September 1, 1923, was the day the Otago Tramping Club set out for it's first tramp,
with a Saturday afternoon walk to Flagstaff via the Ross Bush Track and
Pineapple Point. 100 years ago, around 50 foundation members joined the trip, and the
day was reported as ‘most exhilarating’. To mark the 100th anniversary of that first tramping trip, a group set out at 1pm, taking the Ross Bush Track (also known as the 'old pineapple track') while a few others went up the more traditional Pineapple Track route.
Our trip started at Booth Road car park and was straight into a 100m climb to the water treatment station and this is where our path diverged from those going via the 'new' Pineapple Track. The Ross Bush Track (also known as the 'old' Pineapple Track), heads into the native podocarp forest directly behind the water treatment station. We have been down this track on trip #72 and trip #77 however this was the first time we had been up the track. The track goes almost in a straight line for a short distance till it crosses the McGowan Track and here the work really began. The track climbs another 160m up through the native forest on a narrow track that climbs over tree roots and rocks while winding it's way ever upwards, pushing through ferns and under the twisted, papery branches of the Fushia, eventually popping out of the bush, almost at Pineapple Point around 40 minutes after starting.
We met up with the group who had gone up the 'new' Pineapple Track along with a number others who had headed up the hill earlier in the day with the intention of gathering at Pineapple Point for the official opening of the seat and lookout at 2pm. All up there were 20 of us gathered at Pineapple Point for a speech by the current OTMC president Antony, who gave a brief overview of the significance of this place in, not just the club's but also the wider city's history along with the significance of the date in the OTMC history. 
Over 100 years ago, being about half way, Pineapple Point had been a popular stopping place on the way up the hill to Flagstaff where people had stopped for a rest, and where tins of pineapple had been consumed before pushing on further up the hill. The used pineapple tins were placed on the top of the old fence posts marking the route to the top. Sadly the point had been lost to an infestation of broom over the past 50 or so years and it was through a number of club work parties during the past year, clearing the invasive broom that had bought the stunning city and harbour views back. 
There were club members from different era's of the club present to mark this special date with some people who joined earlier this year, up to some that had joined in the 1960's and covering every decade in between. As seemed fitting, pineapple and pineapple lumps were consumed while admiring the view, chatting and reminiscing. 
The installation of the lookout would not have been possible without Antony
who has dedicated countless hours since the idea was conceived in 2019
and has seen it through to its completion. Pineapple Point is sure to
become a wonderful asset to our city and will be enjoyed by generations
to come. The OTMC gift to the city even made it into an article in the Otago Daily Times
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