Trip Reports
Mount Obi
Saturday, May 20th, 2017
14 May 2017
Six of us met in town on a fine Sunday morning all looking for a good day out. We picked up one more in Herbert on the way and meet another two in Palmerston. The nine of us then headed into the Pigroot to park in the rest area by the Pigroot creek bridge. It was then on with the day packs and up the creek for about 2km till we came to a 4WD track and our first 600m climb. We then zig-zagged our way up this track for about 1 and half hours to point 1125m on the map. We then headed along the tops in a easterly direction with a we bit of up and down till the track climbed up about 200m to meet the main track that comes up from Shingly Creek Rd. It was then the final climb of about 150m to the top of Obi, getting there about 12.15pm. Lunch was had by the communication tower building getting out of the cold breeze. We had 360 degree views along the coast, up the Pigroot, all the peaks of Kakanui Mountains through to Mt Cook and Tasman. After lunch we headed back down the main track for about 3km till we came to a junction in the track. We turned right and took the track and headed in a westerly direction slowly descending back down to meet up with Siberia Creek. It was then down Siberia Creek pushing our way through a bit of scrub till it opened back out to flat paddocks and soon we were back at the vehicles.
Thanks to Bron, Phyllis, Maurice, John, Rodney, Helen and our newbie’s Jim and Carolynfor their company for the day.
I would also like to thank the Farmers for giving us access to their land to do this trip.
Neville
Motatapu
Sunday, April 30th, 2017
22nd – 25th April 2017
As the Motatapu Track starts near Glendhu Bay, Wanaka and exits at Arrowtown some sort of transport needs to be arranged to return to your own vehicle. We were very fortunate to have a generous offer from friends, Pip and Bob from Arrowtown to organise this for us. Pip then accompanied the six of us on our tramp starting at the carpark near Glendhu Bay.
On Saturday after an early lunch we set off following the Fern Burn Stream in fine sunny weather.
A gentle climb took us through beech forest and into The Stack Conservation Area, across a bridge and onto undulating terrain before a sidle to the Fern Burn Hut arriving at mid afternoon. Tents were erected to take the overflow from the 12 bunk hut with Tim Russell, Betty and family arriving to swell the numbers to 26 for the night.
With another fine day we left at 8am and immediately started climbing to Jack Hall’s Saddle at 1275 mtrs. A long steep descent of 400mtrs took us down to a stream where we refilled water bottles and had a well earned snack before attacking another climb up on open tussock country to the Highland Creek Hut arriving at lunchtime. Two falcons were observed flying by.
A relaxing afternoon sitting in the sun on the hut veranda was had by all. One other tramper arrived for the night so there was plenty of room in the hut.
The following morning we had quite a distance to tramp and two major hill climbs and descents for the day so we left, once again in fine weather at 7.30am. After crossing the Highland Creek we scaled up a steep ridge accompanied by the roaring of a stag although we were unable to sight it. Another steep descent saw us lose the 450mts that we had just gained to arrive at a stand of native bush where we stopped for a snack and refilled water bottles from the stream. A zig zag and then a long haul up a fence line saw us passing below Knuckle Peak (Maurice dropped his pack and climbed the peak) and onto a saddle with views of Lake Wanaka and down to the green pastures of the Motatapu Valley where a bike race takes place each year. It was then all downhill firstly following a fenceline on a ridge and then open tussock country to the Roses Hut after an 7-8 hour day covering 11 kms.
The following day dawned fine and sunny as we climbed up once again on an old packhorse track to the Roses Saddle at 1270mtrs followed by a sidle and then downhill to the Arrow River. The sight of a large digger parked on the riverbank left us wondering how it could have got there to mine gold at a claim.
With many crossings and a river wade through a gorge knee deep at times in the Arrow River, we emerged out at Macetown with cold wet feet. However we were lucky as the flows were considered to be low at the time.
Lunch was taken near the restored bakery at Macetown. The Autumn colours of the many trees surrounding the area were magnificent and a photographers dream.
A 14kms plod down the 4WD road and crossing the Arrow River a few more times saw us at Arrowtown at 4pm. We met many cyclists, vehicles and a few walkers on our way. For the last section of the walk we followed a pipeline and on a well formed walking track. The sound of bagpipes greeted us as we emerged onto the main street in Arrowtown. Pip and Bob invited us to their place for a cuppa before we left for home, stopping in Cromwell for food on the way.
Thanks to Bronwyn, Colin, John, Mark, Maurice and Pip for their company on a challenging but very enjoyable tramp of 48kms.
Phyllis
Herbert Forest Working Bee
Wednesday, April 5th, 2017
We had a great turn out of members for the working bee held on Sunday 2 April. Most of those who said that they were coming turned (some of you did not….) and we did a great job that day.
Over 30 steps were put in to the Podocarp Track down from the Queens Rd end making this section much better in wetter condition. The whole of the Hoods Creek Track was cleared and snipped and all the track ends were weeded. The prickly end of the Swallows got a decent haircut and some new signage was put up at the bottom of the Hoods as well as large orange triangle being tidied up and more placed to avoid any Swedes getting lost.
