Mt Obi
Sunday 7 April 2024
Seven of us left Oamaru on a fine morning and headed down to Palmerston and then inland on the Pigroot Rd to the rest area by the Pigroot creek bridge to meet up with our three members from Dunedin.
It was then on with the day packs and across the road to walk up Pigroot creek or what we thought was the right creek. However we soon realised we were in the wrong creek, so we soon put it right by climbing up a wee hill to be above Pigroot creek. We kept this height over a few gullies to finally pick up the 4WD track that we would follow to the top.
It was a warm hike up a steep track that just kept on going, but the views out to the Maniototo and south were amazing and we could hear the Stags in the distance roaring. At point 1128m two of our members headed back down. The rest of the group veered east onto another track that levelled off and then dropped down a bit before a 200m grunt up to meet the main track under Obi that comes up from Shingly Creek Rd.
At this point another member stopped there to rest and have lunch while the rest of the group headed on up to reach the top of Obi 1426m at about 1.15pm.
As it was such a nice day a leisurely lunch was taken with amazing 360 degree views of the coast, the Kakanui Mountains of Mt Dasher, Mt Evelyn, Kakanui Peak and Mt Domett in the distance, right through to the mountains around Queenstown.
All things have to come to an end so at 2pm it was back down the track to meet up with the member that had lunch at the track junction. We then headed down the track towards Shingly Creek Rd but about ¾ of the way down we dropped off the main track and took another track west down to Siberia creek. It was then down the creek through a bit of scrub back out to the river flats and back to the cars getting back at about 4pm.
It was such a nice day to be in the hills and I would like to thank the farmers that let us through their properties. So after nearly 17km and a 900m climb that took about nearly 7 hrs, everyone had had an enjoyable day.
Thanks to Julian, Lynette, Tizzy, Geoff, Mary, Neil, Tim, Helen and Rodney for their company for the day.
Neville
Trip Report, Mt Domett, 9/10 March 2024
A good forecast for this weekend ensured that a climb up to the summit was on. A good sized crew of 8 was all set for this trip and duly arrived at Baileys Yards in the Danseys Pass area before 2pm on the Saturday for the walk in to Chinaman’s Hut up the Otekaieke River. It was a nice walk in and upon arrival those with tents established their camp . Unfortunately for the leader it was discovered that his boots had had a catastrophic failure with one of the soles having completely detached from the boot and the other also pretty dodgy…. there would be no summit for those boots.
A nice warm evening and pleasant setting with a game of 5 Crowns to finish off saw everyone in bed by 9. The following morning an early wakeup at 5.30 got us off to start walking up the river to the start of the uphill section at the head of the valley. The leader had to send his merry crew off up the hill at this point on their own, owing to his decrepit boots. He anxiously tried to follow their progress with the aid of binoculars but after just a short while failed there too as the crew disappeared from sight.
He gradually slunk back to camp eventually and met up with the other component of this weekend’s participants, a small group of 3 who had walked in just to Chinaman’s Hut for a day walk and after sharing his anxiety for the welfare of the summit crew they returned back to the vehicle and he started to pack up and take down every other tent.
Before long half the crew returned to the hut, the mountain had repelled them with shingle scree and steepness and they packed up the remainder of their gear ready for the walk out. The 3 who did reach the summit took quite a bit longer to return but were buoyed by their success. The leader cunningly had jerry rigged his failing footwear with multiple laces and was able to return to the vehicle in booted feet, but said boots will never feel the crunch of riverbeds again and were unceremoniously dumped in the rubbish bin upon return. This was a very good trip with a happy crew and a great result, well done everyone and thanks for your company. Those who came were; Aahmes, Gabriel, Jenny, David, Julian, Jonathon, Augusta, Maurice, John, Phyllis and Robbie
Clutha Gold Waihola to Lawrence Bike Ride
Sunday 25 February 2024
The Plan
To cycle on the Clutha Gold Trail between Waihola and Lawrence
The Logistics
Twelve people, three cars,two trailers with 4 people in each car.
Five bikes on each trailer and two on a bike rack on a car all pre-loaded the night before departure at 7.00am
The Mission
All 3 cars met at Waihola at start of the trail. Drivers swapped cars and 2 with 5 people drove to Lawrence. The remaining 7 started biking from Waihola while leaving a car and trailer there.
The Highlights Waihola to Lawrence Group
Biking on boardwalks across the water of Lake Waihola.
Crossing some amazing bridges (Real works of art)
Plenty of free apples beside the trail before Milton (Given the thumbs-up by Jenny)
Lunch under the trees in the Stuart Reserve
Two tunnels (One under the main road)
Lovely avenues of trees
More boardwalks and concrete pathways
Finally some downhill for Colin, the only non-battery bike
Meeting our other group for a catch-up in the Manuka Gorge (swapping keys as well)
Biking on a back road past the Waitahuna cemetery
Coffee and hot pies at the Coffee Cart in Waitahuna
Great downhill ride into Lawrence
Well maintained track with good surface
The Negatives
A headwind from Waihola to Milton
Lots of rabbits South of Waihola
Two losing battery power just short of Lawrence
The Conclusion
Both groups arrived at their destinations at around 3.30pm
No punctures
No major issues with the bikes
No accidents
With a timely meeting at Palmerston on the way home, a great day was enjoyed with the company of Jenny, Lynn, Karyl, Noel, Colin and Maurice (Waihola to Lawrence Group)
and Bev, Vicki, Robbie, John and Ross (Lawrence to Waihola Group)
Phyllis
Meeting Report 12.2.24
Julian led our meeting this time, starting with Trip Reports:
Mitchells Hut in the Kakanui ranges.
