Mt Misery bike ride and walk to Kahikatea Lodge trip report.
Six of us left Reid Road at 8.30ish. All on ebikes it didn’t take too long to get up Southridge and Middleridge Roads and a small deviation to the Mt Misery Rd car park showed that no one else was joining us that day. It’s an awesome ride going up through the Glencoe Run, with huge views wherever you look. About 10 saw us all at the end of the road car park past the Red Hut ready to start our walk. Just then a chopper came around the hill and landed right there in the paddock, discharging a hunter with dog, gear and meat. This being the first weekend of the roar, we were advised to walk in our hiviz to avoid being mistaken for game, good advice which we took. The track into the lodge is fairly newly cut and has flagging tape as markers but is not bad for a new track. It goes along a ridge and after a while plunges fairly steeply down to a creek. Roaring stags were heard throughout this decent maybe they were animals, maybe not. On the other side of the creek, there is a grassy steep slope leading all the way up to the saddle where the Kahikatea Lodge is situated. Nice hut, nice location, very nice toilet, great views. Its nearly finished with just the kitchen bench and log burner left to do inside and a covered veranda outside. It was unoccupied unexpectedly and had had no-one there for a couple of weeks according to the hut book. We had lunch here before returning the same way. A bit more of a grunt going back with more elevation to gain but we got there to be re joined by one member who had returned much earlier. The ride back to Reid Road was mostly down hill in cloudy cool conditions, but with enough time to take some of the bike track options on offer through the Herbert Forest, a very enjoyable option for those who don’t like the forest roads.
This was a most enjoyable day out close to home, a great option in these days of covid.
Many thanks to Jane and Graeme, Julia and Bob and John for joining me, Robbie
Trip Report, Working Bee Herbert Forest Tracks, 13 March 2022
Nine people attended this activity on a fairly grey morning. There was a fair bit of work required on the Hoods Creek Track which has been closed due to log harvesting. A crew of 5 went to work from both the top and bottom of the track. They eventually met up at about 2.30 pm and all walked back to the top and were ferried back to their vehicles. Four of us stayed at the Swallows and proceeded to lose a few kg in gravy as we pulled and pushed wheelbarrow loads of gravel past the first bridge over the creek and spread gravel over weed mat in the boggiest patches. It was very hard work unfortunately not made lighter by many hands. It would have been really good to have seen more members make the effort to come, we could have all had more fun that way and achieved much more. However it was not to be and it does not diminish the effort of those who did come nor the appreciation of those who come to walk the tracks. That morning it was very gratifying to see the number of families with young kids giving it a go with excitment and appreciation in their eyes and a little less mud on their shoes. Thank you so much for the crew who came out, they were: Maurice and Phyllis, John, Julian, Bess, Jane and Graeme, Mark and Robbie
Waianakarua North Branch – 27th Feb
The Sunday mornign started cooler than hoped, at just 14 degrees maximum temperature forecast..
The Waianakarua North Branch river explore is a trip that has been done by the club quite a few times in the past, but not in recent memory so was an unusual one compared to a normal day tramp. Unfortunately the only members on this trip was me and my son Reuben, who was keen to do it again after enjoying the reconnaisance explore a few weeks prior.
Starting at the DOC Glencoe campsite, we put on our short-sleeved wetsuits and set off up the river. The sides of the rived quickly narrow to a spectacular gorge, requiring some easy scrambling to stay relatively dry. At this point we saw a very long eel slowly cruising up the river.
After about 40 minutes we reached the crux of the trip – this involves a little swim and then a tricky climb out of the water. Once I got over that, was another spectacular gorge with waist deep water to wade through.
Because of the cool temperature we were starting to get a chill at this point, so began to make our way back downstream. Much quicker than the way up as we swam the bits that we were keeping dry avoiding ont he way up!
The river up from Glencoe is like a mountain stream, but easy for is to visit from Oamaru – would definitely recommend visiting again, taking a picnic in a dry bag to enjoy in a secret spot. Would only recommend on a warm day – 18degrees or more so as not to get the chills..
