No. 98 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Omimi Beach Warrington (Tide) Year Round”
Location: 40 km.
9. 26/5/2012. Trampers. Warrington, Omimi, Pryde Rd, Slaughterhouse, Reservoir Hill Rd circuit.
Warrington, Omimi, Slaughterhouse
Category: Links Completed
Post linked to Info Post
Orokonui Ecosanctuary
Orokonui Ecosanctuary nr Dunedin, NZ
34 km from car-park.
9. 14/3/2012. Hikers. Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Leaders: Chris, Lesley
8. 12/11/2008. Hikers. Orokonui. Medium. Leaders: Lesley G, Wendy B, Joyce S
Well, the Sanctuary is BIG. Much bigger than the writer had imagined.
13km we went, with 9 of them around the perimeter, starting from the
bottom carpark, going around the estuary and clockwise thereafter
ascending from sea level
to near the top of Mopanui (400m+), then down
to the main top gate where the visitor centre will later be built,
near the junction of Blueskin and Mopanui Roads. We lunched there, couldn’t find the sleeve to Joyce’s thermos though we looked hard (and that was because it was back on her kitchen bench) and then it was all downhill
back to the cars, but in calm, warm conditions. A really
pleasant walk.
The fence that encloses the Orokonui Ecosanctuary ( the old Orokonui
DoC reserve which includes NZ’s tallest tree, plus all the additional
land) was closed off in July 2007. Almost all pests have been
eradicated, even down to the last goat. An employee behind the fence
explained that they were currently on a spraying programme around the
fenceline as even a bit of gorse widening a gap in the wire mesh will
create a ‘mouse breach’! While it is not yet open to the public, it
is possible to walk around the fence and marvel at what is being
planned. There are steep sections, especially at the northern end of
the fence but in general the 3 to 4 hour walk was very
straightforward, following the wide, gravelled perimeter track. There
was plenty to see: great views, named fence posts (we spotted No.10
Fleming Street where the PM is in residence) (well, actually it was
Prime Mover Ian and Shirley Fleming’s plaque on fence post No.10) and
varying vegetation. We could hear rosellas and a rifleman, but we
didn’t catch a glimpse of the 6 Kaka that have been released, although
Leslie Gowans, who visits regularly to detail sightings of birds, says
that they have not strayed much further than 100m from their release
site so far. The Orokonui website if you want to know more, can be
found at: www.orokonui.org.nz – Bob M
7. 7/7/2004 Leaders: Ian, Bill, Pat Before fenced in. Right around through entire gully.
6. 1/3/2000. Orokonui, Big Tree. Leaders; Shirley McN, Val.
5 .28/7/1999. Orokonui, Big Tree. Leaders: Shirley McN, Judy C, Val.
4. 30/9/1998. Orokonui, Big Tree. Leaders: Shirley McN, Judy C.
3. 7/5/1997. Orokanui – Big Tree round trip.
2. 6/11/1996. Orokonui – Big Tree Round Trip. Leaders: Shirley McN, Judy C, Wendy.
1. 22/5/1996. Orokonui – Big Tree round trip. Medium+ Leaders: Shirley McN, Judy C, Wendy
Finlayson, Wilkinson, Waihola, Skyline Roads
Waihola Forest Road Tramps
No. 63 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Waihola – Wilkinson Rd. Easement Rd. Skyline Rd. Wenita. Farm”Waihola tramps
Distance from car-park: 27 km.
Year round. Winter option. Contacts:
Parking: Contact Manager, Christian Youth Camp, Mr Kinnon 03 417 7120 for permission to park on the old wooden two-storey house property.
Carpark to Wilkinson Road 45 minutes.
15 minutes
Wilkinson to top of Easement 1 hour.
Easement to Bluff 30 minutes.
Bluff to Waihola top 1 hour.
Down Finlayson Road to car park. 30 minutes.
Wenita permit. Require 6 weeks notice, but less from us.
16. 18/1/2012. Hikers. Finlayson Road picnic area. Wilkinson, Easement, Skyline and Waihola Roads, round trip. Leaders: Marjorie and Bruce.
We parked our cars at a rest stop on Finlayson Rd, near Wilkinson Rd turn-off. Bruce led us round the area, planted with a variety of interesting trees, not the least being this large macrocarpa.
