Trip Reports
Trotters Gorge
Sunday, August 18th, 2024
Sunday 4 August 2024
This trip was meant to be a day of exploring our many tracks in the Trotters Gorge area, but with all the rain we had early in the week I had to go down on the Saturday and have a look to see what was available. The tracks in the valley weren’t too bad because they didn’t see the sun much and they were frozen over, but Trotter’s creek was up a bit so it was hard to keep the feet dry. I when up past the University hut to Dave’s track that the club maintains, but it looked a bit mucky, so that was off the list.
I then checked out the track up beside Arns Peak, but it was a bit overgrown with gorse, so I spent about an hour cutting and probably only got half way up so it was out too. I then went back down the track a bit until there is a track with a short steep climb up to a forestry road. This was the track I was thinking of coming back down on the Sunday trip, so I went up it a bit. It was a bit greasy but not too bad and it looked pretty clear, so this was going to be our track for the next day.
On the Sunday six of us meet in town and headed down to Trotters Gorge where we met Robbie. There was a good frost on the way down and it was still frozen at the car park like the day before. We headed up the valley, crossing the creek several times trying not to get wet feet, but that was a bit hard for some. We had a wee stop at the University hut before heading up to the start of the track with the short steep climb, with everyone wanting to get up the track to the sun and out of the frozen valley. We climbed up the steep track that wasn’t too bad, that then levelled out through a wee bit of gorse. We finally came out onto the forestry road and warm sun, so morning tea was taken.
After morning tea stop we carried on up the road for a couple of km. until we met the main forestry road, which we then went up to come to the base of South Peak. There are many good views to be had at the top of South Peak so we found the track up. We had to push through some gorse at the start but we soon found a good route up to the top. It was warm clear and calm on top with 360% views, so an early lunch was taken looking at the views.
There was a plan of maybe heading over to North Peak but Port Blakely, the forestry company, have been harvesting over that way and it didn’t look very inviting. So after a very leisurely lunch we retraced our steps back the same way we came.
It was a bit more slippery coming back down the steep bit but everyone negotiated it well and then it was just the walk back to the car park in the valley which was still frozen in places, and wet feet again. All up it was a very leisurely day over 13km travelled in about 5 ½ hours.
Thanks to everyone that came out for the enjoyable day and company.
John, David N, Jenny, Keith, Robbie and Shirley on her 1st trip with the club for a while.
Neville
Flat Top Hill and Bendigo
Wednesday, July 31st, 2024
27th – 29th July 2024
A week prior to the Luxmore Hut trip, the weather forecast was for heavy rain but changed to clearing on Tuesday so it was decided Luxmore was all go. Wednesday the weather forecast for the weekend looked extremely heavy rain so we opted for Plan B destination of Alexandra though disappointed that we were not going to get to Luxmore Hut to see Phylis and Maurice.
Six of us arrived at the Alexandra Holiday Camp on Friday evening and settled in to our 1 star cabins though Jenny and Karyl upgraded thankfully as we gathered in their cabin each night. Tea and cards filled in the evening.
Saturday weather was overcast so perfect for tramping. By car, the Flat Top Hill can be reached by driving to Butchers Dam, 10 mins out of Alexandra on the Roxburgh Road. However, to make the day more interesting, we left from the carpark just over the Alex bridge along Earnscleugh Rd. From the carpark, we walked under the Alex Bridge and along the Roxburgh Gorge Bike Track. We passed Butchers Creek which is the outlet of Butchers Dam and this creek flows into the Clutha River. This bike track follows the Clutha River and there are many interesting points of interest on the other side, such as man-made rock walls for stabilising the walking track at river level and sheer rock cliffs with holes for animals. We walked along the bike track for 2 hours reaching the Roxburgh Faces Track which is a 4WD track climbing 350m to Flat Top Hill. An hour later we were at the junction of Flat Top Hill Loop Track. We continued south on the track, which dropped down to the west. Here we stopped for lunch, overlooking the Alexandra-Roxburgh Rd at Fruitlands and Butchers Dam plus in the distance, the Old Man Range and the Clyde Dam. We continued on this loop and there is another loop, the Basin View Track which we opted not to do as it was 2pm. So we walked back up to the junction where we started. Then down the Roxburgh Faces Track and back along the 6km of Roxburgh Gorge bike track to the vehicles. On the way back, just before reaching Butchers Creek, there was a goat track coming down the hill and joining the bike track which we assumed joined the Basin View Track at the top. This could be an alternative route back. After 26km of walking, we headed back to camp, showered and went out for a well deserved Mexican meal topped off with Mexican hats and Margaritas. Though we did feel like some scones, jam and cream.
