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Club Night 13th April 2015
Thursday, April 16th, 2015
The club held a very successful Open Day in the Herbert Forest on Sunday 12 April with over sixty people (including an eighty year old) enjoying walking the tracks in small groups, guided by club members. Many folk had travelled down from South Canterbury. The forecasted rain turned out to be a very short early shower and sunshine prevailed for the remainder of the day. The tracks were in very good condition, thanks to recent working bees by members of the club.
Recent tramps have been to the ABC caves in the Silverpeaks district, and over the Easter break to the Harper Pass – between the Lewis and Arthurs Passes, which is part of the Te Araroa Trail.
Wednesday Walkers have enjoyed walks around Otematata and Livingstone, the Nimrod Reserve track in the Hunter Hills, the Domett Loop and walks closer to home on the Oamaru Walkway and local beaches. A large contingent had a great time biking the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge Trails before Easter.
Club night speaker, Jane Matchett and her team mates Mike and Kevin shared their experiences in the GODZone Adventure race last year, starting and finishing in Kaikoura. Participants knew nothing about the course until four hours before the start of the race so navigational and logistical skills were put to the test as well as the sheer physical demands of the 520km course. Over six days, sections included an ascent of Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku (2885m), biking 151km through Molesworth Station and paddling the length of the Hurunui River. Not for the faint hearted!
Herbert Forest Guided Walks Day, Sunday 12th April 2015
Saturday, April 4th, 2015
Herbert Forest Swallows, Podocarp, Glenburnie Loop and Hoods Tracks. See the Herbert Forest map > About us > Tracks
A Guided walk day was held for theses tracks on Sunday April 12th 2015.
This was a family day and you could choose between walks that were easy, medium, or the lot. There was also a special nature guided walk available.
The day was not held last year because of wet weather, but although the weather threatened to turn nasty, it did not eventuate.
The tracks were in good condition thanks to the efforts of tramping club members over the last few weeks, which included step and bridge building.
Over 60 walkers enjoyed the walks guided by Tramping Club members. Radio communication was provided by the North Otago Search and Rescue team.
A large proportion of the walkers opted to do all the tracks with families opting for the shorter Swallows track which has a cave on it.
The large native trees and bird life are a feature of this remnant Podocarp forest.
Club Night March 2015
Monday, March 16th, 2015
Numbers were a little depleted at our March meeting as 19 Wednesday Walkers were heading to the Clutha Gold and Roxburgh Gorge Cycle Trails the next morning.
Club members held a working bee on the Herbert Forest tracks (and have another in the pipeline) in preparation for an Open Day on 12 April. This is such a lovely area right at our back door. Family groups will be encouraged to tackle the Swallows Track. Kids – look out for the cave!
Those who joined the day tramp to Otekaike Hill via the south side of Bushy Creek earlier in the month were rewarded with great views of the Waitaki Valley and North Otago coast.
Wednesday Walkers trips have taken members up the north branch of the Kakanui River to Balmoral Hut, round the back of Aviemore dam and down Deep Stream, to Kaiwarua Station (and its numerous swimming holes) in the Hunter Hills, and to Mt Myer.
Speaker for the evening, Jane Green, recounted the bike trip she and husband Graham undertook last winter in the North Island, beginning with The Forgotten World Highway from Stratford to Whangamomona in Taranaki. Next was a 54km circuit of Mt Karioi and the Pipiwharauroa Trail, both near Raglan in the Waikato. Further north they biked the Hauraki Rail Trail from Thames to Waihi then headed south to tackle a maze of tracks near Rotorua. After three days biking the Waikato River Trails Jane and Graham undertook the Pureora Timber Trail west of Taupo, and were most impressed with two purpose built swing bridges – one 140m long – and a portion of track that included a spiral in its descent before reaching Ongarue.
These new cycle trails have made previously remote areas much more accessible so add them to your Bucket List!
Otekaike Hill
Saturday, March 14th, 2015
8-3-2015
Ten trampers met at the car park on a cool and cloudy morning all ready to get out on the hills. It was good to get out again for a hike since I had not been out on a trip for a while.
We left Oamaru and headed up the Waitaki Valley picking Bron up on the way.
Around Georgetown there were signs of the big rain dump they had on the Saturday night with 78mm falling in 15min in some places.
We went through Duntroon and turned into Special School Rd. up past Campbell Park School and along the Otekaike Bridal Track and parked up where the 4WD track that goes up the Otekaike Hill meets the bridal track. There was a strong cold southwesty blowing so it was on with some more warm clothes before we headed off. We followed a good 4WD track up a ridge beside Bushy Creek in a southwest direction for about 4km and then headed northwest to the top. It took us about 2 ½ hours to get to the top at 1172m. It was quite windy on top so we had lunch on the lee side of the trig out of the wind.
We had good views down the Waitaki Valley, up the Haka and all the high peaks like Kohurau, Domet, David, Cone, Grayson and through to the Dansey Pass.
After lunch we headed back down a ridge on the northern side of Bushy Creek following a rough track down beside a fence line till we meet up another 4WD track.
Near the bottom we detoured off the track and down a steep bank into the creek which was dry. At this point one of our Trampers realised he had left this camera at a gate back up the track so we had at sit down in the sun while he went back for it. He was soon back with us after about 20 min.
We then crossed the dry creek and up the bank on the other side to the track we had taken in the morning and soon we were back at the vehicles. It was then back to Duntroon for a ice-cream at the local cafe ( NOT ) only ice blocks on the menu.
Thanks to Bron, Linda, Rodney, Helen, Noel, Steve, Ann, Bill, John and Marcel for your company and interesting stories told for the day. Neville
Herbert Forest Working Bee
Monday, February 23rd, 2015
22- Feb – 2015
A drizzly morning was not enough to put off eleven worker bees willing to tackle a day’s work. Robbie as usual had the timber and pegs for the steps ready to go.
The Swallows Track was still our main focus to upgrade giving an opportunity for more people to visit this special place.
With two teams fitting the steps and another bringing in the supplies, good progress was made. A team of three started at the beginning and worked their way up to the creek cutting vegetation from the track sides and racking leaf litter off the track, while another party of two went to the other tracks to remove wind fell trees.
Lunch time and all but three gathered near the cave for a catch up and an entertaining performance by Robbie on the Didgeridoo. The day’s work ended at 2pm with a debrief at the car park. A great effort by a great team.
Jane, Bron, Bess, Phyllis, Robbie, Dave, Tim P, Noel, Dean, John – Maurice.