Dunedin Hills
25-26 February 2017
Guess we all go to Dunedin often enough, but don’t usually have time to explore it’s hills. Having members from Dunedin – Helen and Rodney, it seemed a good opportunity to use their local knowledge. With some venturing down on Fri night [for a nice pizza meal] others chose the option of an early start on Sat.
Eventually 13 of us congregated at Outram to head up into Horsehoof Station to make an ascent of Maungatuas via their Woolshed Road (from the north) and with a key key to their locked gate. With a party doing a longer route and one a shorter – we met by the aerials. Then the harder work began though thick scrub to a solitary rocky outcrop, then onto the Trig point at 895 m taking almost 3 hours. Views from the Kakanuis, Hawkduns, Strath Taieri, and south into Southland’s Blue Mountains.
After locating a pretty tarn, we ventured back down, having plenty of time to ready ourselves for a pleasant Thai meal in town.
Next morning the day dawned bright and sunny for us to venture out onto The Peninsula. A couple of differing routes took us up the summit of Harbour Cone, with a 3rd route taken by some to descend. What amazing 360 views!!
Travelling on NE-wards we had quite a trek to the Pyramids, onto Victory Beach and Okia Reserve,
being fortunate enough to have low tide so that we could see 156 year-old steamer wheel in the surf of the SS Victory ship that sunk off the shores on the pristine beach in 1861 .
Great to meet up with and be guided by the very informative Rodney and Helen, plus to have Tim and Betty and Ann from the Taieri, and N.O-iItes Roz, Chris, Mike, Ross, John, Karyl, and Jenni. We will so more exploring of Dunedin’s gems. Jane G
Gentle Annie Hut
Gentle Annie Hut
5th March 2017
Two vehicles left Oamaru and three vehicles arrived at Mt Stalker station yards. Jane M hopped in and we continued up to the end of Tulliemet Road to the “T intersection”. From here, it was easy to see the route for the day and nine of us began our descent into the gully via an old 4WD track. As we continued down towards the Gentle Annie Hut, Jane found some berry laden Coprosma. Some Herefords were keen to get past us so we let them through. We reached the Gentle Annie Hut late morning so we sat in the sun and had brunch while contemplating going up onto the west ridge to cut down some wilding pines which were a fair size. The ridge was a fair size too so we flagged it. We then, back tracked for 10 minutes and started up the zig zag which is to the south east of Mt Stalker. At the top, the lookout is towards Macraes Flat, Puketapu, Conical Hill etc. From here we walked back to the vehicles via the Otepopo spur 4WD track. Going through the last gate, the same Herefords from the morning, were seeing us on our way. Thanks to those who came along. A short, pleasant outing.
John C, Linda, Colin L, Mark, Stewart G, Jane M, Jac, Roz and Bess
Grampians
29 January 2017
If asked to sum up this trip in one word -it would be ‘windy!’. But with the crazy summer weather we have been having, and that this was the first trip in almost 2 months, I think all 10 of us were just happy to be out in real mountains without rain.
It took a couple of hours to get to the top of the Haka Pass after picking up Bronwyn, Helen and Rodney and rearranging 4 cars into 2 at Duntroon. Boots on and we were on our way -all up for 2 ½ hours of steady climbing up 1000 odd meters to 1921m near Black Rocks. Some of us spied the rear ‘black daisy’ and Bronwyn many other species she could name.
Lunch was had with our back to the marvelous view of 7 [imaging one could see Middleton] but shelter was essential. Photos were taken, but I found it difficult to hold the camera steady.
With the wind increasing in intensity, we carefully braced ourselves to maintain our standing during the first section of our descent. After that it was all down at various speeds, averaging about 1 ¾ hours. Replenishing our bodies, those with mathematical/accounting skills were delegated to work out the complexities of the petrol. These 2 functions were completed at Kurow in a pleasant 29 degrees.
8 of the 10 had not been up the Grampians, and by the pain in my quads. a couple of days, it was obvious some had not been up 1000m recently!
Thanks for the company of Jim, Colin, Maurice, Phyllis, John, Bronwyn, Neville, Helen and Rodney. Jane G.
End of Year Dinner 2016
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