Trip Reports
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
Ben Lomond
Wednesday, June 19th, 2024
16 June 2024
Ben Lomond is the highest point on the ridge separating the Maerewhenua and Otekaieke valleys.
After a week of fluctuating weather forecasts, the day dawned fine and nine trampers left Oamaru
at 8 o‘clock, picking up a tenth at Duntroon, and turned down Special School Road to park just
before the farm track dropped down off the terrace. After a preliminary discussion it was decided
that six would head for the top while four would aim for a shorter walk. Among the latter was the
supposed trip leader who had left his boots at home.
All set off just before 9 o’clock dropping down off the terrace to the valley floor and crossing the
Otekaieke River by a stock bridge. It was then through a couple of gates to start up the steep climb
to the Ben Lomond ridge. The main group took a direct route up while the shorter walkers followed
the zig-zag track.
The group who were attempting a longer distance headed towards Lower Ben Lomond (994 metres)
where they stopped for lunch at about noon. A discussion was held whether they try and make it to
Ben Lomond itself, but with what looked like a change in the weather coming and shorter amount of
daylight available it was decided to turn back after lunch following the high path for the views rather
than descending into the river valley.
The other four stopped at a fenceline about half-way along the top ridge (about 830 metres) and
lunched on a sheltered knob with fine views of the mountains in the St Mary Range. Two returned
down the fenceline while the last two (including the bootless leader) returned by the track.
All ten met up before the bridge and returned to the cars at 2.30pm. The Duntroon Hotel debrief
concluded that it had been a very good day with fine weather, great views and a good workout. So
said Roz, Lorena, David, Robbie, Julian, Neville, Rex, Neil, Jane and John.