Cameron Valley Hut
Cameron Valley Hut
5th and 6th March 2022
Two club members met in Wanaka late Saturday morning knowing the weather was fine and
the walk into Cameron Valley Hut was only around 5hrs in duration
We then drove to the carpark for the Cameron Valley Lookout just past Makarora and
commenced walking at 10.30am
The track starts as a well formed “tourist” walkway for about 10 minutes until the lookout.
From this point it is a marked route and changes in intensity quite dramatically.
The track was well marked and easy to follow with a couple of slightly nerving parts close to
deep bluffs, certainly not for those whom suffer from vertigo.
Total altitude difference was circa +600m, but total ascent was +1187m and descent -675m
giving an indication of the variability of the track, which explains the +5hrs for a short 7.3km
track.
Following the gorge was very scenic with a good amount of birdlife in evidence and a variety
of our great kiwi Flora.
Lunch was had at approximately 12.30 following the only major river crossing on the track.
The hut was reached at 4.00pm. Cameron Valley Hut was built in 1960 but has obviously
had repairs and maintenance done well over that time as the roof and chimney were fairly
new and the hut was in very good condition overall.
Apart from a couple of day walkers we met no-one else so had the hut to ourselves for the
night.
Late afternoon was spent exploring nearby waterfalls and creeks.
The return trip to the carpark on Sunday was obviously a bit quicker and took roughly four
hours. Rain was forecast so we needed to ensure we crossed the river before then.
A quick stop for refreshments at Makarora, a drop of in Wanaka then the drive back to
Oamaru where surprisingly the weather was better than in Wanaka. That doesn’t happen
much!.
Thanks to Dave Woods for the company.
Julian
CRUISEY {GOURMET} ROUND the HARBOUR BIKE RIDE: 20/02/22
The weather is SO important to have an enjoyable cycling and for ferry crossing – we ‘managed’ it just right! [The day before was too wet, and day after unsafely windy]. This was an atypical TC outing, but nothing like variety!
14 bods descended into a cafe at Port Chalmers for either a late breakfast, morning tea, or early lunch. After being adequately replenished, we arrived at the chartered ferry for friendly owner-operator Rachel to load our 9 ebikes and 5 ‘real’bikes like a weight-lifter. We were on our way soon after 11.00, blessed with sunshine, sea-spay, views and a well researched commentary. After mooring and offloading at Portobello, and a b
rief look at the township, we headed South on the flat finished trail [apart from 100m], diving in and out of all the bays, while avoiding other cyclists and walkers.
Soon enough we arrived at Glenfalloch right on the dot of time, only to find our outside booked table for 12.30 had been written up on their front desk as 11.30. However we were quickly established at 2 indoor tables, with refreshments and delightful lunch food [slightly different from my typical TC lunches!!]
With happy smiles and tummies, we set off to round the bottom of the harbour, for what’s becoming our traditional group photo with ‘the teeth’ -someones idea of Oamaru stones sculptures. Then Northwards, through the industrial and wharf areas to the Stadium, and up the cycle path to St Leonards. Here the trail ends, but he last remaining section costing 5 million [!!] to be completed by the end of the year to Port Chalmers.
Graham and I sorted some interesting quiet back-roads about 3 years ago to follow, rather than the busy main road. The only issue is, that there is quite of lot of up and down hill work.
Fine for ebikes and fit real-bikers, but can prove a struggle otherwise. I took one person a horrible flatter route, while the rest arrived back at the wharf at a similar time.
The six tail-enders to leave
, decided that to complete the ‘gourmet’ requirements, and to have a debrief, the local pub would fit the bill -and it did!
Thanks to Colin [and Ross for the tailor] carrying some bikes, and the rest of the crew: Jenny, Graham, Mary, Jeff, Bev, Norma, Heather, Karyl, Trish, Catherine, John and Graham, for a real beaut day!
I’ve begun planning next year’s more extensive ride! Jane
The weather is SO important
