100 trips for 100 years with Dunedin on Foot: Burnside

Monday, February 8, 2021

Day Twenty Seven Kaikorai Valley

Today was one of my longer walks where I walked half of Kaikorai Valley Road, and all the side streets. Today I walked 17 streets

336. Ensor Street
337. Short Street
338. McLeod Road
339. Eclipse Road
340. Townleys Road
341. Donald Street
342. McNab Street
343. Salisbury Road
344. Marshall Street
345. Bradford Street
346. Mulberry Street
347. Stone Street
348. Mataora Road
349. Borthwick Street
350. Hocken Street
351. Bryant Street
352. Fels Street

The first part of my walk today, took me through the industrial part of Kaikorai Valley with lots of car sale yards and commercial premises. Once through this part, it was up Ensor Street to join onto the motorway near the Lookout Point Fire Station. Luckily there is a walkway that took me through to the top of Short Street. The residents of Short Street have good views looking towards Saddle Hill.

Once back at the bottom of the hill, it was a short walk to the bridge over the South Island Main Trunk Line. From the rail bridge I could look down to where the Burnside Railway Station was. There is no station there now.

The Burnside Railway Station was a local station used by commuters up until it's closure in 1982. The train used the tunnel to cut out the hills making the journey to the city quite fast. As cars became more reliable, the train was less popular and eventually the station closed. This picture shows how the station looked not long before it's closure.

From here I walked back along Kaikorai Valley Road and past Kaikorai Valley College. Kenmure Intermediate and Kaikorai Valley High School merged in 1996 to become Kaikorai Valley College.

I turned onto Stone Street and headed up the hill. It was good to be back on the hill as I was able to see the mix of residential houses and commercial buildings on Kaikorai Valley Road.

Once back on the hill I finished some of the side streets off on Kenmure Road then followed a set of steep steps down onto Hocken Street so I could complete a few more streets.

Kaikorai Stream flows through Kaikorai Valley with the road crossing the stream in places. Through walking the valley, I discovered the pathway that runs alongside part of the stream. It is good to see the restoration of the stream with native plants.