Continue reading “Finlayson, Wilkinson, Waihola, Skyline Roads”
Nicols Creek, Swampy Saddle, Davies Track
Click Dunedin’s Hills’ History for background information.
Click Swampy ridge track for background information.
Click Pineapple Track for background information.
Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.
No. 17 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Nicols Creek. D McCabe. Year Round”
Year round.
Nicols Creek circuit Maintained by Green Hut Track Group.
3. 9/11/2011. Trampers. Booth Road, Davies (formerly Warburton), Swampy Saddle, Nicols Creek.
Nine of us met at Booth Road. We entered Davies Track via McGoun this time, exiting it on the left a short way up past the cairn. A light shower came on during the bush section, sounding quite pleasant as it struck the leaves overhead. Out in the tussock at the top, the weather was clear again. Ria and Hazel had discovered a new track had been made above the bush, this time striking to the left instead of the one to the left, the one that got several of us lost last time where overgrowth had rendered a crucial turn invisible.
We emerged on the Flagstaff walkway above a rock outcrop and headed down to the top of the Pineapple. Here Gay, a visitor, left us and we continued along Swampy Ridge to the top of the Nicols/Moonlight track. A little way in and we found the track has been ruined by mountain bike wheels cutting a narrow deep groove down the track middle, making keeping our footing on the restricted track-sides difficult and dangerous. Further down, we kept to the Moonlight side of Nicols Creek and traced, where we could, the original track, bisected however by the zigzags of the mountain bike route. Rain now really set in and we sheltered in nearby bush for lunch. We then continued down the old track, through the macrocarpas, the stone outcrop and yet further carefully down to emerge at the creek crossing below the waterfall – to Ian’s delight but Ria’s chagrin who had hoped to emerge onto the Leith Valley road on the north side instead of now forced across to the other side. So it was down and out and up Islay St back to the cars. All felt it had been another good day out. Too dull and showery for photo opportunities however. – Ian.
2. 14/11/2007. Trampers. Woodhaugh, Ross Creek, Davies, Pineapple, Ross Creek return. Moderate. Leaders: Ria, Hazel.
The route Ria and Hazel took ten of us on provided plenty of variety both in scenery and weather. We approached Davies track by way of Ross Creek Reservoir from Woodhaugh. After Ross Creek it was through cleared forest before climbing through secondary growth …
… on the foothill slopes of Flagstaff before entering beautiful native forest and and hour later emerging on Flagstaff’s tussock and flax with overcast views of the harbour and Dunedin both north and south. We had encountered occasional showers to this point and now out on the tussock it was turning really cold. We were still not prepared upon reaching the upper Pineapple-Flagstaff track …
… to be pelted by a fierce but fortunately brief hail storm. We quickly made our way down to the junction with the Swampy Ridge track where now the hail had now been …
… replaced with snow. So it was down, down the Pineapple to the sheltered edge of the bush where we lunched in the now fitful sunshine. Then the bush, Booth Road, back through Ross Creek tracks and down past the reservoir until the last scenic bush gave way to Woodhaugh St and back to the cars. An interesting day. – Ian
In Leith Valley, where Otago’s first industry – sawmilling – is reputed to have started about the 1860s, is the start of the old Pineapple Track.
Originally, it was named Ross Track, after Archibald Hilson Ross, who owned most of the land in the vicinity. In the early 1920s, Mr Oscar Balk, first president of the Otago Tramping Club, led parties of trampers up this route. At the top of a rather steep section, the parties would stop to rest and often refresh themselves with a tin of pineapple. This tin was sometimes left hanging on a tree or fence, and the track came to be called the Pineapple Track.
The line of the Pineapple Walkway has deviated from the original track in places to provide more scenic variation.
The original vegetation of the area has been modified as a result of early milling, burning and stock grazing, but remnants of the milled species (podocarps) still remain. Rimu, miro, totara and matai are found in isolated pockets, mainly in damp gullies. Even so, the overall distribution of plant species retains some semblance of natural order with the larger forest trees growing at lower altitudes. Podocarp broad-leaved forest type occurs with shrub species which grade out into Dracophyllum shrub land and ultimately tussock grassland communities on the summit area.
Some common plants: fuchsia, pepper tree, lemonwood, broadleaf, totara, five’finger, wineberry, lancewood, Muehlenbeckia, Dracophyllum, Coprosma, Hebe, and wild spaniard tussock.
