Orbells Cave
Sunday 8 September 2024
It was a good day for tramping: clear blue sky, warm sun, but with a strong westerly gale and some rain forecast for late afternoon. As it happened, the wind dropped as the cloud came in mid-afternoon and the rain held off until we were on the way home. The drive in was long – 98 km, 24 km of which was on gravel roads in behind Waikouaiti. Blucher Road wound tortuously along a ridge south-east from Bucklands Crossing, then turned south to become Lamb Hill Road which wound its way some more to the Bendoran Huts where it became a farm track. It was a spectacular drive with tussock clad peaks, deep valleys, hairpin bends, switchbacks and steep drop-offs.
Ten trampers had left Oamaru in three vehicles, picking up another at Maheno and the twelfth at Waianakarua. We parked by the Bendoran Huts and, just on 10 o’clock, started walking a couple of hundred metres down the road to turn left through a gate up a short hill before turning downhill and south-west, walking into the teeth of the fierce westerly. The 4wd track we were following wound around the hill before turning down a side stream to meet Orbells Creek at the bottom by some stock yards. Across the creek was a prominent rock which offered some shelter and, as it was now after 10.30, we settled down for morning tea on a sunny bank beside some stock yards.
After smoko, we took a track which climbed up the hill behind us and down the other side to meet the creek again. (On the return journey, we spied a track which followed Orbells Creek on the true left and would have avoided this hill.) We crossed the creek and followed it for a short distance before leaving it to climb 200 metres over a saddle and drop down to a side stream. Rather than follow the track which climbed again, we decided to sidle down the valley to the left. Some went down the true left, others on the right. Some on the left crossed to the right; those on the right crossed to the left and back to the right on meeting the main creek which had followed a big loop to the south. Routes were available down both sides until the valley opened out where the destination caves could be seen in a prominent schist rock face above the true left. A short walk down the creek, through some yards, across the creek and up a short climb took us to the caves: two large openings in the rock offering airy shelter. One had a small spring which watered a small patch of lush grass. Both had clearly provided bedding for livestock, so care was needed in selecting luncheon seating.
We had reached the caves shortly before 1 o’clock and enjoyed lunch on the sunny hillside below the caves. From there we could look down the valley to the Three O’clock Stream which Orbells Creek flows into and which, in turn, joins the Taieri River near Hindon. At 1.30 we set off on the return journey, climbing four hills to reach the cars at around 4.30. A fairly strenuous day in interesting country new to many was enjoyed by Rex, Lorena, Bess, Julian, Lynette, Neville, David, Keith, Jenny, Jane, Robbie and John.
Grampians- Aug 25th
With a few members new and old expressing interest in advance, there weather was optimistically forecasted to be ‘okay’ and the rain to hold off. As we arrived at the top of the Hakataramea Pass at 8:30, the wind was very much in evidence but we pushed through that and set off just before 9am up the spur leading from the cattle grid following the fenceline.
Wind carried on blasting us from the side as we made our way up, stopping occasionally behind the rocks for shelter. Around the 1300m mark there quite a few wilding pines – a job for another tramp in the future?
When we reached the first of the snow fields at approx 1600m, the wind dropped significantly and plans of retreating were put away. The snow was in very good condition, not much post-holing, and good grip with a combo of normal boots and walking poles.
Quite a lot of snow at the top (point 1901 on map) and was great to be up in that different environment. Down and up the saddle to the highest point “Black Rocks”. After a quick stop for lunch we aimed down the ridge to the east, to intersect with the farm track. Some bum sliding on theh snow to speed the descent where possible! at approx 1150m left the track to take a shortcut back to cars – down by 2:30pm. Everyone enjoyed the trip and made better by the persistent rain almost the whole way back to Oamaru whilst we avoided all the bad weather until then.
Hawdon Valley 10/11 August 2024
Friday afternoon saw 3 members leave town bound for Arthur’s Pass. The forecast was reasonable given the time of year with just some low temperature predicted for Saturday morning. A lucky decision saw us stop in Ashburton for dinner rather than a stop in Springfield. The latter being completely shut by the time we drove through.
We arrived at the Hawdon shelter by 9.00 and quickly erected our tents and put the billy on for a cuppa after which we settled in for what promised to be a chilly night. We all got up before daybreak and it was pretty cold so without mucking around we got on with it and by 7.15 we were donning packs and heading up the Hawdon Valley. It was misty but as the sun crested the surrounding hills it didn’t take too long to burn off. The river crossings were deep and cold enough though and the grass and tussock was white and crispy. The track is a 4wd track until the confluence of the East Hawdon, after which it becomes more foresty through mostly beech forest. The peaks around were spectacular with a good covering of snow. We reached the Hawdon Hut within 3 hours, found no-one there and got our gear sorted before an early lunch was had. With just daypacks we headed on to Walker Pass. This is one of 3 passes when traveling to the Edwards River, or one of 2 if going west to the West Otehake. The rock faces were rimed up with ice on the way there which made for some tricky moves to avoid slipping. We followed a snowy little track for some distance where the route flattens out and bird prints later identified as kiwi led the way for a remarkably long way. After passing the small lake which had a very low water level we reached Walker Pass and stopped for a look and photos. A nice place but offering no decent places for any camping for anyone contemplating this. The return to the hut took about the same time and we found a few other trampers had arrived. More folk kept trickling in throughout the remaining afternoon and by evening the 25 bunk hut was mostly full. A pleasant evening followed although Five Crowns was not played due to 2 members who left home with packs of cards not taking them for a walk in, a minor hitch.
The morning saw us first up and away from the hut crowd and the weather was still ok and the walk back out was enjoyable. It meant an early departure from the Hawdon Shelter and an early arrival home after a 4.5h drive.
A very enjoyable winter trip with some good company.
Those who came were Julian, Lorena and Robbie
Trotters Gorge
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
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
