Links Completed – Page 15 – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

Trig Q, Steve Amies track tramps

No. 57 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Trig Q from Whare Flat. N Strang. Key from WEA. Year Round”

15 km from car-park.

Racemans, Steve Amies Loop,Coal Creek – Information and Trips Library

9. 1/5/2013 Both. Steve Amies. Leaders: Ian and George.

This time we left from the schoolhouse, making it more of a road walk. We had morning tea on the lower Rollinson Rd and lunch in the track clearers’ picnic area, after inspecting the helicopter landing pad a little beyond.

As we returned down the road, we were surprised to see the helicopter, and shortly after the tank truck making their way towards where we had been. Apparently this was the day to carry out the weed spraying we had been notified about – and we were now making a timely exit. A tramp for 25 of us and of 10.5 km according to Peter’s pedometer and 25. – Ian.

8. 1/2/2012 Both. Steve Amies from Access Road. Leaders: Arthur and Barbara.

Sixteen of us left our cars at the locked gate on Rollinson access Rd and made our way up to the Track Clearers’ Picnic area. The leaders took us round many of the little nooks and crannies (they just seem to multiply of their own accord), stopping to inspect the labels fronting each bush planting. Of poignant note in front of one bush was a label printed with the name of Les Murcott, whose funeral a number of us had attended only a fortnight earlier.

We stopped off for our tea break.

Arthur led us down and across to Trig Q, and then on down Little Coal Creek until we got to the look-out. We careful negotiated some quite steep parts of the track and avoided any casualties. Then came the more arduous climb back up to the trig and across to the Steve Amies.

This latter track had a much more moderate decline (we stuck to only its upper reaches!), past another look-out, before making another turn around further down, to wander back up to the trig and on to the picnic area for lunch.

On the way across the wee saddle, we stopped to investigate the meaning of a sign indicating a sheltered area, whose side track opened out to a large open area in the bush, marked with a large white wooden equal-armed cross, laid flat on the grass. After some discussion, we decided the area was also to serve as a helicopter emergency landing spot. (There was even a ‘waiting room’ bench for passengers.)

Back up at the picnic area, our leaders discovered for us yet another alcove with ample tables and seats for a comfortable lunch.

A smaller one. (Admire Bruce’s head attire.)

Our leaders took us out to the road by a route different from the one we had entered by, and lo and behold, a salubrious shelter, doubtless erected by the track clearers for their comfort. Bravo.

Then we had only a stroll back down Rollinson Road to the cars. A leisurely 5.5 km walk, (as measured by two with their measuring devices.) Thank you, Barbara and Arthur for your careful leadership. – Ian.

7. 18/3/2009. Hikers. Steve Amies from Access Rd Hikers E+ Bev H, Joyce S

6. 25/7/2007. Hikers. Access Road, Steve Amies. Leaders: Bob H, Graham.

click to enlarge

Picnic Area nr Trig Q Fred, Marjorie, Joyce, Angela, Mollie, Wendy, Bev, Peter, Margaret, Elaine, Lesley

5. 19/5/2007 Trig Q from Silverstream via Steve Amies track. Steve Amies Track Circuit Leaders: Ria L, Hazel

4. 27/7/2005. Hikers. Steve Amies, Trig Q. Bob H, Les W, Mary M.

3. 2/2/2000. Trig Q from Silverstream via Steve Amies track. Steve Amies Track Circuit Leaders: Peter B, Lex

2. 23/10/1996. Trig Q. Average. Leaders: Margaret and Les, Doug J.

1. 7/6/1995 Trig Q from Whare Flat School. Medium+. Shorter trip available. Leaders: Bob H, George, Jack R, Nancy

Big (Bivvy) Rock, Pineapple, Davies, Firebreak.

Click Dunedin’s Hills’ History

Click Pineapple Track for background information.

Click Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.

Ross Creek, Lower Leith Valley, Wakari Rd Bike Park, McGouns, Pineapple and Davies Tracks – Information and Trips Library

3. 31/10/2012. Trampers. Bullring, Fence-line, Upper Spiers Rd, Flagstaff Walkway, down Pineapple, up Davies, Ben Rudd.

