Taieri Recreational Tramping Club
Mid-week recreational and social walking group based in Mosgiel NZ
21/08/2024. Big Easy. Grade 2.5. Hikers. Leaders: Pam Clough, Jay Devlin.
Wed 21st August saw 17 eager hikers meet at the carpark behind Logan Park High to follow the Big Easy mountain bike / walking up only trail to the monument 327 m above sl.
Continue reading “Big Easy”
19. 15/11/2023. Hikers. Cleghorn Street to Signal Hill. Leaders Pam Clough and Jay Devlin
23 keen hikers gathered on a beautiful day at the Bottom of Cleghorn St where we made our way up the gravel road to the beginning of our walk which was firstly over farmland. Continue reading “Signal Hill Tramps”
18 km from car-park to Logan Park or Marina.
24. 26/07/2023. Big Easy. Hikers. Grade 2.5, $5, 19km, Leaders: Pam Clough, Jay Devlin.
23 enthusiastic Hikers parked opposite the old Ravie Pub in very cold windy conditions as we started our walk to the Otago Yacht Club, where we took shelter for morning tea.
We then made our way past the stadium then down Butts Road to the beginning of the Big Easy Track behind Logan Park High School.
The track is a zigzag gentle climb for 3.6ks to the Plateau where we stopped for lunch in very cold windy conditions so needless to say we didn’t linger too long to enjoy the lovely views of Dunedin.
After lunch we followed the track and various steep streets back to Ravensbourne 11.3kms all up.
Coffee was at Sunnyvale where we enjoyed a roaring fire.
Leaders were Pam and Jay.
23. 18/05/2022. Cleghorn Street/Signal Hill. Leaders Pam Clough & Jan Yardley
Cleghorn Street to Signal Hill Lookout. A very pleasant day weatherwise saw 14 of us undertaking this walk. We parked near Cleghorn Street and walked up the road before entering the farm track which was a bit muddier than expected.
There were a number of cattle on the farm and guess they churn up the ground. They took no notice of us – guess they are used to people walking across their land. Bit of a grunt up to the top of the hill, and a couple of stiles to cross, one of which was a bit of a mission for us shorter folk.
Then a long downhill stretch to come out on to Signal Hill Road. Headed up as far as the Signal Hill Lookout where we had lunch. After a reasonably lengthy lunch, as we were at the Lookout shortly after 11.30, headed back to the cars the same way we had come. Previously we had done a round trip, which necessitated car shuffling and a very steep descent via Blacks Road, so the leaders decided a ‘there and back’ would be easier.
Great views of the harbour and peninsula on the way back, as evidenced by John’s fine pictures. The day ended with coffee at the Botanical Gardens cafe – a most memorable day enjoyed by all. Pam and Jan.
22. 8 December 2021. Hikers. The Big Easy. M. Leaders: Jay Devlin & Pam Clough
18 eager hikers reported to the carpark behind Logan Park High School on a beautiful sunny calm day. We looked up to where we were going and it looked a steep climb up but in fact it was a very gentle zigzag climb.
A third of the way up the track we stopped for morning tea with lovely views over Dunedin to Taieri Mouth. This is a pleasant walk in amongst native bush with lots of lovely tree ferns and abundant bird life.
We reached the monument right on lunchtime. This area really showed off the beauty of Dunedin and surrounding coastline and suburbs.
After lunch we walked back down a steep Signal Hill Road which was a bit ouch on the knees. We then turned left into Blacks Road where we again entered the Big Easy Track that wasn’t signposted as it seemed to look like a driveway, but was shown on a map when we did the recce. This part of the track was particularly steep and had to be negotiated carefully but thankfully no one slipped over. 11k completed. We had coffee at The Hub which is in the University precinct. Leaders for the day were Pam and Jay.
21. 24 November 2021. Trampers. Ravensbourne, Signal Hill, Big Easy. M. Leaders: Theresa White & Ross Davies
We were greeted with a beautiful day and 16 members set off from the Marina, along the walk/ cycle way at a good pace. We crossed the road at the hotel, across Adderlay Terrace, to a walkway up the hill. Morning tea at the Manuka St playground got the breathing back on track.