This trip was reduced to a day trip because of bad weather.Trampers explored Siberia and Kattothyrst areas.
Herbert Forest Working Bee
Very well attended (13 people) 60 Steps were carted in and tracks tidied up.
Little Canyon Creek
Access to this was difficult because of a large mud slide and trampers ended up walking an extra 3 kms to start of tramp.It was quite a push up to 3 tarns.Quite a long wknd Robbie had some good photos .
Caples Greenstone Waitangi Wknd.
The weather looked ominous before leaving but it turned out fine.Trampers left Glenorchy and spent the 1st night in the Upper Caples Deerstalkers hut 2nd night at McKellar Hut and 3rd at the Greenstone hut.Very competitive cards each evening. A lovely walk and photos to.
Wednesday walkers gave their report
Up and Coming Trips
Dome Hills A day walk with good views
Clutha Gold Bike Ride From Lawerence to Waihola A new section.
Herbert Forest Working Bee A follow up before winter.
Mt Domet from Chinamans Hut Options available to do as much or as little as you like.
Trip Planning Followed
Meeting closed 8.40 pm followed by a cup of tea.
Doctors Point – Mopanui, Sunday 11 February 2024
Six club members left Oamaru in two vehicles and headed south to Waitati, before continuing on along Doctors Point Road and eventually meeting up with the three Dunedin-based members, Jane, Helen & Rodney, at the top of White Road and the start/end point of the Mopanui Ridgeline Track. After preparing for the day’s walking, we set-off at 9:38 a.m., initially making our way back down the 900-metre length of White Road to reach Doctors Point Road and the further 1-kilometre walk out to Doctors Point Beach.
After 25 minutes, we arrived at Doctors Point Beach and began the beach section of the walk, heading southeast along the coast during the oncoming low tide. A short distance along Doctors Point Beach we passed through ‘Taoka’s Arches’, giving continued low tide access to the remainder of the beach. After 50 minutes of walking, we’d made our way to our first destination of the day, the Mapoutahi Pā site, where Jane had some prepared notes to share about the dark history of this 18th century Māori pā site, while we were able to take in the views across to Blueskin Bay, Warrington and the surrounding area.
After 15 minutes, we were on our way once again, from the headland of the Mapoutahi Pā site and beach of Pūrākaunui Bay, we made our way south-southeast along the 3.7-kilometre length of Osborne Road around the edge of Pūrākaunui Inlet to the settlement of Osborne, while a light drizzle shower passed by. We turned southwest onto Pūrākaunui Station Road and commenced the 100-metre vertical ascent up to the Main South Line Railway, beneath the bush-covered peak of Mopanui (468m). At the top of Pūrākaunui Station Road, we crossed over the Main South Line Railway and regrouped for a lunch break at the entrance to the McKessar Track, a little over two hours after setting-out from the vehicles.
After the short lunch break, we initially started out up the McKessar Track, before branching off to the left to continue uphill onto a series of side tracks that would eventually lead us onto the peak of Mopanui. A short, but steep climb up the rocks surrounding the top of Mopanui was negotiated and all nine party members were soon enjoying the views from the top of the peak, an hour after starting up the McKessar Track. Half an hour of spectacular scenery from the top of Mopanui was enough before we all set-off once again, this time down the short track on the southern side of Mopanui, heading down to Mopanui Road in the direction of the Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary. Upon completing this relatively short bush walk, one member opted to head straight out to the Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary, while the remaining eight of us continued on along the 1.8-kilometre walk towards the northern end of the road, much of the way bordering an historic 19th century drystone wall and the modern 1.9-metre high, 47-kilometre long predator-proof fence surrounding the Ōrokonui Ecosanctuary. After 25 minutes we’d reached the end of Mopanui Road, but then continued north along the Mopanui Ridgeline Track, leading down a long flat, shallow gradient ridge with expansive views across Blueskin Bay to the Silver Peaks, eventually passing through a privately owned section of bush, which lead us out to the parked vehicles on White Road, arriving at 3:00 p.m. and completing a round trip of 5 hours and 22 minutes. Soon after, we drove back out to Waitati for a debrief and refreshments at the Blueskin Nurseries & Café, before parting company and heading for home.
Many thanks to Bess, Geoff, Maurice & Phyllis and Mike & Vicki for making the drive south to join Jane, Helen and I on an enjoyable wander along the beach, through the forest and bush, and across the volcanic tops of this peaceful location in such close proximity to the city of Dunedin.
Rodney Meiklejohn.