Category: Leith Valley

Moores Bush – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes to the Leith Valley area and groups together trips to Moores Bush (map) incorporating Leith Saddle, Patmos Ave and Sullivans Dam.

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of about 3. This is indicative only, as trips can be allocated a higher or lesser grading depending on the route taken. For more detailed analysis refer to Grading Information.

How To Get There:

Ascend the Leith Valley road out of Dunedin and take a left turn into Thompsons Road, and not far along is the entrance, signposted but fenced, to this Forest and Bird Society property.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

19/02/2025. Moores Bush & Sullivan Dam. Grade 2.5. Hikers.  Leaders: Pam Clough, Jay Devlin.

Patmos Avenue, Leith Saddle, Moores Bush. 2017 – 2002 (5 trips, 1 with photos, 1 with report and photos, 3 with no reports or photos)

 

 

 

 

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

Scope:

This page of the Clubs tramps and hikes covers the Leith Valley area and groups together trips to the Rustler / Burns circuit, the Leith Saddle track, incorporating the Swampy Spur and the Airways Transmitter Tower. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating the Leith Saddle track, the Rustlers / Burns circuit are generally given a TRTC grading of 4. This is indicative only, as depending on the route taken, conditions of tracks etc. allocation of gradings can differ from this. For more detailed analysis refer to Grading Information.

How To Get There:

Car parking is off SH1 motorway at Leith Saddle yard (alternatively down side road at bridge (restricted space).
Walk across side road to track.
Going further: along road past doppler radar to DoC sign.
Right along Rustlers Ridge track to junction with Burns Track.
Through junction and up and round hill on Rustlers Ridge Track. (Lunch on hill)
Down ridge to pipeline. (Alternatively turn right at junction for Burns and down to pipeline)
Turn right along pipeline.
5.5 hours in all.
Burns – Rustlers circuit Maintained by Green Hut Track Group. DCC land.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

21/01/2026. Leith Saddle/Swampy/Burns Track. Grade 4. Trampers.  Leaders: Pam Cocks and Neil Hodgkin.
30/04/2025. Pipeline, Burns, Swampy Summit, Rustlers Ridge Circuit. Grade 4. Trampers.  Leaders: Carolyn Pridham and Esther Willis.
25/09/2024. Rustlers Ridge, Burns Track. Grade 4. Trampers.  Leaders: Phil Morris and Sarah McCormack.

Leith Saddle, Swampy Spur, Transmitter Tower. Also Rustlers and Burns Tracks. 2023 – 1989 (35 trips with 11 reports).
Leith Saddle, Waitati Valley Road, Sawmill Track, Swampy Ridge, Burns Track.  2008 – 1992 (3 trips – 1 with report and photos, 1 with photos only, 1 with no report or photos)
Burns – Rustler tramps.  2007 – 1989 (8 trips – no reports).
Burns-Rustler track-crossing original signs. (photos only)

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

Scope:

This grouping of Club tramps and hikes covers trips involving Woodhaugh, Leith Valley up to Islay Street, Pineapple Track up to Flagstaff (Skyline) Track, Davies Track, McGouns Track, Wakari Rd Bike Tracks, Ross Creek Reserve, Cannington Road and Prospect Road.

Screenshot 2024 08 22 070804 Leith Valley

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of 4. This is indicative only, as trips can be allocated a higher or lesser grading depending on the route taken. For more detailed analysis refer to Grading Information.

Dunedin’s Water Supply.
Pineapple Track: Information.
Pineapple and Flagstaff Walk.St. E

How To Get There:

There are multiple entrances to Ross Creek

(1) Leith Valley – take SH1 north and turn left onto Duke St. Continue on Duke St which merges into Malvern St, past the Woodhaugh Gardens, over the bridge spanning the Leith River and turn immediately into Woodhaugh St. Ross Creek entrance is behind the NZMCA Camping Ground.

Links to tramps and hikes in the same area:

15/10/2025. Pineapple Track/ Ross Creek. Hikers. Grade 3. Leaders: Wendy Langley, Val Cayford.
01/10/2025. Ross Creek Reservoir. Combined. Grade 3. Leaders: Yan Campbell, Graeme Souter, Jenni Wright, Wendy Langley.
28/08/2024. Ross Creek and Davies Track. Trampers.  Grade 4 Leaders: Ross Davies and Sarah McCormack.

