Trip Reports
Cape Wanbrow & Beach Walk
Sunday, August 30th, 2015
In dull overcast conditions five members left the Medway Street carpark on foot, crossing under the Thames Street bridge, following the track by the steampunk headquarters and along to the end of Test Street. We then made our way up through the recently felled Cape Wanbrow forrest on various tracks, some bike trails and down to meet up with Graves Track. As low tide was timed for 9.30am, we didn’t waste too much time walking along the beach to the bluffs before Bushey Beach, passing several fur seals on the way. A light mist had started to fall as we picked our way around the rock pools without getting our feet too wet to reach Bushey Beach. More seals were present among the rocks and we also watched one swimming out to sea. Two pairs of oyster catchers were foraging along the tideline. The hide made a welcome stop for an early lunch. After retreating along the tops, we arrived back at the gun emplacements and after exploring the old lighthouse and forts we walked to Lookout Point and emerged onto Test Street once again. From there we strolled along the beachfront to a shelter at the playground where we had another lunch. The weather had improved as we explored the shops in Harbour Street. After admiring the engine at the steampunk headquarters, John set off the flames and steam, much to our amusement as we watched the reactions of some visitors. The walk ended after stepping across some concrete filled buckets which took us across Oamaru creek and back to the cars at 2pm.
Thanks to John, Linda, Bryce and Maurice for your company on a pleasant Sunday walk.
Phyllis
Mt Te Kohurau
Wednesday, August 26th, 2015
Sunday 23rd August 2015
Early start at 7am with 10 on the trip, Robbie, Maurice, Ross, John, Jane, Jane, Rodney & Helen, Tim & Noel. It was great to have Rodney & Helen Meiklejohn travel up from Dunedin and Tim met the troops at Kurow.
We lset out from the bottom gate at the Ski Field in perfect conditions. We followed the ridge all the way to the top and when approaching the snow, Jane Green and Helen tried crampons for the first time. Unfortunately the snow was very soft but they learned to walk in crampons in soft snow and across rocks. The views of Mt Cook and Aspiring were very clear, not a cloud in the sky. We had lunch at the top whilst taking in the views. We returned via the same route back to the cars. Some chose to stop at Kurow for icecreams. A great day had by all.
Noel
Summit of Mt TeKohurau
Mt. Parker
Wednesday, August 5th, 2015
Sunday 2nd August 2015
It was cool and fine and stayed that way for the walk. As we approached Glenavy we thought we were in for a Leidecker View Day, as we encountered fog, but it turned out to be short lived.
We left the Mount Parker yard at 9 am. and headed on up the Hill. There was a VERY SHORT DEBATE about taking the 4 wheel drive track or straight up a quite steep hill, the steep hill won! At the top good views were to be had of the Waitaki River, Valley and the Mountains. After morning tea in the tussocks, we headed down, going north to the valley floor and muster’s hut, where we had an early lunch at 11.30.
There was a lot of evidence of a successful pest kill with many remains of wallaby about. We never saw a live one all day, which was good.
From the hut we made our way to Penticotico Stream where we decided to go down it rather than taking the 4 wheel drive track. With many river crossings and a bit of bush bashing we made our way down stream where there was some Kowhai in flower and we also found Clematis afoliata (not in flower).
We came down steam a bit too far and had to do a couple of manoeuvres to get back on track and reached the yard about 3.30 ish.
There were a few of us who hadn’t been in this neck of the hills , so it was good to see new country. As usual we had a lot of laughs and thanks to Neville for organising the Trip. Many thanks also go the land owners for allowing us onto their properties. Neville, Linda, Jane, Noel, Robbie, John & Bronwyn,
P.S. A fashion statement has been set for the male trampers, so the rest of you need to up your anti in the HAT department!!!
Orbells Cave – Three O’clock Stream Sunday 14 June 2015
Saturday, June 20th, 2015
Back up Orbells Creek
Looking down Three O’Clock Stream Cave
Looking up Three O’Clock Stream
Lunch near the Cave
Orbells Cave
Orbells Cave
Orbells Creek
The Party
The day dawned fine with a reasonable forecast as eleven trampers in three vehicles left Oamaru at 8am and headed south, picking up another at Maheno and the thirteenth at Waikouaiti. There, they turned inland for the 24km drive over Buckland’s Crossing, and along the winding, narrow, gravel, ridge-top Blucher and Lamb Hill roads to the Bendoran Huts. The weather looked increasingly threatening as we headed south, and we were met by a cold southerly wind and light drizzle as we kitted up. We parked opposite a gateway about 200m north of Bendoran Huts and, just before 10am, set forth through the gate on a little used 4wd track, up over a hilltop and down a ridge to meet up with Orbells Creek. From here on the route was sheltered from the weather and the walking pleasant. After a short snack stop, we continued down the track which followed the creek all the rest of the way down, mostly on the true left but with a short stretch on the opposite side before recrossing by some yards a few minutes before spotting the cave in the schist rock face above the true left of the stream just on 12.30pm. After exploring the caves, we found a sheltered spot for lunch nearby. About 1.15, three trampers headed downstream for the 15 min walk to the broad valley of the Three O’clock Stream into which Orbells Creek flows and which, in turn, joins the Taieri River near Hindon. Meantime, the remaining ten, with a wary eye on the increasingly threatening weather, headed back up the valley. The three caught up with the ten near the top, to be greeted by a biting southerly gale and needle-like sleet across the exposed hilltop at around 4pm. Fortunately, the squall was short lived, particularly as one vehicle had a flat tyre which required changing in difficult conditions. That achieved, the party headed home, back to sunny North Otago. Enjoyment and exercise were had by Vanessa, Marcel, Phyllis, Maurice, Noel, Linda, Jac, Roz, Neville, Jane, Bill, Sam and John.
Queen’s Birthday 2015 Track Clearing Staircase Ridge/ Tabletop Circuit.
Monday, June 1st, 2015
This was not a scheduled trip but a replacement for the Sudden Valley trip which was cancelled due to adverse weather. On a previous wander to the Staircase Hut by a few of us it was noticed that a considerable amount of wind fallen manuka had blocked the circuit track. In fact pick up sticks comes to mind when describing what it looked like and it made the circuit nigh on impossible with a pack on. So when it looked as if the original trip was not on, this alternative was considered and luckily it came about that 4 of us set off in a slight drizzle on Saturday morning. The drizzle didn’t come to much and after about 4 hours we arrived at the Staircase hut and boiled the billy for a cup of tea before heading on to the start of the circuit track . We spent the rest of the afternoon cutting the tangle with our handsaws. Back to the hut for tea and as it happened an early night because despite the fire going quite well, there was no way of keeping the smoke from billowing into the hut, making it hard to be comfortable sitting up. Waking up to a glorious morning with almost summer conditions and a mild NW breeze helped get us into the working mode again and we were back cutting rather large diameter trunks until we finished the job just after 10am. Back to the hut for a brew and an early lunch, then packing up and completing the circuit via Tabletop. We had a clean-up of the gorse bit when you cross the creek just before the old yards on the way. Someone with a scrub cutter has cleared the worst of the overgrown section of the track just down from the last tussocky bit and this helped us get down quite quickly. The last grunt completed, we arrived back at the carpark just after 4pm feeling quite pleased with our effort for the weekend. Thanks for the great effort Maurice, Noel and Tim from Robbie
Tim on big saw
Maurice getting the measure
Job done.