track.

The remaining 16 bods (and  the bus) departed for Taieri Mouth.

 

The upward plod soon began and we were glad it wasn’t too hot.  The light rain continued but there was no wind and it was pleasant for tramping.  It was lovely in the bush with plenty of bird song and glimpses of the river below as we climbed.

A couple of solid hours saw us at the junction down to John Bull Creek, where it was unanimously decided not to descend, but to press on to the top for lunch.  Which we did, collapsing gratefully for welcome food and drink.  The rain had stopped and a pleasant break was had, with chocs to celebrate Alec’s recent birthday.

Then down, and down, with a few inadvertent sit-downs, and the loss of a couple of impatient members who tried to take the direct route….it was quite slippery.  No harm done, and we were soon back by the river for the last plod out to the road.  The bus parked by the bridge was a welcome sight.

Nine cheerful souls on the bus had had a pleasant few hours meandering round Taieri Mouth and catching up on gossip, and there was no sign of the hardy seven trampers.

Thanks to hiking leaders Bob and Doug and tramping leader Arthur.  It was a great day out, well-supported and enjoyed by all, and rounded off with a riotous session for coffee for 23 at Topiary.  – Judy.

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16. 13/7/2016. Trampers. Millennium and John Bull from Henley. M. Leader:  Arthur.

Two cars transported 9 trampers to begin the day’s adventure. The mild temperature was welcome, the sky overcast with northerly breezes.

We left the car-park at 10.00 a.m. and waked for about 10 minutes, to have morning tea at the picnic spot on the riverbank.

Continuing on it was up and down, as the track flows, and then up to the high up seat where we stopped for a little while. This spot overlooks the river to advantage

and also views away to the north too.

For example, Mount Cargill stood out in all its glory, with its mast on top.

The track was now downhill, the trampers intelligently noting that it would be the opposite on the returning journey. We came to a small wind-blown tree across the track, but Neil M. wrestled mightily with it and it was a problem no more.

An hour after leaving the high up seat we reached the track’s end. We were invited to have our lunch outside at Jay’s nearby house (she didn’t have the key with her), which we found a most pleasant and suitable place. – Thanks, Jay.

A half-hour’s lunch and rest stop, and the party was on the track again. Grim determination was noted now, and with little talking, a fast pace was set, and we were back at the high up seat in an hour uphill – the same time as it had taken going down.

It had just come on to rain, so a brief regroup was taken under the trees, coats on, etc. The view being ignored now, downhill, and we were back at John Bull gully – just as the rain stopped and the sun came out.

Up the zigzag, and along, and down, etc., saw us back a the car park at 3.35 p.m.

The DoC sign at the car park stated that it was 9.3 km to Taieri Mouth but Margreet’s electronic gizmo said that we had done 16.2 kms.

Whatever distance we walked, we can say very definitely that “we went there and back”. A satisfying day’s tramp.

Blustery wind and rain welcomed us back to Mosgiel. No time for coffee today! – Arthur (substitute leader for Helen – off sick.)

The day was a bit cold and windy with some promised rain. A vote taken at the Taieri River mouth bridge was two to one (the writer was the ‘one’) with two abstentions to do the more sheltered John Bull Gully track instead of the scheduled Akatore beach walk. Aerobically it was certainly more beneficial with its plentiful provision of ups and downs. Continuing on to the Millennium Track to Wardells Cottage as well provided us with an all-up 18 km work-out which we all enjoyed. There was some spring grass overgrowth in places and the odd fallen tree. Some scrub cutting had been started There was some school group or other on inflatables out on the Taieri.

12. 15/4/2009 Hikers. John Bull Track. Leaders: Lesley S, Bill H, Fred.

11. 16/5/2007. Hikers. John Bull from  Taieri Mouth. Medium. Leaders: Dot B, Lesley G.

10. 15/10/2003. Medium. John Bull Gully from Taieri Mouth. Medium. Leaders: Jack and Rosemary.

9. 5/9/2001. Combined. John Bull Track. Leaders: Frank and Lesley, Pam.

8. 1/11/2000. John Bull Track. Leaders: Doug M, Hazel, Jean.

