#99 of 100 trips - Ross Creek 14 October 2023

 

Today's trip is a replacement for a weekend trip that was postponed due to the weather and being so close to the end of #100 trips, we couldn't miss one now .  Despite being a hastily arranged day trip 11 people turned up for a short 2 hour walk around the Ross Creek/School Creek area.  We started the walk at Woodhaugh and took the path through the gardens and up the Bullock Track which is a short but steep climb up to Maori Hill.  We reached the top and stopped to catch our breath before following Braeview Crescent which skirts around the contour of the hill and has remarkable views of Leith Valley and the lower section of Pine Hill.

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At first it would appear that Braeview Crescent is a dead end street but if you know where to look, there is a 'locals only' track that continues to follow the contour, crossing a small side stream and after around 5 minutes walking following a narrow, winding trail through the bush, comes out on one of the Ross Creek walking tracks.  This was a very pleasant alternative to more road walking.  Once on the Ross Creek walking track we continued following the contour until we reached the Ross Creek reservoir where we stopped for a snack and drink break before walking past the stars and around the reservoir.

The Ross Creek Reservoir was created in the 1860s to provide water for the city of Dunedin and is now used only when other water sources are critically low. Native bush surrounds the reservoir and with numerous tracks through the bush and around the reservoir, it is also one of Dunedin's most popular bush walking areas, particularly with dog walkers and families. 

After circling the reservoir we followed the creek which is created from the overflow of the reservoir down the valley.  The creek is pleasant to walk beside with the water bubbling over rocks and passing through the narrowest parts of the valley with canyon walls rising on both sides of the creek.  We stopped for a short time to see the 20m waterfall that tumbles into School Creek before continuing on down the valley and through Woodhaugh Gardens back to the cars.  A very pleasant 2 hours, 8.7km walk in the sun.

Day Fifty Eight Leith Valley

 I've had a week off walking the streets and was back today walking 5 streets.

712. Duke Street
713. Rockside Road
714. Clarewood Avenue
715. McGlashan Street
716. Woodhaugh Street

 

I started by walking Duke Street then I took the Bullock Track up the hill.  The Bullock Track is a cliff side path that cattle were lead along on their way to the works in the early days of  Dunedin.  Now there are no cattle but the pathway is still known as the Bullock Track and is a steep climb from Woodhaugh to Maori Hill.  The views from partway up the Bullock Track look towards Pine Hill and are worth a rest stop. 

I have already walked the streets of Maori Hill but I wanted to carry on walking Burma Street which winds it's way through the town belt and around the Ross Creek Reservoir. 

I walked only part of Burma Street before taking a short cut through Ross Creek Reservoir to meet up with Rockside Road.  I will walk the rest of Burma Street another day.  Ross Creek Reservoir is one of the oldest artificial lakes in New Zealand and was created in 1867 to provide water for the city of Dunedin.  It is the oldest water supply reservoir still in use in the country. Ross Creek Reservoir is surrounded by native bush and has many walking tracks and is a haven for birds.

Once onto walking Rockside Road, I followed it down the hill to Leith Valley.  The views from Rockside Road are a good place to see the town belt with the houses nestled amongst the trees.

The bottom of Rockside Road was a good place to look back up the hill where I had walked down to see the colours of Autumn putting on a good show on the hillside.

I walked over the Water of Leith twice on my walk along Malvern Street, crossing it in different places on my way back to where I had started my walk.  The Leith starts near the Northern Motorway and flows down Leith Valley and through the Unversity of Otago before reaching the harbour. 

Most of the time the Water of Leith is a quiet stream, however during heavy rain and steep sides, this quiet stream becomes a roaring river. Over the years there have been a series of engineering modifications along the length of Leith in an attempt to control the flooding. 

 

While I did not complete many streets on my walk today, I walked past a number of interesting areas.  I walked past the site of New Zealand's first paper mill today.  The Otago Paper Mills Company was established on this site in 1876.  The factory was destroyed by fire in 1911 and was rebuilt but eventually closed in 1936.  A camping ground is now on the site. 

I walked past some interesting pieces of art today.  This one is on the side of a garage near the Water of Leith.  It shows the river with a morepork. 

More art I walked past today was at the Ross Creek Reservoir.  In 2010 cracks were discovered in the reservoir.  The base of the dam was strengthened and the dam face was rebuilt and an artwork has been installed on the dam face.  

The artwork is a sculpture of 77 steel stars with the inspiration being the night sky reflecting in the water of the reservoir.  The stars have been placed to represent the southern constellations. 
 

 

There were a number of interesting buildings that I noticed on my walk.  The Woodhaugh Hotel is on the corner of Woodhaugh Street was a hotel during from 1882-1893.  It has been a restaruant, a brothel and now is a student flat.

I walked around this lovely old stone cottage that has a street on three sides with the house taking up the whole section. 

Another interesting building that I walked past is this old church that is now home to the NZ Deer Stalkers Association and the Dunedin Rock and Mineral Club.

Distance walked:  5.3 km      Walking time   59 mins    

Total distance: 456.1 km       Total walking  85 hr 45 mins