Links Completed – Page 16 – Taieri Recreational Tramping Club

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

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

Whare Flat – Information and Trips Library

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.

Burns – Rustler tramps

Location: 25 km.

(Rustlers Ridge Burns. Accessed from Waitati Rd. Tramping track – unbenched. Manager: DOC.)

Rustlers Ridge, Burns Track, Swampy Spur, Transmitter Tower – Information and Trips Library

7. 24/10/2007. Trampers. Rustlers, Burns. Medium. Leaders: Wendy and Peter.

6. 8/5/2002 Leaders: Nancy, Joyce S, Val

5. 31/1/2001. Rustler – Burns Track. Leaders: Nancy, Frank and Lesley.

7/9/2000 Leaders: Bob & Nadia, Shirley

4. 31/1/2000 Leaders: Nancy, Frank & Lesley

3. 13/5/1992. Burns Rustler Track. Combined bush and open country. Great views. Average. Leaders: George, Margaret S, Ivan & Bev

2. 18/10/1989 Burns Rustler Track. Average+ Native Bush. Leaders: Bob H, George H, Mary Y, Margaret S

1. 10/2/1989 Burns Rustler Track. Leaders: Eleanor B, Nancy, Lesley S

School House, Tunnels, McRaes, Steve Amies, Whare Flat Road Return

Tunnels, McRaes, Racemans, Top Weir, Silverstream – Information and Trips Library

19/9/2007. School House, Tunnels, McRaes, Steve Amies Whare Flat road ret. Leaders: Ria L, Hazel

Ten trampers set off from the Old School House at Whare flat on a beautiful sunny day without a cloud in the sky. Another “Wonderful Wednesday” Leonie was heard to comment. We followed Tunnels Track which is part of the Racemans’ walkways. This follows the old black, and now somewhat dilapidated water pipe that used to take water all the way from here to the Southern reservoir in Dunedin. This has significant historical interest and brochures and maps about Racemans are available at the Tourist Centre.This led into the McRaes Track and then on to the Steve Amies Track. This climb got our hearts racing and our brows sweating but worth all the effort to arrive at that wonderful picnic spot at the top. Here there are picnic tables in all sorts of nooks and crannies with great views over to Chalkies and the Taieri Plains. There are many planted trees and plaques to well known trampers, and a recent plaque to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the WEA tramping club that was founded by Steven Amies. There are several options trampers can take from here but our leaders opted to go back via the access road and back to our cars. We enjoyed the company of a visitor, Ken, and despite unfortunately locking his keys in the car we hope he enjoyed it enough to come back again.

Aramoana, Heyward Point, Murdering Beach Road

No. 59 on old hardcopy list of 113 club tramps. “Aramoana to Heyward Point. Farm.”

40 km from carpark

Heyward Point – Information and Trips Library

7. 10/8/2005 Aramoana, Heyward Point, Kaikai Beach. Leaders: Ian, Hazel

6. 3/5/2004. Trampers. Aramoana, Heyward Point, Kaikai Beach. Medium. Leaders: Arthur H, Lex.

5. 20/8/2003. Trampers. Heyward Point, Murderers Beach. Medium. Leaders: Arthur H, Lex.

4. 27/3/2002. Aramoana – Kaikai Beach – Murdering Beach Road. Medium. Leaders: Doug M, Margaret and Les.

3. 10/5/2000. Heyward Point – Kaikai Beach from Aramoana. Leaders: Bill H< Lesley S, Graham.

2. 28/4/1999. Aramoana – Heyward Point. Leaders: Barbara McC, Marion M, Shirley McN

1. 22/10/1997. Murdering Beach from Heyward Point to Aramoana. Park at Aramoana. Leaders: Colleen, Evelyn M, Barbara McC.

Chalkies Loop, Dodds Gully

8. [chat] with the owner of one of the houses up the Chalkies track road. He tells us that the grumpy one has now gone, & the new owners are quite ok with groups like ours going down [or up] the track through their properties, then down [or up] their driveway. I think permission should still be sought first though, especially for the first time at least. – Ken, date 10/9/2014.

Loop blocked by owner of one of two houses in Dodds Gully. (4/5/2005)

7. 4/5/2005. Hikers. Chalkies area. Leaders: Colleen, Betty B, Nancy
6. 17/9/2003. Trampers. Chalkies. Medium. Leaders: Wendy, Molly.
5. 1/9/1999. Chalkies Loop Track. Leaders: Claude, Myrie, Ian
4. 11/11/1998. Chalkies – round trip. Leaders: Doug J, Irene, Molly
3. 27/8/1997. Chalkies Track. Leaders: Jack R, Claude, Irene.
2. 13/12/1995. Chalkies. Park cars at Judy C’s – bring a plate – lunch on lawn at Judy’s.
1. 26/7/1995. Chalkies. Medium. Leaders: Ted, Les W, Rob C, Eleanor B