Taieri Recreational Tramping Club – Page 18 – Mid-week recreational and social walking group based in Mosgiel NZ

Sinclair Wetlands – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

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)

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Sinclair Wetlands. 2024 – 1990 (5 trips with 4 reports)

Frasers Gully – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Bethunes Gully, Forrester Park – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

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)

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Waldronville, Blackhead, Kaikorai Estuary – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Cleghorn Street, Signal Hill – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

How To Get There:

Follow Old Main North Road to Cleghorn Street which has the best view of the harbour. Walkway sign.

Walk starts starts at the gate on right, up McGregors Hill. Beyond stile Pine plantation on 3rd stile at summit.

Gravel road 10 minutes to end. Locked gate. Last stile. Signal Hill road.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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.

Middlemarch Area – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West SH87 groups together trips to the Middlemarch area including Shannon and Sutton. (map)

Background Information:

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.

How to Get There:

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.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Portobello – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes on the Otago Peninsula groups together trips to Portobello. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Quarantine Island – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes to the West Harbour area groups together trips to Quarantine Island. (map)

Background Information:

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

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Quarantine/St Martins Island. 2023 – 1997 (5 trips with 3 reports)

Lake Mahinerangi Farm Tramps – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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.

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Lake Mahinerangi and Waipori (General Information)

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Post Office Creek, Reid’s / Beatties Farms (Verterburn) – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

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)

Background Information:

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

How To Get There:

(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.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

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)

Nardoo Scientific Reserve – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes in the area West via SH87 (inland on the south side of SH87) groups together trips to the Nardoo Scientific Reserve. (maps)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Suggest leave Mosgiel 8.30am to get to ‘Little Peak about 1km above ‘Walrus rock’.

How To Get There:

Take Lee Stream Outram Road and turn left onto Mahinerangi Road. Follow this road to the lake past the fisherman’s huts etc and turn right onto Lammerlaw Road. Stay on this road until you reach a small parking area near the Reserve.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Walrus Bridge. Nardoo Scientific Reserve. Little Peak.
2022 – 1993 (10 trips with 6 reports)

Ship At Anchor – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes in the West via SH87 (inland on the South Side SH 87) and groups together trips to the Ship At Anchor. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Lake Mahinerangi. From Eldorado Track, Cox’s Reef, Cosmopolitan battery, Timber Gully Waterfalls, old gold workings. (data lacking)

Eldorado Track (Waipori) year round. Locked gates. Key from DCC Water Dept.)

Long tramp. Tussock now heavy. Summer too hot? Autumn may be preferable.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

Ship at Anchor, Lammermoors, Deep Stream, Gold tailings, Mahinerangi.
2024 – 1989 (14 trips with 7 reports)

Port Chalmers, Mia, Deborah Bay, Rangi Park – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes in the West Harbour area groups together trips for Port Chalmers, Mia, Deborah Bay and Rangi Park walkway.

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

Click Dunedin’s Hills’ History for background Information.

TRTC Grading Information – trips to Port Chalmers and surrounds are generally given a TRTC grading of 2 – 2.5. This is indicative only, as depending on the route taken, allocation of gradings can differ from this. For more detailed analysis refer to Grading Information.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

16/04/2025. Historic Port Chalmers. Grade 2.5. Hikers. Leaders: Mike Webb. Jenni Wright.

Maia to Port Chalmers. 2024 – 2023 (2 trips with 2 reports)
Port Chalmers and environs. 2022 – 1995 (24 trips with 10 reports)
Port Chalmers, Deborah Bay. 2001 – 1995 (3 trips, no reports or photos)
Port Chalmers Rangi Park. 1997 – 1996 (2 trips, no reports or photos)

Mihiwaka, Mt Kettle, Mt Cutten, Cedar Farm – Information and Trips Library

Scope:

This page of club tramps and hikes in the West Harbour area groups together trips to Mihiwaka, Mt Kettle, Mt Cutten and Cedar Farm. (map)

Background Information:

Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.

No permission needed to reservoir. Cedar Farm: Seek Access Permission DCC Forestry.

Links to tramps and hikes in this area:

22/01/2025. Cedar Farm to Mt Cutten. Grade 3. Hikers. Leaders: Heather Reid, Val Cayford.

Mihiwaka, Mount Kettle, and Cedar Farm. 2024 – 1998 (10 trips with 6 reports, 1 with photos only)

Akatore Forest: Narrowdale Rd, Gorge Hill, Stewarts Farm

PJP to Cnr Narrowdale and Golf Links Rd 41 km.
Golf Course Corner, Gorge Hill, Wilkinson Rd, Windy Ridge, Narrowdale Rd: Round walk. Tedious Narrowdale road walk-out.

Akatore Area – Information and Trips Library

11. 6/09/2023. Combined. Akatore Forest – Narrowdale Rd.
Grade 3, 41km, Leaders: Bruce Spittle, Alex Griffin, Sarah McCormack, Phil Morris.

On a goodly spring morning, we headed from Peter Johnstone Park with a good number of trampers and hikers. At Milburn we turned left into Narrowdale Road (of note turning right at same point was Lime works and Whale Fossil Lookout). With Wenita permit conditions, group was split with trampers lead by Phil M and Sarah tramping up old golf course road while hikers lead by Bruce and Alec tramped up Narrowdale Road.

