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!

Club Night November 2014

Sunday, November 16th, 2014

A goodly number attended our November meeting in spite of twenty-four walkers being away on the four-night, Banks Peninsula Track.

Wednesday Walkers kept up their varied programme with walks to Anderson’s Lagoon near Palmerston and along the coast to the Shag River mouth; a new walk around the Livingston diggings; from the Leith Saddle towards Mt Cargill and through bush and logged-over forest to Sullivan’s Dam; Black Cap across to Scout Hill and Scout Hut. These Wednesday walks are a great way to explore what’s on our very own doorstep.

NOTMC held a successful “Getting Out There” day in October to give prospective members a taste of day tramping. A walk from Tulliemet Rd to Devil’s Elbow, back down to Round Knob and back was a good introduction to Otago’s accessible high country.

Labour Weekend saw an intrepid group of seven, travel down to Borland Lodge near Lake Monowai then the following day, venture by kayak and powerboat, to Rodger Inlet on the lake.

Speakers at our November meeting were members Phyllis, Maurice and Bronwyn who earlier this year tramped the Northern Circuit on Stewart Island. This walk is not for the faint-hearted. It’s an eight day slog with no room in packs for unnecessary treats – and rain and mud are practically guaranteed. The group walked in a clockwise direction – from Freshwater Creek out to Mason’s Bay then up around the coast and back to Oban – though it tends to be tackled anticlockwise. The circuit included numerous interestingly named places such as Chocolate Swamp, Hellfire Pass, Long Harry Bay, Christmas Village Hut. Coastal vistas were stunning even through misty rain and it was hard not to feel lured to this vast, largely untouched part of Stewart Island.

Club Night October 2014

Wednesday, October 15th, 2014

An evening to encourage prospective members to ‘give tramping a go’ was full of helpful information and it was good to welcome some visitors. Member John, told us why he’d taken up tramping and shared photos of some wonderful locations which are ‘right on our back door’. Other members gave practical advice on boots, packs, parkas, food, clothing (with Neville doing a spot of stripping! )and first aid. Being properly equipped is vital, as photos of a recent trip to the Hump Ridge Track so clearly reinforced. Club members are always willing to share helpful tips with newcomers.

Wednesday Walkers have been busy exploring various parts of Otago. The walk from Doctors Point, through magnificent coastal caves to Mapoutahi Pa and Osbourne, then up the hill to Mopanui was a delight. Other walks were from South Peak to Pigeon Bush, Table Top from the One Tree Ridge block and Studholme Bush in the Waimate Gorge and on up to the White Horse. A Waimate icecream before heading home is always a highlight.

It was good to travel over the new Kurow bridge to the Hakataramea Valley from where the group met the Hakataramea River at the end of Hatcheries Road and followed the river gorge back to Highway 82 before continuing up Old Slip Road.

NOTMC trips included a day on the Milleneum Track following the Taieri River for 2½  hours between Taieri Mouth and Henley (and return), and a weekend on the Hump Ridge Track, where nine members encountered blizzard conditions, water taps frozen and temperatures below zero. Prospective members – DO NOT be put off!

September Club Meeting Report

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club September Report Our meeting this month began with special wishes to a member who’s recently celebrated her 90th birthday! Wednesday Walkers have had great walks to Mt Parker and Mt Miserable, Island Cliff and a farm walk at The Hayes in the Hakataramea Valley. Club trips have been in the Silver Peaks area on the Yellow Ridge track, and to Christmas Creek from Trotters Gorge where the kowhai was in flower and the bird song a treat. A bike ride to Mt Charles, then via Kuriheka to Mt Stalker, saw members clock up 72 km and a few tired leg muscles. Guest speaker, Craig McMillan of Heliventures NZ Ltd, gave a most interesting account of his work as a helicopter pilot. This included a period in the Yukon, Canada, flying in fuel and supplies to remote areas (sometimes 150km from the nearest road) where small camps had been set up to do investigative drilling for minerals. On his return to New Zealand, Craig was contracted to help in the aftermath of the Pike River Mine tragedy, flying police and officials in, and gas samples out. He has since purchased his own helicopter and formed his own company, complementing agricultural spraying with recreational work, such as flying mountain bikes and riders to the top of peaks for the thrill of the downhill journey. A second helicopter has now been purchased and both will be housed in a new hanger being built at Oamaru Airport. We wish Craig and his business every success. If you’ve always wanted to ‘have a go’ at tramping, next months meeting on 13 October is for you! Members will share their knowledge of ‘what you need’ and the following Sunday there will be an easy walk for those interested to put their new knowledge into practise.

