Category: North Coast

Bobby’s Head, Goodwood Road, Mount Royal, Puketapu – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast north of Dunedin City, Waitati involving club trips to Goodwood Road, Bobby’s Head, Mount Royal and Puketapu (Palmerston) (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Access Permissions are required as trips to Mount Royal venture over a working farm – refer guidelines

Restrictions: Tavora Reserve (Bobby’s Head) is closed to the public over the penguin breeding season (November to February).
Puketapu Track closed for lambing September – November

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of 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:

Bobby’s Head (Tavora Reserve): Drive north on SH1, past Waikouaiti to Goodwood Road (before Palmerston). Turn right onto Goodwood Road and continue to Bobby’s Head Road (about 10 minutes), turn right and proceed to the carpark at the start of the track.

Puketapu Track is located in the township of Palmerston, north of Dunedin on SH1.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

22/01/2025. Mt Royal/Bobby’s Head (Tavora Reserve). Grade 3.5. Trampers.  Leaders: Graham Thurlow, Graeme Souter.

Goodwood Road, Bobby’s Head, Puketapu. 2024 – 1987 (7 trips with 5 reports and 1 with photos only)

 

 

 

 

Herbert Forest – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast north of Dunedin City, Waitati involving club trips to Herbert Forest (map).

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of 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:

Take SH1 north towards Herbert township. Turn left off SH1 just before the hill over the railway line just past Waianakarua onto Breakneck Road. Take an immediate right on Breakneck Road and continue past the camping ground to Reid Road. Turn left for parking and the Herbert Forest track.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Herbert Forest. 2022 – 2019 (2 trips with 2 reports)

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

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast north of Waitati and groups trips to Karitane (Huriawa Pa site), Split Rock (including Maori Peak), Seacliff and Warrington. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Access Permissions are required as trips to Split Rock and Maori Peak ventures over a working farm – refer guidelines

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of 2-3. 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.

History of Huriawa Pa, Sir Truby King or early Methodist missionary James Watkin, it’s all just a click away here.
Background Notes on Maori Peak
Seacliff Hospital Fire (Backgound information)
Brinns Point to Seacliff (General Information)
Seacliff Dam Historical Track (General Information)
Seacliff Hospital (General Information)

How To Get There:

(1) Warrington – take SH1 North around Blueskin Bay to Evansdale and turn right onto Coast Road and follow road to Warrington. Take right turn down Bank Road and left into Bay Road that ends at the beach domain.

(2) Seacliff (Maori Point, Split Rock) – take SH1 North as above and continue on Coast Road past Warrington and turn left onto Russell Road to the Truby King Reserve.

(3) Karitane – as above, follow Coast Road past Warrington and Seacliff directly to Karitane, or continue on SH1 to Hawksbury (formerly Cherry Farm) and turn sharp right onto Coast Road, follow to Karitane township. Park at the Karitane Domain.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

16/10/2024. Warrington, Seacliff. Grade 2. Hikers.  Leaders: Maria MacNee, Julie MacKenzie..

Karitane beach to Huriawa Pa, Beach walk. 2022-1989 (24 trips with 9 reports)
Maori Peak, Split Rock (Trampers). 2024 – 1989 (18 trips with 8 reports)
Seacliff, Split Rock (Hikers). 2021 – 1988 (14 trips with 3 reports)
Warrington. 2024 – 1993 (11 trips with 7 reports)
Warrington, Omimi, Slaughterhouse. 2012 – 1991 (9 trips with 4 reports)
Warrington, Porteous Hill, Hammond Hill, Guilds Hill. (2004 – 1996 (3 trips with 1 report – photos only)

Waikouaiti, Hawksbury Lagoon, Matanaka – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast north of Dunedin City, Waitati and groups trips to Waikaouati, the Hawksbury Lagoon, Matanaka Homestead. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

TRTC Grading Information – trips incorporating these tracks are generally given a TRTC grading of about 2. 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:

Take SH1 north to Waikouati township. Turn right onto Beach Street and follow the road to the beach where there is parking. Conversely continue on the road (to the left) to the recreation reserve where again there is parking and toilets available.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

07/05/2025. Waikouaiti – Matakana. Grade 2.5. Combined.  Leaders: Carol Thurlow, Jill Thomas and Clare Banks (with much help from Graham Thurlow)
09/04/2025 Old Country Track, Waikouaiti Grade 2  Hikers or Combined.  Leaders: Jan Butcher, Shirley and Noel McRandle.

Waikouaiti: Matanaka, Beach Walk. 2024 – 2017 (15 trips with 8 reports)
Garden Bush. Trig 1080: HH (hill), Waikouaiti. 2003 (1 trip photos only)

Careys Creek, Rongami, Honeycomb, Evansdale Glen, Black Gully Dam – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast, north of Dunedin City, Waitati and groups trips to Careys Creek, Rongami and Honeycomb Tracks, Evansdale Glen and Black Gully Dam. (map)

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.

Information on the Seacliff Dam, historical creek track and pipeline.

How To Get There:

Careys Creek is reached via SH1 at Evansdale Glen located just as the road begins to climb over the Kilmog. A sign on the left of the road indicates the route down to Evansdale Glen where there is limited parking available prior to driving through the stream to the picnic area.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

28/05/2025. Careys Creek / Black Gully. Grade 4.5. Trampers.  Leaders: Ross and Wyn Davie.

Evansdale , Careys Creek, Honeycomb, Rongomai. 2024 – 2005 (17 trips with 9 reports).
Careys Creek from Evansdale. 2022 – 1989 (13 trips with 4 reports, 2 with photos only).
Black Gully Dam/Careys Creek. 2019 (1 trip with report).
Careys Creek track, Black Gully Dam to Evansdale. 2017 – 1994 (8 trips with 6 reports).

Mt Watkin – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes covers trips on the North Coast north of Dunedin City, Waitati involving club trips to Mount Watkin. (map)

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.

How To Get There:

Take SH1 North and turn left onto McGrath Road just before the Hawkesbury (old Cherry Farm site). Continue on this road to the intersection of Ramrock and Mount Watkin Roads and turn left onto Mount Watkin Road. Continue onto an area (approx 5kms) to a limited parking area below Mount Watkin itself.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Mount Watkin/Hikaroroa Open Day. 2023 – 2010 (4 trips with 4 reports)