7. 16/6/1999. John Bull Track. Leaders: Lance and Lois, Judy C.

6. 18/11/1998. John Bull Track to river. Leaders: Dot B, Doug and Ngaire.

5. 8/7/1998. John Bull Gully and return. Leaders: Bev H, Bev McI.

4. 4/6/1997. John Bully Gully. Leaders: Joyce, Nancy, Eleanor.

3. 14/2/1996. John Bull Gully. Leaders: Dot and Eric.

2. 6/4/1994. John Bull Track, then over paddock to Waihola Road, back on John Bull Track. Medium. Les S, Bill H, Doug and Ngaire

No. 58 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Taieri Historical Park. Farm”

Location: 11 km.

9/12/2015 Taieri Historical Park, Outram Glen, Whare Creek. Leader: Judy.

Judy and Adrienne did a great job of organising a rather complicated end-of-the-year gathering at the Taieri Historical Park when it didn’t all go to plan. Indeed the ordered trestle arrived, Judy had the key to the historic church where we had planned to lunch later, but there was not promised entry to the park museum, although happily the Machinery Museum at the top was there for us to wander around and gawp at. We we a goodly-sized group – forty-five of us. We were split into three groups:

Trampers went up the “Outram Glen” track, in the event stopping just short of Lee Stream lest they should find themselves getting back late for lunch.

Hikers (group one) went up the Whare/Traquair Creek track where we were informed through some 1912 cell-phone photos that the true “Outram Glen” spot was just across the creek adjacent to a flour mill, sadly burnt down about 1916, an area resorted to by picnickers, now built over by the more sweeping corner of the George King Memorial Drive just where it begins to climb the hill. The group went on to have morning tea at the track end, enjoying the bush and stream setting, and speculating where the dray track must have continued on to, perhaps up the side stream there, over a bridge that Jim noticed traces of. But click on here to see the probable true explanation. As depicted by the route map below, the track is just under a kilometre long. The group wandered back down to what is now termed the “Glen”, splitting up, some to explore where the Trampers had gone and others to wander where they willed. There was ample time to kill before  the midday lunch.

Hikers (group two) resorted for a morning tea picnic at the “Outram Glen” Taieri River beach before returning.

Come midday, and others arrived. Many clustered round Jill’s ” bookstall, (an Altrusa project, proceeds to the Mosgiel  Swimming Pool). We drifted into the church building and were greeted with a most attractive layout of the shared  food we had brought.

Early fears that the pews would inhibit social intercourse were quickly allayed. Fred pointed out to this reporter how blokes at the “shed” had cunningly resized some longer pews so that the collection of pews presented a most genuine setting.

To round off the day, Bruce and his ukelele led us in singing a number of old unchurchy songs, to two of which he had added clever tramping verses of his own. Well done, Bruce!

Well, that winds things up. – Except! Plans to “coffee” at Outram were amended to Wal’s Topiary because of its larger size,  but which we discovered upon reaching there had been taken over by a group for a Christmas get-together. So nine of us ended up at the Blackstone Cafe for our coffee chat. All in all, the day was a good occasion to finish off the year’s tramping and to wish each other a good holiday season and  a good meeting together in the New Year. – Ian.

1. 1/7/2015. All. Midwinter Dinner. Concord Tavern. E. Leaders: Elaine and Eric.

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 …

… 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.

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?

More knew the answer this time. A prize again. Onward. Stop – outside Harraways Office. Now a generous distribution …

… 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, …

… 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.

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 …

.. 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 …

… 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.

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

23 km from car park.

1/4/2015. Both. Neehoff Farm, Hindon. M. Leaders: Ian F and Arthur H.

A goodly number of thirty Trampers and Hikers, as you can see from the GPS map, set off back alongside the road we had arrived in, the Leaders searching for one of several elusive ridges, each separated by bushed gullies and leading down to a main gully at their foot. However, due to their number (six in total!) and too tentatively choosing one ridge too soon but finding it too stunted to be the one, we ended up turning back (about 0.7 kms on GPS map) instead of going on, and descending the ridge futher back only to be forced to have to climb out of the gully beyond its foot (red spot about 1.4 kms on GPS map) and up onto the one originally planned on.  By now it was time for morning tea. (Sorry about the lack of photos – we didn’t have John and his camera with us this time.)