There are many varieties of birds in the bush areas where there is an ample food supply to sustain many nectar-, berry-, and insect-eating native birds.
Some of these are: New Zealand pigeon, bellbird, fantail, tomtit, brown creeper, tui, silvereye, rifleman and pipit.
1. 17/10/2001. Trampers. Nicols Creek – Swampy Saddle – Warburton Track. Leaders: Lex, Mary L, Irene.
Potato Point, Purakaunui
Distance from car-park: 39 km.
5. 20/7/2011. Purakaunui, Potato Point, Bay track, round trip.
4. 22/4/2009 Purakaunui, Potato Point, Long Beach, Bay track, ret. Leaders: Doug, Ian.
3. 26/9/2007. Trampers. Purakanui Circuit. Medium. Leaders: Shirley, Helen.
2. 1/12/2004. Trampers. Purakanui, Potato Point. Leaders: Doug M, Barbara McC, Arthur H.
1. 4/6/2003. Both. Potato Point, Purakanui. Leaders: Doug M, Barbara M, Donny and Frank
Paradise Road, Braidwood Road, Sandfly Bay
1. 8/9/2010. Trampers. Paradise, Braidwood, Sandfly Bay. M. Leadership: Informal.
Weather looked fine at Mosgiel, but when we four trampers arrived at Sullivans Dam for the Cloud Forest-Escarpment Tramp, we struck a drizzly cloudy shock. For mud and safety concerns we turned back to town and on the way decided to try the Peninsula. We parked at the top of the Paradise Road track and the weather was quite a degree clearer. However, our second shock was to find the track the WETTEST we have ever found it. No one slipped over, (miraculously), but we had to be extremely cautious in placing our feet.
Brinns Point to Seacliff
Brinns Point to Seacliff.
The North Otago coast is lined with old Maori settlements, and Brinns Point is no exception. The bay south of the historic urupa (cemetery) on the headland was occupied by Moa-hunters, and much later was an out-post whaling station. A channel has been cleared through the boulder beach to enable boats to reach the shore especially at high tides. This is thought to be the work of the whalers but the channel clearance may date from much earlier, for all we know. This bay was investigated in the 1950s by the Blake-Palmers of Seacliff. This was published in the Journal Polynesian Society by Blake-Palmer senior who was superintendent of Seacliff Mental Hospital at the time. This was the first ‘proven’ association of man with the largest species of moa: Dinornis Maximus, thought by some scientists to be extinct before arrival of man. Later studies showed Dinornis had been found on archaeological sites beforehand however. There was an old Maori settlement on the flat at Ross’ Rocks. The next known settlement south is at Omimi, where moa bones have been excavated on what was largely a fishing site.
The cliffs after which Seacliff township gets its name are lined intermittently with Maori umu, most being umu ti. Parts of the coast road from Warrington to Karitane followed original Maori tracks according to early survey plans in LINZ archives. The hills along this coast were heavily forested and only cleared when the land was subdivided for framing. The original route of Coast Road has been modified in places since the 1960s but many portions of the old routed can be seen with associated stonework on both sides of the present road. Coast Road remains an active connection with the distant past.
– Taken from Karitane … Split Rock … Seacliff Coastal Walk. Notes by Brian Allingham, Archaeologist, January 2010.
Maori Peak background information
Maori Peak.
This general area has high spiritual values and is reputed to be the abode of ancestral beings, some of whom have been seen in modern times by local Maori; thus perpetuating historical references from the 1800s and earlier. Little is known or understood of these beings, other than the perception that they are regarded as Kaitiaki or guardians. It would be wise to respect the area by not eating or drinking on Maori Peak or around the immediate base.
– Notes by Brian Allingham. Archaeologist. January, 2010.
Saddle Hill, Fairfield
Chain Hills Track. 30 min. Tramping Track. Benched. Manager: DCC CAM and private land.
3. 20/1/2010. Hikers. Overbridge, Coalstage Road, McMasters Road, Old Brighton Road, Fairfield Park, Morris Road, Overbridge. Leaders: Bev and Chris.
The Rudd Road walk you do when you are not actually doing the Rudd Road walk!!
