18/03/2026. Doctors Point/Mopanui. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Graeme Souter and John Barrett.
Ba Humbug what’s a bit of rain when it’s tramping day and the Met Service says it’s going to clear?
Tag: Mopanui
Purakaunui/ Mopanui
30/07/2025. Purakaunui/ Mopanui. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Carol and Clare.
After a very foggy departure for some from Mosgiel, 16 trampers gathered at the top of Osborne to head up Mopanui Hill at 10.30am, in overcast but still conditions. Continue reading “Purakaunui/ Mopanui”
Doctors Point, Mopanui, McKessar, Purakaunui, Osborne – Information and Trips Library
Scope:
This page of Club tramps and hikes to West Harbour and groups together trips to Doctors Point, Mopanui, McKesslar Track, Purakaunui and Osborne townships. (map)
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.
Note: check tides for beach at Doctors Point
The stone-walled ruins on Mckessar Track (General Information)
Mapoutahi Pa (General Information)
A short Purakaunui timeline taken from Te Pari Rehu, The Misty Cliffs by Stan Durry and Dawn Paterson- see Purakanuai and environs trip.
How To Get There:
(1) Doctors Point – take SH1 North to Waitati and at the end of the motorway turn right into Harvey Street. Continue through the township and turn left onto Doctors Point Road. Follow this road which crosses Michies Crossing and descends to the beach where ample parking is available.
(2) Purakanui – take SH88 to Port Chalmers and just prior to the township turn sharp left onto Borlases Road then right onto Bluskin Road. Continue past the Scott Memorial to the intersection and turn right onto Purakaunui Road. Follow this road and turn left onto Boundary Road which will descend to the domain and parking.
(3) Osborne – as per Purakaunui directions above until the intersection on Purakaunui Road with Purakaunui School Road and turn left. This road descends to the inlet, turn left and continue to Purakaunui Station Road. Turn left, the road ascends to the railway line and Osborne where parking is available.
Links to tramps and hikes in this area:
08/04/2026. Purakaunui Curcuit. Grade 2. Hikers. Leaders: Katrina Mc Kenzie and Cathy Ferguson.
18/03/2026. Doctors Point/Mopanui. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Graeme Souter and John Barrett.
27/08/2025. Purakaunui and environs. Grade 3. Hikers. Leaders: Katrina McKenzie and Jill Thomas
30/07/2025. Purakaunui/ Mopanui. Grade 4. Trampers. Leaders: Carol and Clare.
Doctors Point, McKessar, Mopanui, Ridgeline. 2024 – 1992 (16 trips with 14 reports)
Orokonui, Mopanui, South Face. 2024 – 1992 (16 trips with 14 reports)
Purakaunui, Mopanui, north face, ret. 2022 – 2010 (6 trips with 6 reports)
Doctors Point area tramps. 2023 – 2008 (25 trips with 20 reports)
Purakaunui. 2021 – 1989 (16 trips with 6 reports)
McKessar Track. 2018 – 2016 (3 trips with 2 reports, 1 photos only)
Potato Point, Purakaunui. 2011 – 2003 (5 trips, 3 with photos only)
McKessar Track
37 km from car park to Mopanui Road end, and 40 km to
foot of McKessar Road.
Doctors Point, Mopanui, McKessar, Purakanui, Osborne – Information and Trips Library
3. 29/8/2018. Hikers. McKessar Track from Foot. E. Leaders: Jim and Betty.
The sun was not shining when we left the car park and as we approached Port Chalmers it looked like it would be a day destined for coffee only. As we continued our journey, there was a marked improvement in the weather as we reached the Purakaunui Railway Park. From the car park the walk was down hill to Sea level then back up the road to the cars for the morning tea break. All the Twenty Two then walked up to our lunch stop at Mopanui Road where we sat with our heads in the cloud. The up hill climb included a breather to marvel at in the relics of the McKessar Homestead. We descended back down the track & into the cars for our refreshment stop at the Plazza Café. Conditions could be described as a little moist. – Betty & Jim Finnie
2. 15/11/2017. Hikers. Purakaunui Station. McKessar Track, Mopanui Road. E. Leaders: Jim and Betty.
Starting off from the site of the old Purakanui railway station, a party of twenty hikers made the short road walk down hill to the Purakaunui inlet for an then returned, for the morning tea stop at the cars.
An after-lunch
stroll beyond the road end, took us to a point which gave us an excellent view to the north. Little time was required for the pleasant stroll down hill back to the cars, which took us to our refreshment stop at the stadium Plaza cafe. – Betty and Jim
1. 9/3/2016. Hikers. Mopanui Road, McKessar Track, Albert Road. E. Leaders: Bev, Lesley.