August Monthly Report

Friday, September 5th, 2014

There were 26 people present at the August meeting
We were treated to an account of 11 days spent as volunteer wardens on Ulva Island over the last Christmas and New Year, by Brent Wallace and his wife and daughter, The island is 10 minutes by boat from Stewart Island. The first picture we saw set the scene for the rest – a kiwi standing on a track, and pecking at Maria’s boots. We saw pictures of a profusion of birdlife – wekas and chicks, parakeets, kaka, pigeons, tui, morepork and beautiful saddlebacks and also saw and heard videos of a number of these.The dawn chorus was amazing. The hut the family stayed in had solar power and was close to a bush fringed beach with was was a feature of all the island’s beaches , and food was easily harvested – blue cod and abundant shellfish, although much of the island is surrounded by Marine reserve.There are 3-4 km. of formed and signposted track and part of wardens’ duties was to keep them in good order and rubbish free and keep 2 toilets clean. There was a radio call each morning from DOC and 50 traps for rats and other vermin to be regularly checked and reset.Sandflies were not so bad!A dog was being trained during their time there, to sniff out rats, and visitors arriving there are requested to check their gear for seeds and rats. All visitors must leave by dusk. A headstone on private land marks the grave of an early postmaster,Charles Traill, who died in1918, and his wife, Henrietta. Maria discovered that letters can still be written on the back of muttonbird scrub(brachyglottis)leaves.
A truly beautiful and magical place.

The Tramping Club had an interesting month in spite of variable weather.
In mid July, 6 members walked the Heaphy Track .with 3 starting respectively from the Karamea and Collingwood ends, and exchanging car keys at the Mackay Hut where they met and stayed the night. Going south from the top end they stayed at the new Perry Range Hut and climbed Mt. Perry and then over the Gouland Downs, home of the enormous native snail and where 3 blue ducks were seen in a creek, and then Mackay and down to the West Coast and the 32 bed Heaphy Hut with nikau palms and a splendid sunset.Being winter they had encountered about a dozen mountain bikers on the way. They met up with the northwards walking group at Murchison to stay the night before the trip home. The longest distance walked in a day was 24 km. and the weather was good for the whole trip.

During the month there was also a trip up Mt. Ida where increasing depth of snow and decreasing visibility meant that the top was not reached although some went over Little Mt.Ida.
Ben Lomond, off the Waitaki Valley, was climbed by a group of 10 and afforded wonderful 360 degree views from the top. Return was back down the Bridle Track- a 21 km. walk in all with a climb of 1100m. and taking seven and three-quarter hours
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Wednesday Walkers had some good trips – up Mt. Dryburgh on a round trip and with an excellent view down to the Waitaki Hydro; a group going up Big Ben in good weather encountered knee deep snow.Seven went on to the top.There was a well attended beach walk from Hampden to Moeraki during which a frost fish and a barracuda were collected. From Moeraki groups went variously to the Lookout and by road or round the beach to the Kaiks, and return was back along the beach to Hampden via, in some cases,the Boulders Cafe. A Ngapara farm walk attracted a good group to walk in good weather and experience great views over to the Kakanuis and up the Waitaki Valley,interesting limestone formations and lovely North Otago countryside as well as, by way of contrast, some old vehicles and machinery of interest to a number of the party!
Coming up will be a weekend trip in the Silverpeaks area and a 68 km. bike ride with various options around some good North Otago countryside.