On down the right gully now this time and into the main one across its foot, left skirting its side and crossing at a bridge and struggling up the slope directly ahead. (Red spots about 1.6 kms on GPS map.) Then it was on, up to our left, climbing gradually for the most part, through a number of paddocks and gates, until by various turns we reached what appeared a paper road. (About 3.7 kms on GPS map.) This formed a long ascending route to the point where we turned into a paddock again. (About 5.8 kms on the GPS map.) En route, we met up with the Neeehoff farm’s neighbouring owner. He reassured us he had been consulted, but it now became apparent that we had spent more time on his farm than the other! Ah well, another permission to prudently seek next time. It was in the new paddock that the mushroom pickers got really busy. There had been some mushrooms in the first paddocks, but here their number appeared endless. This led to a prolonged hunt by the aficionados while most went on to stop for lunch not too distant from one particular loiterer who shall remain unnamed. (6.1 kms on the GPS map.) Some great mushroom fry-ups would be on the menu that evening!

Around the head of the gully facing the luncheon eaters, we descended to the big gully again, but here bridgeless, with its water-way just a step (or more in some places) too wide. Many just plunged through, but the tail on the GPS map indicates a walk upstream for the few patient enough to wait to be led to the only dry one-step crossing. (About 6.7 kms on the GPS map.) From there we had to walk back along to our left and the corner of a paddock ahead, and wait for leader Arthur to switch off the hot wire of what we now knew to be the Neehoff boundary fence. (About 6.9 kms on the GPS map.) Once through the fence, ahead lay the long steep slog up the longest and principle of all those six ridges leading back up again, – also the nearest to the homestead. (Kms 7 and 8 on the GPS map.) Now we were back up onto the original paddock and soon back to the cars.

Well, this was one of the now controversial “both” walks, set down for Trampers to join with Hikers the first Wednesdays of the months. It was moderately hard only in respect to the steep climbs out of the gullies. But not particularly long or challenging. There were happily more Trampers than there had been recently, generously tolerating the slower pace of the Hikers for the  sake of “Recreational” togetherness and getting to know fellow-club members better. Perhaps the emerging arrangement of this along with a track-clearing option on the same day, is becoming a way through of providing a flexibility of choice for Trampers to exercise in accordance with their own preference. – Ian

20/2/2013. Trampers. Neehoff Farm, Hindon.

22/2/1995. Neehoff Farm, Hindon. Medium. Leaders: Molly, Jack and Rosemary, Eleanor.

Abt 18 km from car park

10/9/2014 Street Walk: Hikers. Patmos Avenue, Pine Hill, round trip. M. Leaders: Bev and Adrienne.

23 hikers left cars in Malvern St on a sunny no clouds day. No wind either.
We made our way up Patmos Ave, across the over-bridge of the motor way and on to Maxwelton St.
Does anyone know how this or who this street is named after? Somewhere on this journey we stopped for morning tea.
We passed some very old buildings on the way and there are some historical houses of significance from the
early days. At the end of this wee story there should be some web sites listed than you can pursue if you wish.
At the end of Maxwelton St we moved over to Pine Hill Rd.

We travelled down to 444 Pine Hill Rd and then up an alley onto Campbell Rd and then continued on down hill. Love down hills!
We arrived again at Pine Hill Rd. Lunch was at a small park.

We walked on down to Woodhaugh Gardens. None of us got run over on the way.

Woodhaugh Gardens are a pleasure to walk thru. My parents told me that in 1923/4 they did all of their courting there.
That was what it was called.  The bird life was great to listen to. Walking thru the tracks in the gardens we passed the old quarry that closed in 1949 … and the old pub on the corner of Malvern St and Woodhaugh St was only open from 1888 till 1892. This hotel is getting a major makeover, which is good.

The views we had today looking over Dunedin are well worth the climb and the leadership by Bev was awesome even though she didn’t look like a hiker. Too well dressed in her high viz vest and pink nails. Adrienne did a good back up. No one and I mean NO ONE got behind her. Don’t forget to check out the sites. – Elaine.