2. 24/9/2008 Bullring, Pineapple, Davies, Firebreak, Big(Bivvy) Rock, Bullring Leaders: Ria L, Hazel

Resting at Forestry 100 years memorial. Ian, Leonie, Abe, Ria, Glenice, Angela

Ria and Hazel took 7 of us from the Bullring up over Flagstaff, on and down the Pineapple track, then crossing over to the top of Ross Creek where we rested on seating by the Memorial celebrating the Dunedin City Forests 2006 Centennial which had suffered recent vandal damage and returning back up the Davies track,

Emerging from bush on Davies Track. Abe, Glenice, Ria

over onto Firebreak track with the majority returning to their cars but Ria taking Abe and Ian down to Big(or Bivvy) Rock.

Hazel brought along a friend, Angela, a former neighbour of Ian’s back in the 70s! A delightful surprise for the two of them. – Ian

1. 31/7/1991. Booth Road from Pineapple Track and Bivvy Rock. Average. Leaders: Betty, Judith and Hugh, Peggy M, Frances.

Big Rock (Chimney)

It is possible to visit this rock by using a roughly marked route which has been cut from the Fire Break Track. The is also a possible route slightly further to the west. This massive rock outcrop has been used over many years as a place to bivouac and for rock climbing. There are good views over the valley.

– From Club’s Friend of Ben Rudd’s Certification – 1999.

Warrington, Omimi, Slaughterhouse

No. 98 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Omimi Beach Warrington (Tide) Year Round”

Location: 40 km.

Karitane, Split Rock, Maori Peak, Seacliff, Warrington – Information and Trips Library

9. 26/5/2012. Trampers. Warrington, Omimi, Pryde Rd, Slaughterhouse, Reservoir Hill Rd circuit.

Orokonui Ecosanctuary

Orokonui Ecosanctuary nr Dunedin, NZ

34 km from car-park.

Orokanui Ecosanctuary – Information and Trips Library

9. 14/3/2012. Hikers. Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Leaders: Chris, Lesley

Morning tea at feeding station (for the birds?) (Bob pic and caption)

View from feeding station (Bob pic and caption)

Bellbird at another feeding station (Bob pic and caption)

Viewing platform at the same station (Bob pic and caption)

George is rightly suspicious of the Miro berry offered!!! (Bob pic and caption)

The lovely bush track (Bob pic and caption)

A bird that wants this to be a feeding station (Bob pic and caption)

Mechanical track clearer with the twin NZ Tallest Trees in background (Bob pic and caption)

View from the Visitor Centre (Bob pic and caption)

8. 12/11/2008. Hikers. Orokonui. Medium. Leaders: Lesley G, Wendy B, Joyce S

Mopanui. Lunch at top. — Lunch at top of Orokonui Ecosanctuary. Mopanui beyond.

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

Climbing Orokonui's perimeter — Climbing Orokonui

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.

Waihola Area – Information and Trips Library Post

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.

One tree – or many? Impressively large, anyway.

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.

DCC land.

Nicols Creek – Information and Trips Library

Ross Creek, Lower Leith Valley, Wakari Rd Bike Park, McGouns, Pineapple and Davies Tracks – Information and Trips Library

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.

Stream crossing. Doug, George, Peter, Wendy

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 …

Tea break. Wendy, Keith, George, Doug, Peter, Glenice

… 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 …

Made it onto Pineapple. Ria, Sabina, Glenice, George, Keith

… 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 …

Snow. Doug, George, Sabina, Keith, Glenice

… 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.

Doctors Point, Mopanui, McKessar, Purakanui, Osborne – Information and Trips Library

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.

Group — Exploring Potato Point. Ken, Bill, Doug, Angela, George, Glenice’s elbow.

Cave — Large cave on Long Beach. Glenice, Ria, Angela, Doug, George.

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

Squeeze — First, squeeze past caravan on track

Paradise Road, Braidwood Road, Sandfly Bay

Sandymount, Sandfly Bay – Information and Trips Library

1. 8/9/2010. Trampers. Paradise, Braidwood, Sandfly Bay. M. Leadership: Informal.