Sunday early morning brought light rain which settled in so instead of doing the Lilico Spur DOC track at Waikerikeri Valley, Julian suggested Bendigo. Halfway between Cromwell and Tarras, we turned right into Bendigo Loop Rd, then Blue Mines Rd and parked at Welshtown. Neville was familiar with the tracks so from here we walked around the Aurora Track (1.5hrs) and Matilda Battery Track (1/2 hr) taking in the gold mining history by reading the many information boards and viewing the ruins of stone houses, stamper battery, old hotels, incredible rock retaining walls for old bullock tracks, and the outdoor ballroom which overlooked the Upper Clutha valley. We were all in awe of the hard physical labour that went into these structures. In 1868, Thomas Logan’s determination to get alluvial gold led to the establishment of Logantown, which included a bakery, butcher, up to 7 hotels, a clothier, and a blacksmith.
A weekend of exploring enjoyed by all. Thanks for your company.
Jenny, Karyl, Lynette, Julian and Neville. Bess
Mid Winter Bike Ride
Sunday, July 14th, 2024
Sunday 14 July 2024
Enfield Bike Ride, Sunday 14th July 2024
We left Medway car park at 11am, meeting up with one rider by the gardens, and two riders at the Weston Rail Siding. One more rider joined us at Fort Enfield, giving us a total of thirteen riders, two of which were leg powered riders.
The weather was chilly and overcast, but when we reached the top of McLeod Rd, all were warmed up. The ride continued along Ridge Road, with the temperature a low 5.2 degrees celsius.
We saw only two cars on the bike ride, along Tussocky Rd. From there we rode down Pine Hill Rd and on to the Alps to Ocean bike trail, then made our way back to the Enfield pub for refreshments. We then made our own way home in our own time.
Thank you to the E-Bike riders for being patient and waiting on the leg powered riders.
Total distance biked was 47 kilometres.
Noel Pullan
Conical Hill 945m
Friday, June 28th, 2024
22-6-2024
10 of us met at the car park in Oamaru all looking for a good day in the hills. The weather
forecast was fine but cool with a change late afternoon in which time we would be out by
then.
We all piled into two Vehicles and headed down to Palmerston where we met two other
members from Dunedin. We then headed about 20km inland on the Pigroot Rd to we
turned off into Kinross Station. There is an easement through Kinross station to the top of
Conical Peak with a car park and a DOC sign being just off the Pigroot Rd, but we had been
in contact with the farmer that we were going to be on this property and he was happy for
us to park in his yards.
At about 9.30am we headed off up the easement track which has orange poles on the fence.
At 10.30am at about the 600m mark we stopped for morning tea with views north-
northwest towards the snow-capped Kakanui Mountains and the southernmost peak of Obi.
We then carried on up the track and at about the 750m mark we got a view of the top of
Conical peak and of the headwaters of the South Branch of the Waianakarua River.
At about noon the 1st of the party reached the top of Conical Peak 945m and the rest of the
party that wanted to get to the top all arrived over the next half an hour. A leisurely Lunch
was taken in fine clam conditions with 360 degree views and views of the North and South
Branches of the Waianakarua River and to the northwest to the start of the Kakanui
Mountains and southwest across to the snow-capped Rock and Piller Range.
At about 1pm we headed off back down the track with the cloud that had been sitting out at
sea all day was starting to roll in, all arriving back at the cars about 3pm with everyone
agreeing it had been a good day out in good conditions for a winter hike.
Over the day we covered 15.5 km, an 800m climb from the cars to the top and it took us
about 5 ½ hours. On the way home we stopped at the Dunback pub but it was closed so it
was back to Palmerston where there was a thick drizzle. A debrief of ice cream and coffee
was taken and to farewell our two Dunedin members.
Thanks for making it a good day out; Maurice, Phyllis, Ross F, Geoff, John, Rex, David N,
Rodney, Helen and our two newbie’s Sarah and Rory.
Neville
