Katiki Beach – Shag Point
Sunday 7th July 2019
Eight trampers in two vehicles arrived at the car park at the north end of Katiki Beach at 10 o’clock, having driven the 45 km from Oamaru – the late start was determined by the 1 pm low tide. A ninth participant met them there. The two largest vehicles were ferried down to the car park at the south end of the beach and left there, with the third vehicle returning north with the drivers. About 10.30am we set off north up Katiki Beach to walk the 2kms to the northern limit where the beach meets the hills of Katiki Point. On the way we crossed the trickle that comprised Trotters Creek and turned around just before 11 o’clock at an unnamed estuary by the end of the beach.
We then headed southward down the beach, passing our starting point and stopping for morning tea about an hour after we had set off. It was now 1 ½ hours from low tide so the sand was getting wider and was firm enough to provide an excellent walking surface. The beach was sheltered from the stiff, cold northerly breeze so it was warm enough some top clothing layers to be removed. Shortly after smoko, we started coming across the many and varied rock formations which are a feature of Katiki Beach. There were reefs with round pools, Katiki boulders (similar to Moeraki boulders), layered strata in the cliffs, rock shelves notable for their protection of slippery algae, and, further along, myriad small spherical rocks like bowling balls. Navigation of the rock formations, not to mention photography, made for slow progress, so it was not until almost 1.15 that we passed the last rocks and settled down for lunch.
Lunch over, we walked down the sandy beach to the start of the rock shelf which runs down the north-east side of Shag Point and was now fully exposed by the low tide. Walking was a careful process, avoiding the dark algae which could make the surface extremely slippery and using poles for extra stability. The sandstone shelf supported an amazing variety of rock formations including huge Katiki boulders, many split to form open flower buds or spa pools, straight drainage channels, parallel tram lines and strange prehistoric scripts. Many of the rocks contained fossils. By 3 o’clock, we had reached the end of the walkable section and, watched by a group of young seals, we climbed up the rocks and then some steps to a grassy reserve behind some cribs.
Because of the time, we decided not to continue on to the point itself but, after a short break, turned right up the road and old railway formation for the 2km walk back to the cars. The 17 km walk in very pleasant conditions had offered much of interest for Chris, Bronwyn, Bess, Bevan, Julian, Lynette, Neville, Robbie and John.
Club Night July 2019
There were two Club Trips over the last month.
Seven members did the climb up to Big Hut on the Rock and Pillar Range for an overnight stay. It was warmer than usual for this time of the year, but there was still enough snow to make a few snowballs —. With some good competition in table tennis and some excellent shared deserts, a good time was had in the evening. However with a fall of snow overnight and still foggy in the morning, the walk to the next hut was cancelled in favour of a direct return to the cars.
A walk along Katiki beach was enjoyed by nine members, starting at the North end car park and heading north initially, before returning and carrying on to the south end of Katiki beach. The wide range of rock formations made for an interesting walk at low tide.
Coming trips are to the Orokonui Eco Sanctuary and a coastal walk north to Bobby’s Head.
The Wednesday walks were along the Weston Escarpment with nine from the Avon Tramping group, a Tapui- Crown Hill-Slaty Creek circuit, three short walks in the Waikouiti, Karitane area and a walk from Ashland’s Road to South Peak, all on fine winters days with some spectacular winter views.
The evenings speaker was John Chetwin who told us of a recent five day trip with Club members along the Old Ghost Road near Murchison.
Starting at the Lyall end on the first day, they followed an old dray track 18k up the Lyall Valley to the Lyall Saddle at over 1300m asl.
Although there were plenty of predator traps spaced along the track, bird song was scarce, apart from lots of friendly robins.
The second day was along the tops and there were plenty of slips, some live, to negotiate. There would be about a dozen bikers passing them each day.
The Ghost Lake Hut on the second night was on a high bluff and had spectacular views of the Thousand Acre Plateau to the West, Nelson lakes area to the North and the Kaikoura Mountains to the East.
It was then along the Skyline Ridge, down 300 steps and following the Mokihinui River to the road head.
Signs of the Murchison earthquake damage were still visible along the track.
Deep Stream, Lake Aviemore 9 June 2019
Six of us met in Oamaru and headed for Lake Aviemore with a fine weather forecast for the day. As we crossed the Aviemore Dam the lake was quite rough with plenty of whitecaps. We pulled up at the car park at deep stream and met another one of our members there. The wind was a cold westerly coming down the lake, so it was on with all our warm gear before we headed off, but it was soon off with all the warm gear once we started the walk because we had shelter from the wind.
Deep Stream is a public walkway that follows around the side of a small Lake that Deep Steam flows into. The track is about 2km long and has a couple of picnic spots along the way, but the track is getting a bit rough near the top end of the track.
We had permission from the farmer to carry on up the stream, so after crossing the stream with wet feet the gorge opens up into a big valley. We followed a 4WD track up the valley for about 3 km till the stream goes into a bit of another gorge.
We then climbed high out of the valley to the east trying to find the best path through the scrub and matagouri to meet up with a wee valley that meets the stream from the east. It was in this valley that we had seen heaps of Wallabies about 4 yrs ago when we last did this walk, but there was none to be seen this time.
On the saddle at the head of the valley we had lunch looking down on Lake Waitaki and the mountains beyond. After lunch we dropped down into a wee gut and back up onto a 4WD, where we did see one Wallaby. We then followed the 4WD track down pass some remains of an old building and out pass the fisherman’s bend camping area.