Street walking for a bit until we reached the entrance to the Signal Hill track. At the top the new planting of native trees had grown quite a lot since we were there last time. The way to the top from the Plateau was by the Telecom Track. Up and up we continued.
A short break with a view of our beautiful city of Dunedin was enjoyed from the Monument. Onwards along the Signal Hill road until we came to the “No Exit “street on the right (used to be Cleghorn Street).
We all wondered if the rescue teams would find us!! Up the gravel Cleghorn Street until we got to the many masted site at the top. At this point there was a small mutiny among the troops. NO MORE UP!!! Our intrepid leader Ross said “Just a bit more and the view will be worth it“. We followed a small track through some broom, over a style, into farm land, along a pine plantation and true to his word there was the view. The whole harbour and all the surrounding small settlements were there for us to” ooh and ahh” at over lunch.
The return trip was thankfully down.
We choose the shortest route down the cycle trails to Logan Park School.
Coffee at the Plaza before returning to the cars at the Marina.
Theresa & Ross
20. 24/8/2016. Trampers. Signal Hill Tramp. Leaders: Neil and Margreet.
Well the chilly Nor’easterly was ‘thin’ and the drizzle was horizontal; but 7 hardy trampers set out from the yacht club and walked to Ravensbourne along the walkway/cycleway. After crossing SH88 we found shelter in the lee of the War Memorial for morning tea.
It was a nuggety wee zig-zag up Manuka St to find the track entrance to Signal Hill. A steady climb in dripping bush for 20 minutes saw us break out at the Plateau. Following the Telecom track, another energetic climb took us to the Centennial Monument.
We should have had stunning panoramic views over the city but sadly it was just a pea soup vista!
Leaving the two large bronze figures (‘History’ and ‘The Thread of Life’) to the raging elements, we quickly descended to the sheltering bush line where a nice ‘possie’ for lunch was discovered.
After a leisurely (obviously Neil Morrison was absent!) lunch, the team continued down the ‘Big Easy’ mountain bike trail to Logan Park High School and onward to the start point. On the way we did see the restored Opoho Creek fish ponds which are home to the Banded Kokopu (a type of whitebait); and also the old Pelichet Bay infectious diseases hospital established in 1908 above Butts Road.
Highlight of the day had to be a hot drink at the warm and welcoming Emerson’s Brewery. Distance 10.5 KM.
– Neil and Margreet.
19. 11/3/2015. LPHS to Ravensbourne. Leaders: Jim and Betty.
18. 27/11/2013. Both. Marina, LPHS, Memorial, Ravenbourne, Harbour Walkway, Marina. Leaders: Jim and Betty.
Steep climb. Somewhere between the 1 & 2 km indicators on map.
17. 2/11/2011. Hikers. Both. Logan Park, Centennial Memorial. Leaders: Jim, Betty, Ian.
The mist and rain was heavier on the Taieri than Dunedin, as 8 of us found on a tramp that turned out well worth while.
16. 14/4/2010. Hikers. Signal Hill, Logan Park. Leaders: Bev H, Chris.
After that, it was along the walkway beside the railway and then back to the cars at Logan Park High School parking area. Thanks to Bev and Chris for a well-planned and guided walk. – Ian
This grouping of Club tramps and hikes covers trips involving the Big Easy to Signal Hill Memorial, Ravensbourne, Opoho (incorporating Willowbank), the Northern Cemetery.
Road distances from Mosgiel carpark.
Town Belt Article – good links to Signal Hill and Green Belt (see also Dunedin Town Belt).
Opoho Historical Background Notes
21/08/2024. Big Easy. Hikers. Leaders: Pam Clough, Jay Devlin.
Signal Hill Centennial Memorial, Ravensbourne, Big Easy (2023 – 1998, 24 trips with 9 reports).
Botanic Garden, Logan Park, Northern Cemetery, Chingford, Big Easy (2021 – 1996, 25 trips with 16 reports inc. 19/05/2021 and 30/09/2015 for Big Easy).
Signal Hill Tramps (2023 – 1992, 19 trips with 8 reports inc. 22/08/2018 for Big Easy).
Street Walk – Willowbank-Opoho area. (2022 – 2017, 2 trips with reports)