<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Hill,_New_Zealand#The_upper_slopes”>The upper slopes</a>

<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Hill,_New_Zealand#Liberton”>Liberton</a>

<a href=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Hill,_New_Zealand#Dalmore”>Dalmore</a>

12/5/2010. Street Walk: Hikers. Patmos Avenue. Leaders: Bev, Lesley.

No. 90 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Round Hill – Milburn (George) Farm”

42 km from car park.

2/6/2014 Both. Fort Hill, Barnes and Circle Hill Roads, Milburn. Moderate. Leaders: Ian, Ken

Twenty-six turned out for a sunny first tramp for the winter, on back country roads amongst lovely rolling hill farms to the west of Milburn.

We lunched where Fort Hill Road ended at a T-junction with Barnes Road, which stretched left to meet Circle Hill Road, and right to form to form a larger route to also turn down Circle Hill Road at its end where both these roads joined to form Douglas Road.

Ken supplied this report regarding this spot. Thanks Ken. : “The people that did the longer walk, covered 15.2km; Moving time  3hrs 9min; We climbed 374mtrs. I guess the ones that took the shortcut walked about 11km.
I base this on the time taken for us to walk around the longer loop, & the ave speed was 4.8km/hr, & it took us nearly an hour to walk around the loop.”

As said before, the day was sunny and calm, and each ample time to make the climbing bits at bits own pace.

Just a personal thought for road walks. With the growing practice of wearing, and of availability of high-viz vests, a good idea would be for more than just the leaders to be wearing them.

And lastly. What is becoming the customary coffee stop was enjoyed this time at Waihola’s Black Swan. – Ian.

1/9/2010 Both. Fort Hill, Barnes and Circle Hill Roads, Milburn. Moderate. Leaders: Ian, Ken

32 km from car park

6. 22/1/2014. Hikers. Hoopers Inlet from Hall. Easy. Leaders: Barbara and Arthur

22 Hikers parked their 7 cars at Hoopers Inlet Hall. As recorded on the last report below, we rested for morning tea on the old Hoopers Inlet School grounds. Then over the hill to the the Papanui Inlet Road – Cape Saunders Road – Hoopers Inlet Road to the end. Over the style for lunch on a grassy slope sheltered from the wind.

A quick visit after down to the beach rewarded us with the sight of a sealion sanding himself in the sun. We retraced our steps back to the cars parked at Hoopers Inlet Hall.

(Extract from http://portobello.org.nz/our-community/hoopers-inlet-hall/:

The Hall belongs to the local community and is run and maintained by them. Originally built as a boating club, the hall was for many years “the place to be seen”. Dances have taken place here over the years and many local people have had family members start their courting days at this hall. The hall has extensive views of Harbour Cone (Hereweka) which can be viewed from the deck and double doors built onto a sheltered open space. The reconstructed fireplace is a central feature of the hall. … The kitchen has been modernised. The hall caters for all sorts of occasions. For a booking, call Jackie 478 0508 or email pencontract@xtra.co.nz to check availability.)

5. 11/5/2011. Hikers. Hoopers Inlet from Hall. Easy. Leaders: Chris, Dorothy.

4. 28/11/2007. Hikers. Hoopers Inlet from Hall. Easy. Leaders: Chris, Bill H.

On a very pleasant morning 15 hikers parked their cars at the Hoopers Inlet Hall and set out for Continue Reading »

21/11/2012. Hikers. Mahinerangi Picnic Area. M.  Leaders: Wendy and Peter.

2/5/2007. Hikers. Mahinerangi Picnic Grounds. Leaders:Neil, Catherine

30/3/2004. Hikers. Mahinerangi Picnic Grounds. Leaders:Ria L, Catherine

12/11/2003. Hikers. Mahinerangi Picnic Grounds. Medium. Leaders: Joyce, Ray

20/9/1995. Mahinerangi, Picnic Ground. Easy+. Leaders: Ria L, Catherne, Peggy M, Colleen.

29/6/1994. Lake Mahinerangi, Verterburn Road, Picnic Place. Leaders: Catherine, Ria L, Peggy M, Heyden.