#90 of 100 trips for 100 years - Trotters Gorge 10 September 2023

 

The first OTC trip to Trotters Gorge was in 1930 where they traveled by train to the closest station, however with no train available today, twelve people took the easier option of a one hour car drive to Trotters Gorge.  The plan was for two short walks with each following a different tributary of Trotters Creek.  The first walk took us around the Trotters Gorge Loop Track which takes around 1.5 hours with the track entering the native podocarp bush at the southern end of the picnic area and follows the creek past impressive river sculptured cliffs and caves. Leaving the creek, the track climbs 100m through broadleaf forest to the ridge where we made the short detour to the bluffs which are hard, rough rocks with fossils visible. These ancient sedimentary rocks are very old and were deposited during the period when Zealandia was still separating from Gondwana.   We scrambled up onto the bluffs and were rewarded with views that looked out to the coast and further into the gorge itself, seeing the wonderful exposed rock formations that are the result of ancient braided rivers that deposited sediment en masse as the river flowed to the sea. 

We found a nice spot for a morning tea break before heading down the other side of the ridge, through native kanuka forest back to the gorge which we followed back to the picnic ground at the start.  Being too early for lunch we continued on our walk, first crossing the creek and following a narrow path through a rock tunnel and along beside Trotters Creek where we marveled at the clear water. This would be a magic spot during summer with so many perfect swimming holes, each surrounded by the lush, green bush.  

After crossing the creek several times, although none were difficult crossings with the creek being so low,  we reached the Otago University Tramping Club's hut where we stopped for an early lunch.  This hut and large flat area in front of it has been popular for OTMC socials and picnics over the years, particularly with the deep swimming hole right out the front of the hut.  Sadly today, the swimming hole is no more as it has been filled with gravel as the result of numerous floods over the years, despite this, the hut is still a nice place to visit and we made use of the deck for lunch.  After eating, we headed further up the creek, crossing a couple more times before climbing a small hill to a rocky outcrop where some of us ventured out onto the rocky promontory for more great views. 

From this vantage point we were able to see more of the wonderful rock bluffs that had been carved out many millennia ago.   The wilding pines and gorse are getting a good foothold on the cliffs and it will only be a few more years before the impressive rock bluffs are lost behind a wall of trees. From this vantage point we were able to look down onto the track that we walked along before climbing up onto the rocky bluff. 

Knowing that others were waiting on us, we scrambled back along the rocky shoulder to the safety of the trees and clambered back down to the track where we able to look back up to where we had been standing earlier.  Impressive to see the sheer rock cliffs that we had been standing on and glad to be back on firm ground again, although it is sad to see the wilding pines taking over.  

Once back at the bottom of the cliff it was a fast 40 minute walk back along the side of Trotters Creek with it's numerous crossings before we caught up with the tail end of the group just as they were arriving back at the picnic area.  It had been a fun day with two short walks that had only whetted our appetite to come back and explore the area a bit more.