Mid-week recreational and social walking group based in Mosgiel NZ
This page of club tramps and hikes in the Silver Peaks area groups together trips to Rosella Ridge.
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Rosella Ridge. 2024 – 1992 (9 trips, 8 with reports and photos)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the Silver Peaks area groups together those trips on the Raingauge Spur. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Access to the Raingauge Spur can be made via Rollinsons Road which will require a key to the gate approx. 2 km’s from the “Elbow” where the track starts. A key is currently held by the clubs President.
18/09/2024 Raingauge Ridge – Steve Amies. Grade 4.5. Trampers. Leaders: Neil Hodgkin and Sarah McCormack.
Rain Gauge Spur via Picnic area, Nth Coal, Racemans. 2009 – 1998 (8 trips, 1 with a report, 1 with photos only, 6 with no reports / photos)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the Silver Peaks area groups together trips to Pulpit Rock. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Silver Peaks Forest for background information.
There are any number of tracks within the Silver Peaks that will reach Pulpit Rock. Arguably the most common way is via the Possum Hut track.
Proceed via the Northern motorway to Waitati and turn left onto Double Hill Road (just past the store on the left at the end of the motorway), which joins Semple Road where there is several access points to the Possum Hut track.
14/05/2025. Pulpit Rock. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Graham Thurlow, Lyn Keene.
Green Hut, Pulpit Rock. 2023 – 1988 (10 trips with reports and photos, 13 with no reports).
Shuttle: Mountain Road, Pulpit Rock, Long/Powder Ridges, Whare Flat. 2019 – 1998 (3 trips with 1 report and photos, 2 trips with no reports)
4. 13/09/2023. Trampers. Pine Hill, Mt Cargill. Grade 3.5, $5, 20km, Leaders: John Gardiner, Dave Roberts
Having already somewhat created a “rod for my own back”, in starting the Wizard of Oz theme in my tramp preamble last week, after some prompting, I’ll try to intertwine the “Wizard” theme into this report. Inevitably particularly pertinent to trampers, some yellow brick road references.
On an overcast morning with a chilly wind, 21 trampers, who arrived in 6 cars, set out at 10.00am, on the start of our tramp in Cowan Road. Like Dorothy at the beginning of her yellow brick road journey, most trampers had no idea where they would venture during the day.
– One interpretation of the “Wizard Fable” is that on life’s journey, tenacity, and perseverance in striving for a goal is a core value.
Following the previously described, muddy, gorse lined portal to what lay beneath, morning tea was enjoyed at 10.40am on the lower, wider, gravel road, at a sheltered spot.
– Some believe the gold colour of the yellow brick road and the green “Emerald City” represent the currency arguments the US experienced in the 1900’s.
Soon we were on the track leading down through the forest, with a pine needle carpet underfoot, and after following a fence line, we were soon on the gravel road to Sullivans Dam, arriving at 11.20am.
-During the making of the “Wizard” movie, the snow scene contained fake asbestos based snow that left many on set chronically ill!
Lunch was enjoyed at the beautiful Sullivans Dam, beginning a little early, at 11.50am, in a sheltered spot. We had reached our destination.
-In the Wizard story the Emerald City is a place to which Dorothy, the tin man, the lion, and the scarecrow journey in order to achieve their various dreams.
By 12.15pm we were on our way again, walking around the side of Sullivans Dam to the start of the “Cloud Forests of the Leith” track. This track, with it’s many boardwalk sections and beautiful bush (even a ‘bush telegraph’ and Gnome Grotto) adding yet more variety to our tramp.
-In the Wizard story the yellow brick road was at times very rough. The scarecrow often stumbled over the yellow bricks, which were very uneven, sometimes even broken, or missing altogether, leaving holes that dog Toto (a West Highland Terrier) and Dorothy jumped across or walked around.
Arriving at the top of the Cloud Forests track by 1.20pm, we regrouped with a magnificent view north to Blueskin Bay and beyond, before following the gravel road to the base of the “portal” gorse lined track.
On this section a navigational error by your’s truly resulted in everyone walking a bit further than necessary to a dead end part of the road. The greatest consequence of this being my embarrassment!
– In the Wizard story, Dorothy follows the yellow brick road, intending to find the Wizard, who would bestow on her the knowledge to achieve her goal, only to find that she had the answer within her all along.
Heading up the gorse lined final section of our tramp took us back to the cars by 2.30pm, having covered approx 8 km. A Grade 3 tramp.
-So where was the yellow brick road? Some believe it is a brick road in Peekshill, New York, where author L.Frank Baum attended Peekshill Military Academy. Others believe it was inspired by a road paved in yellow bricks near Holland, Michigan where Baum spent many summers.
Afternoon tea was enjoyed at the Crocodile Cafe, Dunedin Botanic Garden, on what had developed into a mild , sunny day. As a footnote – I did apply and receive a permit to walk on the City Forests section of this tramp, only to receive a later email, stating that it wasn’t necessary if we stayed on the Escarpment or 3 Peaks tracks.
Special thanks to Dave Roberts for acting as tail end Charlie and Graeme Souter for his help with the rece.
