When I arrived at Woodhaugh on Saturday morning, I don’t think I quite realised what I had gotten myself in for. The plan for Trip #067 was to circumnavigate the fence surrounding the Orokonui Ecosanctuary - sounds simple enough, right? Unbeknownst to me (and many others on the trip), we would be faced with some of the steepest terrain encountered on the 100 trips so far…
The walk started off easy enough, a gentle stroll from the carpark at the Orokonui Lagoon to the base of the Ecosanctuary. Along the way we passed through many gates, a sign that we were entering the predator free zone managed by the Halo Project. On arrival at the fence we were greeted by two curious Takehē, who reside at the bottom of the Ecosanctuary. Takehē are an incredibly special bird - they were thought to be extinct for nearly 50 years before they were re-discovered deep in the Murchison Mountains in 1948. Since then, conservation efforts have seen their population increase to approximately 400 birds nationwide, and they are slowly being reintroduced into the wild. Takehē are classed as endangered, and are incredibly vulnerable to stoats and other predators - just one reason why the kaupapa and mahi of Predator Free Dunedin is so vital to protecting and preserving our taonga.
After much marvelling at the Takehē it was time to begin the climb. We opted to head left in a clockwise direction, as our leader Tina assured us it was much better to go up the steep section rather than down it. We were immediately greeted by a short but steep climb, which was made trickier by the thick loose gravel. It was like walking on scree - two steps forward and one back. Having tackled the first steep section, the track then immediately headed back downhill. Although we were dismayed to be losing the height we had just gained, we carried on happily chatting to those around us.
What we saw after rounding the next corner stopped us in our tracks and jaws dropped as we processed the sight in front us. Quite possibly one of the steepest tracks I have ever seen stretched out in front us as far as the eye could see. It was very quickly agreed that where we were standing was a good place for morning tea, but really we all wanted a chance to refuel and guzzle some sugar to prepare us for the relentless climb in front of us.
After mucking around handing out lollies and taking silly team photos, we realised we could no longer procrastinate. Gritting our teeth, we put our heads down and started walking. The excited chatter from before was replaced with heavy breathing, no one was wasting any energy on talking. Looking back was not for the faint-hearted as it appeared to be nearly a straight drop down to the bottom.
Thankfully it wasn’t long until the ground beneath our feet started levelling off and we were able to catch our breath. From hare, it was a gentle climb around to the entrance to the Ecosanctuary on Blueskin Road. We were treated to spectacular views in all directions on this stretch, from the distinctive ridgeline that makes up the backbone of the Silver Peaks on one side, to Harbour Cone and Sandymount on the Otago Peninsula on the other.
Some people treated themselves to a hot lunch inside the cafe at Orokonui - a rare treat on a tramping trip - while others opted to explore the area a bit and enjoy their kai al fresco. Did you know there is a flax plantation, otherwise known as a Pā-Harakeke at Orokonui Ecosanctuary? This is home to over 100 different varieties of harakeke (flax), which the public are welcome to harvest for weaving etc. provided appropriate tikanga is followed.
After lunch, it was a quick trip downhill towards the lagoon. This side was certainly not as steep, making it a very pleasant walk. The views over Blueskin Bay were gorgeous, and those of us with a keen eye enjoyed the light rays peeking through the clouds which made for a good picture. We made a brief stop to say hello to the Takehē before heading towards the cars, keen to get out of the biting cold wind and home safe before the forecasted snow arrived later that evening.
by Jade Pettinger
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