Ross Creek and Environs (1990 – 2024, 34 trips including 15 with reports).
Booth Road, McGouns, Pineapple Track, Ben Rudd (1990 – 2023, 9 trips including 4 reports).
Spiers Road, Davies, McGouns Creek Extension (2009 – 2023).
Bull Ring, Swampy, Nicols, Pt Pineapple, Davies, return (1989 – 2020, 4 trips, 2 with reports including 16/09/2009 Davies Track)
Davies Track, Ben Rudd (1995 – 2014, 5 trips with 1 report – see also
Warburton Track ?aka. Davies Track?).
Big (Bivvy) Rock, Pineapple, Davies, Firebreak (1991 – 2012, 3 trips with 2 reports).
Nicols Creek, Swampy Saddle, Davies Track (2001 – 2011, 3 trips with 2 reports).
Bull Ring, Flagstaff Walkway, Pineapple, McGoun, Davies, return Nicols Creek, Swampy Saddle, Davies Track (2010, 1 trip with report).
Davies Track, Jim Freeman (2000, 1 trip with no report). Continue reading “Ross Creek, Lower Leith Valley, Wakari Rd Bike Park, McGouns, Pineapple and Davies Tracks – Information and Trips Library”

Nicols Creek – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes to the Leith Valley area and groups together trips to Nicols Creek (map) incorporating the Pineapple Track, Nicols Falls, Moon Track and other tracks on Swampy.

Background and History

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of 4. This is indicative only, as trips can be allocated a higher or lesser grading depending on the route taken. For more detailed analysis refer to Grading Information.

DCC land. Nicols Creek circuit maintained by Green Hut Track Group.
David Nicol was an early settler and dairy farmer. He reputedly bought land here in the hope that the railway line would be routed north through Leith Valley.
Antony Hamel’s YouTube video showing his exploration of the 5 falls of Nicols Creek.
Neighbours at War Background and photos to the Finnerty Family and their house site on the Moon Track by Nicols Creek.
Swampy ridge track background information.
Pineapple Track for background information.
Pineapple and Flagstaff walk for background information.
Nicols Creek Glow-worms

How To Get There:

Take SH1 north and turn left onto Duke St. Continue on Duke St into Malvern St and onto Leith Valley Road. Continue to the sign indicating the Nicol’s Creek Track and mountain bike track. There is limited parking the track entrance. Parking therefore is often best in Booth Road (left off Malvern St) and then take Islay St (off Booth Road) back to Malvern and Leith Valley Roads to the track.

Links to tramps and hikes to the same area:

27/05/2026. Pineapple Track / Nicols Creek. Grade 4. Trampers.  Leaders: Karen McInnnes and Sarah McCormack
10/09/2025. Nicols Creek, Moon Track, Swampy Ridge, Pineapple and Shortcut Tracks. Grade 4. Trampers.  Leaders: Gwenda Farqharson, Lyn Keene.
26/06/2024. Nicols Creek, Pineapple Track. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Wyn and Ross Davies.

Nicols Creek, Swampy, Pineapple Track, Moon Track, Booth Road 2023 – 1989 (27 trips, 9 with reports and photos, 1 with report only, 17  with no reports or photos)
Bull Ring, Swampy, Nicols, Pineapple Point, Davies, return 2020 – 1989 (4 trips, 2 with reports and photos,
Nicols Creek Bridge, Morrisons Burn, Poleline Road, Swampy, Nicols or Pineapple  2016 – 2006 (6 trips, 2 with reports and photos, 1 with photos only, 3 with no reports or photos)
Nicols Creek, Swampy Saddle, Davies Track  2011 – 2001 (3 trips, 1 with report and photos, 2 with reports only)
Moon, McQuilkan, Possum Hunters, Jim Freeman, Pineapple, Nicols  2008  (1 trip with report and photos)
Nicols Creek, McQuilkans (no reports).
Booth Rd, Nicols Creek, McQuilkan, Jim Freeman, Pineapple. Either direction (no reports)
Leith Valley, Nicols Waterfall, Sullivans Dam (no report)