– Goodbye yellow brick road.
John Gardiner.
Cars 140 km return.
3. 14/09/2023. Kaitangata – Inch Clutha. Phil and Raewyn Keene as guests of the Trixie Trampers (Balclutha).
This trip was undertaken by the Trixie Trampers (Balclutha), with Phil and Raewyn Keene going along as invited guests. Anybody else from the TRTC was invited to go along. I (Phil) have recommended to the trip committees we do it in Autumn 2024 as a combined walk (Photos were supplied by Phil).
The Whitebait Trail
At the invitation of the Trixie Trampers, we travelled down and through Kaitangata and crossed the wonderful high bridge over the Matau branch onto Inch Clutha Island and around to the start point near the pumping station/bridge where whitebaiters and hut owners launch their boats.
We parked up and once organised crossed the style onto the well formed pathway atop the flood bank and began meandering and skirting the river taking in quite expansive views, as well as the eclectic huts, great Kiwiana!
The pathway has the river on one side and dairy farms the other. The local share milker was most informative on the technology being used, all emanating from the collars around the cows necks. The pathway leads to the beach, not before crossing a causeway where large pipes permit the tidal inflows and outflows to move under the causeway into a large backwater that stretches to the Koau branch, this area probably a natural river course before the development of the farms.
Once at the beach we turned left and headed to the North end where the Matau branch flows into the Pacific. A strong westerly wind made its presence felt and the mare’s tails on the surf were impressive. Also impressive was the large amount of drift wood and tree stumps, some large, that demonstrate the power of floods and tides in this area. Plenty of seats to sit and enjoy the views down to Kaka and Nugget points, whilst having morning tea and then lunch near the South end where the Koau branch enters the sea.
This river mouth seemed to be the most active for the whitebaiters with numerous quad bikes, nets, huts, caravans and campers and yes we spoke to a man who was counting out his catch! The westerly was right in our faces and white tops whipped up the estuary as well as taking away our breath as we walked out onto the road that would take us back to the cars. An alternative would be to take the top of the adjoining flood bank for a while before walking the road.
This walk is flat, a little undulating on the beach whilst the sand is gritty and a tad soft, an option would be to take the grassed top of the beach where old wire fence lines are also present. A circular walk of approx 9kms is possible or maybe return along the inland watercourse. An alternative also being to take a couple of cars to one end for drivers to return to their cars and assist walkers back to the initial start point.
This is a wonderful area reminiscent of the Wild West Coast, great views, invigorating in all weathers but with flexible options for a combined walk. Approx 70kms from Mosgiel to a start point.
Phil and Raewyn Keene
2. 4/9/1996. Kaitangata Combined walk. Leaders: Kai leaders.
We explored the coast and an obvious coal seam running out into the sea.
1. 18/3/1992. Kaitangata. Balclutha trampers join us.
This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West via SH87 (Maungatua, Waipori River, Berwick) groups together trips to the Sinclair Wetlands (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Official Sinclair Wetlands website.
Hori Sinclair and his wetlands’origin(1st paragraph only, of treatise linking its surrounds prehistorically with Kai Point Coal Mine)
Sinclair Wetlands. 2024 – 1990 (5 trips with 4 reports)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the Central City area groups together trips from Frasers Gully Reserve, incorporating Friends Hill to Wingatui Racecourse including the Wingatui Tunnel. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
20/11/2024. Frasers Gully / Friends Hill / Wingatui Tunnel & Return. Trampers. Leaders: Anne Ward and Lyn Keene.
09/10/2024. Fraser’s Gully. Hikers. Leaders Helen Morris and Heather Reid.
Frasers Gully. 2024 – 1989 (32 trips with 11 reports, 1 with photos only and 20 with no reports)
This pages of club tramps and hikes in the Opoho, North East Vally, North Road area groups together trips to Bethunes Gully and Forrester Park. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Mount Cargill history
Opposite Brown House corner is an RSA Memorial to First World War servicemen and the old Junction School. (General Information)
12/02/2025. Mt Cargill / Forrester Park Grade 3. Hikers. Leaders: Bill Cubitt and Peter Beal.
Bethunes Gully, Mt Cargill, Buttars Peak, Organ Pipes, Old Main North Road, Brown House Corner, Norwood Street, Bethunes Gully. 2023 – 1990 (27 trips with 10 reports, 17 with no reports)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the South Coast area groups together trips to Waldronville and incorporates Blackhead, Kaikorai Estuary, Ocean View and Brighton. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Waldronville 2024 – 2003 (14 trips, 10 with reports, 4 no reports or photos)
Beach Walk, Blackhead, Kaikorai Estuary, Ocean View, Brighton Tramps. 2009 – 2004 (6 trips, 2 with reports, 1 with photos only)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the Opoho, North East Valley, North Road area (Dunedin City) groups together tramps to Cleghorn Street, Signal Hill area.(map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
04/12/2024. Cleghorn Street to Signal Hill Monument. Hikers. Leaders: Maria McNee and Peter Dodds.