Back down at the camp it was back into the cold wind, so it was back on with the warn gear, but as we got up to the dam the wind changed to a warm NW. It was soon back to the cars after a 5 ½ hour hike and about 15km all up.
Thanks – Julian, John, Marian, Robbie, Shirley and Bill F for the great company for the day. Neville
Big Hut June 2019
After a break of 5 years this event was reestablished for the NOTMC this last weekend by an intrepid group of 7. Leaving the comforts of civilization this group made their way to the bottom of the 3 hour climb required to get to Big Hut with uncertain overcast conditions. Cloud covered the tops as we headed up but the activity resulted in rapid warming and before long clothes were being shed to avoid overheating. After a short munch stop about two thirds of the way up and an improvement on the meteorological front a small snow ambush took place with less fortunate down hill members being attacked from above no injuries resulted and we continued up the hill to arrive at the hut by about 1 ish.
After a substantial recovery break a group rugged up to face the elements once again to explore the range to the south with its spectacular rock tors. A couple of young students keen on skiing had come up before us and could be seen in the distance for most of the afternoon indulging in their snowy pastime, they later informed us that they had hoped to get to one of the Queenstown skifields but lacking in snow cover they had decided to come to the Rock and Pillars.
As the photographic evidence shows, the snow was not abundant on the Rock and Pillars either, a dump of some 2 weeks earlier had not been replenished. Conditions were rather cold though with a biting westerly wind ensuring a polar aspect that we have come to expect up there. The one iceaxe brought up by the party was usefully employed to gain access to the water tank at the hut.
After the reuniting of the intrepid group with the stay behinds the convivials were brought out and the social aspects of this trip were established with shared nibbles, drinks and eventually table tennis to keep the circulation going. After dinner the main event took place and a large array of desserts took centre stage. One member started to display major signs of distress at this point, with frequent absences and mutterings on return. It turned out that their contribution to dessert had failed to make it up the hill having been left behind on the kitchen bench at home. We all felt great sympathy with this member and many sounds suitable to this situation were made in his direction. His contribution of canned high pressure cream was appreciated though. It is highly unlikely that this omission will ever be forgotten and it will undoubtedly enter the historical record of our club.
As has been the case in the past the desserts far outweighed our capacity to eat and the 2 young skiing fellows were dragged from their beds in order to help us consume the wonderful delicacies on offer leaving just a smaller remnant to be taken care of for breakfast the following morning.
The night was long and the temperature variable going from quite cold to too warm and back to cold after a small blizzards passed through at about 5.36am which made the journey to the loos challenging.
The intension had been to do the round trip and return via Leaning Lodge but after much waiting for the clagged in cold conditions to change during the morning it was eventually decided to return the same way that we’d come the previous day. The snow encountered the previous day was hard on the return and we were pleased with our decision to return that way. We would have encountered harsh conditions via the Leaning Lodge route with exposure to steep snowy slopes making for unnecessary risks of a fall.
It did warm up on the way down and our winter gear was shed at different points on the journey. We arrived back at the carpark in time for another lunch (a previous lunch stop having already taken place). After another discussion it was wisely decided to stop at Stanley’s for a pint and a debrief.
This was a great trip with a strong social focus which highlighted the high regard and enjoyment we get from the spending time in the hills with our mates. Thanks to those who came and they were Marion, Maurice, Phyllis, Neville, Julian, Bill F and Robbie.
Club Night June 2019
In the Herbert Forest the Hoods and Podocarp Tracks are closed due to logging operations by the owners Port Blakey. The Swallows track remains open.
Other nearby Tramping Clubs are interested in doing trips with us within our district, as a means of getting to know the area better.
The Club is looking to improve tramping leadership skills and may use the community day next year to develop these.
Trip Reports
There have been 2 trap round checks in the Herbert Forest, with hedgehogs and rats being the main catch.
7 trampers had a trip up Deep Stream on a cold and often blustery day. They headed up the lower gorge, across the river and up the flats to the upper gorge. After dodging the thick matagouri the climbed up the saddle to the right where they had lunch. It was then down a 4wd track to Fisherman’s Bend and up the road to the cars. Wallaby sightings were few compared to the last time this trip was done.
Coming Trips are Big Hut, checking tunnel traps, and one from Katiki Beach to Shag Point. See the website >what’s on, for more details.
Wednesday Walkers and Wanderers
Walks enjoyed were Verbakel’s farm, a coastal trip up to Bobbys Head, Elephant and Mussen Hills, Kuriheka, and Ridge Road farm by the Wanderers.
Guest Speaker was Bronwyn McCone with the second part of her cruise up “Siberia’s Forgotten Coast”, this time north from Anadyr. As with the first part of her trip, they had to have specific permission to land anywhere on the coast from the Russian equivalent of DOC. There are very few roads, because of the permafrost and the tundra, so the landings were from zodiacs which were able to go up the rivers.
We were treated to fantastic pictures of thousands of sea birds, including cormorants, puffins, and harlequin ducks. Also sighted were brown and polar bears, humpback whales bubble netting and orcas. As it was late spring we saw many pictures of colourful ground hugging flowers including red rododendron’s and green gentians.
They got as far North as Wrangel and Herald Islands in the Chukchi Sea, where they sailed through pack ice before returning to Anadyr and the flight home via Alaska.