Our esteemed leaders Bev and Chris decided that views from Rudd Road were unlikely in the misty conditions set to prevail, and that the 12 of us should walk from Saddle Hill to Fairfield and back instead. The intention was to go from Coal Stage Rd up Chain Hills Rd and do a loop, but the general wisdom was to follow Coal Stage. When we got to Saddle Hill Rd, the Left-leaning leaders wanted to turn that way while the majority of Tories voted to turn Right (which was actually less conservative), and so proceed up Saddle Hill Rd to McMasters Rd, where in fact we had a morning tea stop with a view.
It was a warm, still morning here and there was a calming feel about the quiet gravel
road with views out onto the Kaikorai Estuary and Stony Hill, etc.
road with views out onto the Kaikorai Estuary and Stony Hill, etc.
Lunch was at the Fairfield park ( Chris led a long detour in order to use a pedestrian crossing), in the sun. Delicious – especially Fred’s shared chocolates.
And so back to the cars at the overbridge via Main Rd and Morris Rd. A very pleasant 10km on a nice day. We even passed a display of hand milking near the ostriches on Morris Rd. And the clouds were still hanging around Flagstaff, so we felt it had been a good choice. – Bob.
2. 15/6/2005. Hikers. Fairfield, Saddle Hill. Leaders: Margaret D, Nancy, Jean.
1. 30/5/1990 Coal Stage Road to Wingatui and return via Chain Hills. Average. Leaders: Jean Y, Frances, Jean A, Catherine
Sullivans Dam
No. 72 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Leith Saddle Sullivans Dam. (Green Roof House at Bridge) Year Round”
7.22/7/2009. Hikers. Sullivans Dam. Medium. Leaders: Lesley G, Bev H.
6. 12/7/2006. Sullivans Dam. Easy. Leaders: Bob & Nadia, Mary M
5. 20/6/2005. Hikers. Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Frank and Lesley, Eleanor W.
4. 29/8/2001. Alt. Pigeon Flat – Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Nelson and Dot, Wendy J.
3. 14/3/2001. Pigeon Flat and Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Joyce, Mary M, Daphne.
2. 11/8/1999. Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Joyce, Nancy, Pat.
1. 2/9/1998. Leith Saddle Sullivans Dam. Leaders: Joyce, Nancy.
Beach Walk, Blackhead, Kaikorai Estuary, Ocean View, Brighton Tramps
6. 29/5/2009 Hikers. Waldronville, Blackhead. Easy. Leaders: Bob M, Peter.
Cars parked at Kaikorai Estuary by gun club. Beach walk to Blackhead. Beach back. Golf Course. Waldronville, return.
5. 14/1/2009 Ocean View, Kaikorai Estuary, Big Rock. Leaders: George, Ria.
First tramp for 2009 was a combined one and 17 members, keen to get out tramping/hiking again after Christmas/NewYear break, met at Ocean Beach Church for what proved to be a very pleasant, easy beach walk. Day was warm and sunny, with no wind. We wandered along to Ocean Beach to the Estuary, stopping for morning tea on the way. An added bonus was seeing several horses, either being ridden or with sulkies, training along the edge of the water. They certainly make a great sight.
It was then back along beach nearly to the Big Rock and off the beach into a very pleasant picnic area for our lunch. Because this was very close to where the cars were parked it was an early finish to our day. However, we had a happy day out and it was good catching up with our tramping friends again. Bev. H
4. 6/12/2006. Both. Kaikorai Estuary. Beach Walk. (Low Tide: 11.21am) Leaders: Hazel, Dot B, Bob & Nadia, Chris
3. 4/10/2006. Both. Kaikorai Estuary beach walk. Easy. Leaders: Hazel, Dot B, Bob & Nadia
2. 4/8/2004. Both. Brighton, Blackhead, Beach Walk. Medium. Leaders: Hazel, Dot B, Jean, Chris.
1. 12/5/2004 Leaders:
It was an cold Autumn day but we were dressed for the beach walk. However when we reached Brighton Beach the persistent rain drove us into the only shelter available – the beach changing rooms, in which unsalubrious but dry surroundings we ate our lunch. – Ian
Rain Gauge Spur via Picnic area, Nth Coal, Racemans
No. 69 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Raingauge Spur Circuit (J Roy) Summer”
Location: 15 km.