13/11/2024. Chingford Park, Cleghorn Street, Opoho Circuit. Trampers. Leaders: Ross and Wyn Davies.
Signal Hill Tramps. 2023 – 1992 (19 trips with 5 reports, 4 with photos only, 10 with no reports or photos)
Signal Hill Centennial Memorial, Ravensbourne, Big Easy. 2023 – 1998 (24 trips with 7 reports, 2 with photos only and 15 with no report or photos). See reports dated 18/5/2022 and 24/11/2021 for reference to Cleghorn Street.
This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West SH87 groups together trips to the Middlemarch area including Shannon and Sutton. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Rock and Pillar via Six Mile Creek This climbs 1,005 m. (3300 feet) up the eastern face from Glencreag Station up a leading ridge south of Six Mile Creek. This is the most direct approach.
Rock and Pillar via spur south of Lug Creek. Information: Climbs 910 m. (3000 feet) up the eastern face of a well-graded vehicle track up a leading spur south of Lug Creek. Average time to Leaning Lodge is 3 hours on foot.
DoC access. 9.5km north of the Middlemarch store on SH87, just before Lug Creek, is a farm entrance (RAPID 7219 – no DoC sign). A short way up the driveway is a DoC car park. There is public access up the vehicle track to the conservation area boundary. The track is now a recreation reserve administered by DoC.
Easiest route to Big Hut from Leaning Lodge (foot only – unmarked – good visibility essential) is another 45+ minutes climbing gently southwards to cross a steep gully and then climb a gentle shelf to above the eastern basins. Sidle several hundred metres past the lower prominent rock tors before gently descending to Big Hut once it becomes visible. Route very wind and cloud-prone. Ice axe and crampons may be necessary to traverse steep snow slopes near Leaning Lodge.
64 km to Middlemarch. 66 km to Stonehurst Track.
Redan Crater- contact for access Ken Rennick.
Stonehurst Track – take SH87 to Sutton / Middlemarch. Just over the rail line at Sutton turn left onto McHardy Road then right onto Gladbrook Road. Start of track is about 1 km on left on Gladbrook Road – see DOC sign post.
Sutton Salt Lake – take SH87 to Suttom / Middlemarch. Turn left onto Kidds Road (before rail crossing). Sutton Salt Lake Reserve is approx 2.5km from turn off on the left.
26/02/2025 Stonehurst Track. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Jill Reid, Sylvie Watt.
Middlemarch Area Tramps. 2023 – 1988 (16 trips with 13 reports, 1 with photos only, 2 no reports)
Jones Property, Matarae. 2022 (1 trip with 1 report)
Shannons Farm Walk. 2023 – 2020 (3 trips with 3 reports)
This page of club tramps and hikes on the Otago Peninsula groups together trips to Portobello. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
19/02/2025. Hereweka Road / Portobello . Grade 3.5. Trampers. Leaders: Di Bezett, Lyn Keene.
Portobello, Clarks, Sheppards, McArthny, Varleys Hills. 2023 – 2008 (13 trips with 10 reports, plus 2 with photos only)
Portobello, Hatchery Road, Quarantine Point. 2022 – 2005 (10 trips with 2 reports plus 3 with photos only)
This page of club tramps and hikes to the West Harbour area groups together trips to Quarantine Island. (map)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
General Information:
Wikipedia entry on Quarantine Island
And here is the St Martin Island Community web page. Click the photo at the bottom to see original buildings!
Quarantine Island: Botanical Report
Quarantine/St Martins Island. 2023 – 1997 (5 trips with 3 reports)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West via SH87 (inland on the south side of SH87) groups together trips on farms in the Lake Mahinerangi area.
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Lake Mahinerangi and Waipori (General Information)
Mahinerangi Farm Tramps. 2024 – 2011 (6 trips with 6 reports – 1 with photos only)
Mahinerangi Wind Farm. 2019 – 2011 (2 reports – photos only)
Lake Mahinerangi, Verterburn Road, Picnic Place. (6 trips, no reports)
This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West via SH87 (inland on the south side of SH87) groups together trips to Post Office Creek, Reid’s and Beatties Farms (Verterburn). (maps)
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Access Permissions may be required depending on how Post Office Creek track is accessed. Permissions must be obtained for those trips venturing onto either Reid and/or Beattie farms – refer guidelines
(1) Access via Reid’s / Beatties Farms (Verterburn)
Turn left of Lee Steam Outram Road (SH87) onto Mahinerangi Road. Follow this to the junction and turn right onto Kowhai Spur Road. This brings you to Verterburn and access to Post Office Creek at Lake Mahinerangi.
(2) Access via forestry walk – Lake Mahinerangi
Take the Waiporai Falls Road (off Maungatua Road) to the power station at Lake Mahinerangi. Cross over bridge below the power station and follow the unnamed road to the forest access and Post Office Creek track.
19/03/2025. Post Office Creek via Reid Farm. Grade 3.5. Hikers. Leaders: Bruce Spittle and Dave Roberts.
Post Office Creek, Reid’s Station. 2022 -1992 (18 trips with 7 reports including 1 with photos only)