Its looking very good for the Guided Day on Sunday. Thanks to all for coming.
Aspiring National Park, East Matukituki
Monday, March 27th, 2017
Otago Aniversary Weekend, 17-20 March 2017
Six of us set off on Friday night for the Albert town Camping ground in Wanaka. With the weather looking good we were all looking forward to a good weekend in Mt Aspiring National Park. We stopped at Omarama for tea and got to Albert town about 9.30pm and set up our tents except one of our member who decided to sleep outside but with the rain during the night he soon retreated to the back seat of my truck.
On Saturday morning we packed up and headed for the National Park and on the way meeting Jane M in Wanaka so our party was now seven. We parked up at the swing bridge that goes over the Matukituki river just passed Cameron flat. There was a bit of light rain but that soon cleared as we headed up the east branch of the Matukituki river valley towards Aspiring flats. The first hour was over farm land till we reached the Glacier Burn river swing bridge and then we followed a rough marked track through the bush on the true right of the east Matukituki river. It was slow going in places but finally we reach Junction flat at about 3pm and then it was the final slog for another 1 ¼ hours up the Kitchener river to Aspiring flats.
We found a good sheltered camp spot about 500m after coming out of the bush and everybody was happy to get their packs off and set up camp. About an hour after we got there 24 members of the Otago Tramping club emerged out of the bush and set up camp further up the valley. We then settled in for the night with some of us playing cards and a few camp songs sung before headed to bed after a big day.
On the Sunday it dawned with low cloud in the Valley. We decided that today we would go for a walk up to the head of the valley and the Turnbull Thompson Falls in the morning and then have a look up the Rainbow Stream in the afternoon. We set off by crossing the Kitchener River and heading up the flats towards the head of the valley. The low cloud was starting to lift a bit giving us some great views of the 2700m mountains surrounding us and the Kitchener Cirque. On the way we stopped and checked out the Rock of Age Biv and signed the visitor’s book. This rock biv has a fire place and it is said it will sleep 20 people but would only keep about 4 people dry if it rained. We then carried on up the river flats to where the valley narrowed up a bit. We found a track through the bush at first and then out over a slip and then it was down into the river with big boulders trying to find a way up to the falls. We got to about half a km from the falls but the boulders were getting bigger and the rock pools were getting deeper and it was taking longer than we thought so we headed back to camp for lunch.
After lunch five of us headed up Rainbow Stream that meet the Kitchener River opposite our camp. The first part of the stream is over river rocks but us we got further up the steam the rocks got bigger and then we were climbing our way through a maze of rocks as big as house’s. After about 1 ½ hours we climbed up on to a grasses knob to where we could see the head of the steam and the way up to Wilmot Pass. By this time the wind was starting to pick up so it was back down the steam to camp. That night it was quite windy and we were watching some waterfalls coming off the mountains getting blown back up.
Monday morning we were up about 7am, packed up camp and off back down the track by 8.15am. We stopped for lunch at the Glacier Burn River where we could get a view up the Glacier Burn to the Avalanche Glacier and then back at the Vehicles by 2pm. It was then back to Wanaka for a short stop before heading home. I would like to thank everybody that came along for a great weekend, great views and great company.
John C, Mark B, Matt D, Jane G, Jen F and Jane M – Neville
Dunedin Hills
Sunday, March 12th, 2017
25-26 February 2017
Guess we all go to Dunedin often enough, but don’t usually have time to explore it’s hills. Having members from Dunedin – Helen and Rodney, it seemed a good opportunity to use their local knowledge. With some venturing down on Fri night [for a nice pizza meal] others chose the option of an early start on Sat.
Eventually 13 of us congregated at Outram to head up into Horsehoof Station to make an ascent of Maungatuas via their Woolshed Road (from the north) and with a key key to their locked gate. With a party doing a longer route and one a shorter – we met by the aerials. Then the harder work began though thick scrub to a solitary rocky outcrop, then onto the Trig point at 895 m taking almost 3 hours. Views from the Kakanuis, Hawkduns, Strath Taieri, and south into Southland’s Blue Mountains.
After locating a pretty tarn, we ventured back down, having plenty of time to ready ourselves for a pleasant Thai meal in town.
Next morning the day dawned bright and sunny for us to venture out onto The Peninsula. A couple of differing routes took us up the summit of Harbour Cone, with a 3rd route taken by some to descend. What amazing 360 views!!
Travelling on NE-wards we had quite a trek to the Pyramids, onto Victory Beach and Okia Reserve,
being fortunate enough to have low tide so that we could see 156 year-old steamer wheel in the surf of the SS Victory ship that sunk off the shores on the pristine beach in 1861 .
Great to meet up with and be guided by the very informative Rodney and Helen, plus to have Tim and Betty and Ann from the Taieri, and N.O-iItes Roz, Chris, Mike, Ross, John, Karyl, and Jenni. We will so more exploring of Dunedin’s gems. Jane G