8. 29/4/2009 Rollinson Road. Picnic Area. Trig Q. North Coal Creek Track. Racemans. Weir. Rain Gauge Spur. Rollinson Track. Elbow. Rollinson Road. Leaders: Ian, Glenice.
Only five of us ventured. Dry for a start before the mist descended.
(click to enlarge)
(click to enlarge)
Light rain as we got lower down. Heavier on Racemans. Odd break on Rain Gauge Spur until heavy soaking mist towards top.
We ended up fairly wet and glad to get back back down Rollinson road to car.
7. 17/9/2008. Access Road, Picnic area, North Coal, Raingauge Spur. Hard. Leaders: George, Ken.
6. 27/7/2005 Rollinson Road. Elbow. Rollinson Track. Turn off down to Rain Gauge Spur. Leaders: George, Dorothy S
5. 1/5/1991 Elbow – Swampy – Raceman. Steep parts. Harder. Alternate route for some. Leaders: Mary McG, Daphne, Bob, Barbara McC
4. 1/11/1999 Silverstream Weir, Raingauge, Elbow, Raceman’s Track. Leaders: Margaret D
3. 17/8/1994. Silverstream Weir, Raceman’s Elbow. Medium. Leaders: Bob H, Peg C, Frances, Jack R
2. 28/4/1993. Silverstream Weir, Elbow, Raceman’s Track. Two groups. Medium or Easy. Leaders: Bob H, Les W, Diana, Joan A.
1. 11/1988 Leader: Peg C
Mornington – Southern Cemetery
10/9/2008 Mornington – Southern Cemetery
Very surprised and delighted to yet again have another fine Wed. after having 2-3 days of mist and rain. A bit cloudy but fine and not too cold. Ten keen hikers parked their cars in Lees St. and set off on a very convoluted walk to get to their final destination which was the Southern Cemetery. It was up hill all the way to our morning tea stop which was the play area in the Mornington Park. After a refreshing cuppa it was off again on the ups and downs of the streets in the Maryhill/ Mornington area till we eventually got to Eglington Rd and the very top gate of the Southern Cemetery. We walked down through the area of very old graves and found a spot on a grave in the sun to sit and eat our lunch. Very peaceful and quiet. No people or traffic to disturb the peace! After lunching we strolled around among the graves, reading inscriptions where they were still legible and finding many of well known early citizens of Dunedin. Also the area where the early Chinese were buried in place that was supposed to be separate for the rest of the community.
All in all an interesting place to visit and the first time for most of the hikers there on Wed. From there it was a fairly short walk back to the cars. Everyone said how much they’d enjoyed the day. Bev.
Leaders:
10/9/2008
Street Walk: Wakari
9/7/2008 Street Walk: Wakari
What a beautiful day and absolutely perfect for our Street Walk round the Wakari area. The 13 Hikers who met to make the most of the warm sunny day parked their cars at the southern end of Helensburgh Rd, by the back entrance of Wakari Hospital, and set off down Hood St. Only a short walk before getting to our morning tea spot which was Dean St. Reserve. As the Reserve had no seats and was rather muddy and wet we sat on the footpath! Very pleasant in the sun. Then we set off, and with my co-leader, I took everyone on a real tour of discovery round streets and areas that most had never been. Lovely views.
Out to sea, over Kaikora Valley, Roslyn and Mornington and then after lunch, over the other way to Flagstaff and Three Mile Hill. We eventually arrived at Mayfield Reserve, a lovely childrens play ground at the back of Wakari School, which proved a very suitable & agreeable place to enjoy our lunch break. We soaked up the warmth the sun and made the most of the ‘amenities’!
From there it was another zigzag through a few more streets and walkways, back to the cars. Everyone agreed they had had an enjoyable and enlightening day, especially in such perfect weather. – Bev
Leaders: Bev H, Bev M
Whare Flat
23/4/2008. Trampers. Whare Flat circuit. Medium. Leaders: Ria, Hazel.
7/11/2007. Both. Whare Flat from Pumphouse. Easy. Leaders: Joyce, Lesley G.
29/8/2007. Hikers. Whare Flat. Easy. Leaders: Bob and Evelyn.
16/8/2005 Whare Flat Circuit Leaders: Margaret D, Betty B
24/5/2000. Whare Flat area. Leaders: Jack and Rosemary, Mavis.