Tramp Route. (Courtesy Ken). Car parked top LH corner.

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.

Saddle Hill – Information and Trips Library

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.

McMasters Rd – morning tea finish line! (Bob pic and caption)

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.

McMasters Rd towards Stony. (Bob pic and caption)

A bunch of fence sitters – Old Brighton Rd. (Bob pic and caption)

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.

Another bunch of fence sitters – Main Rd, Fairfield. (Bob pic and caption)

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”

Sullivans Dam, Cloud Forest, 3 Peaks – Information and Trips Library

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

Waldronville, Blackhead, Kaikorai Estuary – Information and Trips Library

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.

Horses being exercised on Ocean View beach

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

Onto beach. Selection: Dot .. Bob, Peter, Doug M, Les W, Lex

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:

Ocean View Beach. Bob, Who?, Pat, Bill, Tom, Arthur

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.

Raingauge Spur – Information and Trips Library

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)

Pupit Rock hidden in mist. Ken's watch. — Pupit Rock hidden in mist (to the right). Ken’s wrist watch.

Lip of lookout.Cuppa time. — Overlooking lip of lookout on North Coal Creek track. Cuppa time.

Light rain as we got lower down. Heavier on Racemans. Odd break on Rain Gauge Spur until heavy soaking mist towards top.

Doug (rather wet) nearing top. (You can see his hair poking through hole worn in crown of his hat.)

George sans parka. Looking drier than he really was.

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

Moon, McQuilkan, Possum Hunters, Jim Freeman, Pineapple, Nicols

26/11/2008 Moon, McQuilkan, Possum Hunters (now Lwr McQuilkan), (uppr) Jim Freeman, Pineapple, Nicols Leaders: Ria, Hazel

Six hours, 11 tracks. Quite a day.

On parking our cars at the Nicols Creek bridge we were amazed to find a whole new set of tracks up the creek’s true left made by Mountain Biking Otago. This part had been discovered by our leaders only at the end of their recce so for us it was a recce in itself. The tracks (open to walkers too) zigzagged and zigzagged up the slope on a gentle gradient which although easy walking added a considerable distance to the day. But it was fun. See Nicols Creek tracks for details – click on Image Gallery for an endless supply of photos of the tracks. Well, that was track number one.

We eventually latched onto Moon Track further up and sat down to morning tea with Ferrero Rocher chocs slipped into Ian’s pack by Lex earlier to celebrate Lex’s 80th birthday.

Enjoying Lex’s Ferraro chocs. Hazel, Doug, Ria, Glenice.: Enjoying Lex’sFerrero Rocher chocs. Hazel, Doug, Ria, Glenice

There were six of us but twelve chocs so they did for lunch as well. Then it was up on to Swampy Ridge

Click Swampy ridge track for background information.

Track through tussock – at top of Moon track: Track through tussock – at top of Moon track. Ria

and almost immediately across and down McQuilkin Track. This was well cleared but two or three nasty bush crashes across the track made for some scratchy scrambling through. Wish we had brought our pruning saws. We joined Possum Busters and made our way round the track to where it links with Possum Hunters where we lunched at 12.30. On the way we made the three familar McQuilkin stream-crossings and the fourth came shortly after lunch

McQuilkan creek cross No. 4: McQuilkan creek crossing No. 4. Doug, George

and the second treat of Lex’s chocs. Again we struck several bush falls across the track (where were those saws?) and reached the bottom of the Jim Freeman.

It proved just as steep (or steeper? – as we age!) as it ever was. There were one or two Rhodo blossoms on the track but none on Bruce Campbell’s bushes that we passed up. Then it was onto the Ben Rudd track and up to the Firebreak. Down along that and across to the Pineapple

View of Dunedin.: View of Dunedin.

and then steeply down to where we reached the place to strike left and down through the long Spring cocksfoot to where our leaders had cleverly located the almost hidden entrance to the bush track that would lead us through to the Nicols Track that took us down the creek’s true right to the cars. The wind on the top kept us from over-heating. To repeat, the highlight of the day had been the discovery of Mountain Biking Otago’s work-in-progress of its ambitious biking tracks, making for a surpising addition to our day out. – Ian