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
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
6. 27/7/2005 Rollinson Road. Elbow. Rollinson Track. Turn off down to Rain Gauge Spur. Leaders: George, Dorothy S
View from Raingauge Spur
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
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.
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
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.
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.
Snow on the hills
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’!
Making use 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
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.
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