Cedar Farm Forest / Cedar Creek Reservoir
Cedar Farm Forest / Cedar Creek Reservoir – Sunday, 13th August 2023
continuing on to the Cedar Farm Forest car park, a few kilometres south of the Orokonui Ecosanctuary on
Blueskin Road, above Port Chalmers. Arriving at around 9:20 a.m., the group met up with Dunedin club
members Helen & Rodney and the party of nine soon after set off along Cedar Farm Road in pleasant
conditions under a blue sky. After a 20-minute warm-up along Cedar Farm Road, the Cedar Creek Reservoir
(built in 1953 as a secondary water supply for Port Chalmers) was reached at 10:00 a.m. The group opted to
walk the track around the circumference of the reservoir, before continuing west past the reservoir and along
the remainder of the vehicle track at the end of Cedar Farm Road.
A short distance along the track, we headed left up the bank and entered the pine forest, following a marked
route up the northern slope of Mt Martin (478m). About halfway up, we came to a post-mounted AT220
Possum & Rat Trap, which had a dead rat in the cage. Fortunately, we had Robbie in the group, as he was
able to remove the cover of the unit, showing the battery powered mechanism, and explain how these traps
actually work, including setting off the ‘kill bar’ like a gun shot, which immediately got everyone’s attention!
Continuing upwards, we soon reached the tree-covered top of Mt Martin (478m), the first of the four named
peaks on the circuit of tracks. From here, we descended back into the forest and followed the route
southwest to the start of the steep foot track up Mt Cutten (530m). The track was a bit slippery in places, but
after only 15 minutes, we came out onto the tree-cleared top of Mt Cutten (530m), the second of the four
named peaks. While taking in the panoramic views across Otago Harbour and Otago Peninsula, and out to
the valleys and ranges to the west, we continued southwest along the cliff edge summit track of Mt Cutten
and crossed over to the southern peak and the site of Andrew Drummond’s 1980 tribute sculpture to kinetic
artist Len Lye. With a bench seat installed at the site, the group took a break to study the sculpture and enjoy
the view out across Otago Harbour.
Just after 11:30 a.m., we were underway again and carefully descending back down the steep track off the
top of Mt Cutten, before initially heading northwest through the bush across Cedar Creek and then north
towards Mt Kettle (545m), the third of the four peaks on the circuit. It’s a pleasant walk along a well marked
foot track through the bush before climbing steeply up the southern side of Mt Kettle, which was reached
within an hour-and-a-half from Mt Cutten. The top of Mt Kettle is somewhat overgrown with scrub and wilding
pines, although there is a viewpoint from a rocky outcrop where the track begins to descend down to the
southeast. At this point we had a lunch break and surveyed the view of the Cedar Creek Reservoir and
surrounding area.
A careful descent was made down the rocky ridge of Mt Kettle, but after re-entering the forest and crossing
over the vehicle access road from the reservoir, we were soon heading up through the forest and across the
gentle scrub covered slopes of Mihiwaka (561m), the fourth and final peak of the day, reaching the summit
trig beacon in an hour from Mt Kettle. By this time, it had become overcast, so after enjoying the views one
last time, we headed back down to the access road and returned back along Cedar Farm Road, reaching the
car park just after 3:00 p.m.
After a brief discussion, we opted for a debrief at the Blueskin Nurseries & Café in Waitati, where we had half-
an-hour before closing to enjoy some refreshing drinks and light food, thereafter parting company and
heading for home.
Many thanks to Jenny, John, Julian, Mike, Neville, Phyllis & Robbie for their company on an enjoyable wander
through the forest and bush, and across the volcanic outcrops of this less frequently visited location with the
Dunedin area.
Rodney & Helen Meiklejohn.