20230906_1017 Jenni IMG_7650 Res 1400 — *Trampers setting off (photo and caption Jenni)*

20230906_1017 Jenni IMG_7651 Res 1600 — *And the hikers also ready to go (photo and caption Jenni)*

The trampers headed past 2 small farms up into pine trees which obscured views but with warm conditions. We continued the climb with a stop for morning tea.

20230906_1044 Pam IMG_6905 Res 1300 — *Morning tea in the clearing (photo and caption Pam)*

Then along Stoop Road onto Homestead Road. Track conditions were perfect and chatter was aplenty. Time to junction Narrowdale and Homestead was 1.20min, 270 elevation.
Hikers travelling along Narrowdale Road past some belted Galloway cattle then up to the Rifle Range to the left. It was a good spot for morning tea.

20230906_1045 Jenni IMG_7652 Res 1600 — *Looks like a class photo (photo and caption Jenni)*

20230906_1057 47 Phil K Res 800 — *Llivestock are well trained down here (photo and caption Phil K.*

Then on to junction listed above (Narrowdale and Homestead). Time 1 hr, 185 elevation.

20230906_1143 Pam IMG_6909 Res 1200 — *Trampers and Hikers rendezvous (photo and caption Pam)*

20230906_1143 55 Helen Res 1200 — *Rays of sun through the trees (photo and caption Helen)*

The group continued left along Dale Road, down onto Siberia Road at the junction. We met at Lower Narrowdale Road where hikers and a few trampers travelled on a grassy track for 2km before they stopped for lunch at 12.45pm.

20230906_1218 26 Phil K Res 1000 — *Down lower Narrowdale rd (Hikers – pre lunch)(photo and caption Phil K.)*

20230906_1258 29 Phil K Res 800 — *Incy wincy spider on Bill’s arm (hikers lunch) (photo and caption Phil K.)*

The trampers continued up Siberia Road…

20230906_1221 Pam IMG_6910 Res 1000 — *Yes, it’s uphill, another layer off! (photo and caption Pam)*

…with full elevation of 405m, where we turned left along newly-named Scooter Road, with a stop for lunch in the sun at 12.30pm.

20230906_1302 28 Helen Res 1000 — *Trampers lunch (photo and caption Helen)*

After lunch we continued along Scooter Road in search of a view (but none could be found) of prison compounds, Calder Stewart Ltd or Milton township. A decision to return back to meet hikers was made. With the good track conditions, the birds in forest were unable to get a word in, for the continual chatter of the trampers about many scenarios.

20230906_1418 46 Helen Res 1400 — *A gathering to decide hard or easy back to cars (photo and caption Helen)*

The trampers for the 2nd time were a few minutes late so most of the hikers took the Homestead track option, while the trampers headed down Narrowdale Road and back to cars by 15.05pm. The Hikers arrived back about 15.35-15.45. Pollen during the tramp could be seen blowing in the open, hence most had a lime greenish tinge on clothes, shoes. and on cars.

20230906_1532 42 Phil K Res 1200 — *They just won’t go home (photo and caption Phil K.)*

It was an interesting part of the Akatore Block, thanks Bruce S for sourcing.

Phil M.
Stats: Hikers 13.5km (phone) 16km (Garmin), elevation gain 324m, travel 4hrs, grade 3
Trampers 15.2km, elevation 405m actual travel 3hs 30min, grade 3.5

10. 8/10/2009. Trampers. Golf Course Corner, Gorge Hill, Wilkinson Rd, Windy Ridge, Narrowdale Rd. Medium. Leader: George.

Partly because Leone wasn’t available as a leader (swapped with Sabina earlier), George had not done a recce. Although he had a different route in mind, Ian persuaded him to take the gate just down from the Golf Course corner and up the (very) steep track to eventually arrive at the trig.

Glenice and George climbing last stretch to trig.

As there was general feeling that we should return by the usual road route, we went on down through the forestry and farm to Wilkinson Road in the valley, being early enough to climb up it and lunch at the top.

View of forestry plantings taken from Wilkinson Road.

After lunch just below the crest to shelter from the cool wind, we emerged onto Windy Ridge and all its views.

Toko plain with Correction Facility centre right. Keith. What is he looking at?!

A couple more upward slopes across the ridge, and it was down, down and on on along Narrowdale Road and back to the cars safely home before the promised cold hailstone front due in from the south slammed in at afternoon tea time when we were refreshingly showered, sheltered, nourished and warm.

9. 12/7/2006. Trampers. Stewarts Forestry, Gorge Hill, Windy Ridge, Narrowdale Road. Leaders: Graham, Ian

8. 24/3/2004 Trampers. Gorge Hill. Medium. Leaders: Doug M, Bob H

7. 25/7/2001. Gorge Hill – Narrowdale Road. Medium. Leaders: Donny, Graham, Irene

6. 28/6/2000 Gorge Hill – Narrowdale Road. Leaders: Ian, Dot T

5. 21/4/1999. Gorge Hill – via Wilkinson Road. Leaders: Ria L, Joyce, Molly.

4. 10/6/1998. Gorge Hill via Wilkinson Road, round trip. Leaders: George, Hazel.

3. 15/10/1997. Gorge Hill round trip from Wilkinson Road. Leaders: Hugh, Jack M, Ivan.

2. 23/5/1990. Gorge Hill – round trip via Wilkinson Road. Great views of Lake Waihola and Milton. Average. One hill to start. Leaders: Peggy M, Nel v Elizabeth Peg C

1. 21/4/1989 Leaders: Ria L, Joyce S, Molly