#54 of 100 trips for 100 years - Nardoo Scientific Reserve (Nardoo 13) 7 May 2023 (by Jade Pettinger)

Nardoo is an area which has haunted the OTMC for many years as, out of 12 planned trips to the scientific reserve, not many were actually successful and there was always a reason - the weather was poor, high winds etc. Today was lucky number 13… and it was lucky! The summit was not only reached, it was done so in perfect conditions and on a day that felt more like summer than 3 weeks away from the official start of winter.

Despite the early start, 19 enthusiastic trampers were gathered outside the clubrooms at 8am on Sunday morning while the plan for the day was agreed upon. Piling into the cars, we set off in convoy for Nardoo - heading via Outram, Lee Stream and Lake Mahinerangi. Descending into Mosgiel we were greeted by the thick layer of morning fog for which the Taieri Plains are famous for. This wasn’t ideal and we anxiously peered out of our windows, desperately searching for glimpses of the sun and crossing our fingers and toes that it would burn off before long.

Thankfully as we got closer to our destination the fog was burning off and the landscape around us was opening up to reveal clear blue skies and miles upon miles of tussock on the surrounding hills. The landscape was not the only thing changing however - the road changed from a highway to a narrow windy tarseal road to gravel to a slightly less maintained gravel road to a farm track with hollows big enough to swallow a car. We were not going to let this stop us and after passing through some farm gates we soon found ourselves parking in a nondescript paddock. 

Instead of the usual pre-trip briefing, our leader, Antony Hamel, gave us a crash course in flag semaphore. We were relieved there were no bulls in the paddock, as surely our eager flag waving would have sent the wrong message and we would have accidentally recreated the Pamplona Bull Run. Once our leader was satisfied we were well trained and equipped to use our flags to communicate vital information to our fellow trampers - think “my hovercraft is full of eels” - we set off.

After battling through near head-high tussock to reach the DOC sign that marks the beginning of the reserve, it soon became apparent that the theme of the day was going to be long tussock with no track. Well, everyone else was grumbling about no track… being at the back of a line of 19 people I couldn’t work out what the problem was! One thing about tussock walking is it can be incredibly uneven and slippery, especially as the large clumps of grass were well above waist high in places which meant seeing exactly where you were putting your feet was impossible!

Being so focused on staying upright, we were shocked when we stopped for a breather and turned around to see how quickly we had gained height without even realising it. The view was just opening up in front of us, with Lake Mahinerangi as the centre piece, sparkling in the morning sun. Turning our backs to the view, we continued plodding upwards, knowing the view would only get better the higher we climbed.

The group was starting to spread out now and were no longer walking in a line, which meant I was now starting to understand what they meant when they said there was no track - there was NO track! It was very much a ‘follow the path of least resistance’ endeavour, which thankfully was straight forward enough and I soon found myself joining the others for a much needed morning tea break.

On a previous trip, another member commented to me “you don’t get a lot of time to eat on these OTMC trips!”, which is true as I barely had time to sit down and open my lunch box before we were packing up again! Grabbing a handful of crackers to nibble on as we walked, I hurriedly followed as I had learnt my lesson to stick with the group so I could follow in their footsteps rather than find my own way through the tussock.

We were now heading to a group of large rock tors on the skyline, and although the climb was steady, it didn’t prove too difficult. Our only obstacle was a band of spaniards and more than one of us fell victim to the prickly plants hiding beneath the tussock. We were so engaged in our various conversations that in what felt like no time at all, we had arrived at the base of a ginormous rock.

Turning around to face the view - wow! The golden tussock contrasted perfectly with the deep blue sky, a true representation of Otago’s blue and gold colours. In front of us were miles and miles of rolling hills, from the tussock covered hills of the Te Papanui Conservation Park to the dark green native bush of Manguatua in the distance.

Lake Mahinerangi sat proudly in the middle, all of us marveling at how much larger it was than we had thought driving past earlier this morning.  Lunch was had with all 19 of us perched on a rock - yes that's how big the rocks were! As it was the day after the Coronation, it was only right that we toasted the King, as well as each of the past 12 trips to the area. Finally, our flags came to good use!

Those who had been to the area before were in awe of the weather conditions - not a breath of wind and close to 20°c. This is apparently very unusual for the area, and unsurprisingly no one seemed super keen to rush back down the hill. After lunch, we spent some time exploring the area. Some chose to keep heading up to the highest point while the majority of us decided to explore the rock tors.

After having a good look around, and taking the classic Instagram picture - a person on a rock with a gorgeous view behind them - we sadly had to begin our descent. Somehow the descent proved much trickier than the ascent as any semblance we had of a track on the way up was nowhere to be found!

One rock stood out in particular - Walrus Rock. I’m not quite sure why it’s named that as it didn’t look like a walrus to me but it certainly is magnificent. It was a large arch-shaped rock, with a small tarn in the middle of it. The day was so calm and still, which meant the reflections in the tarn were simply stunning. We all took turns getting creative and taking photos of one another through the arch while some of the more adventurous among us climbed up on top of the rock.

After many tumbles, cries of pain from unexpected spaniard attacks and nearly dislocating hips from the long strides needed to navigate over the tussock, we arrived at the bottom of the hill - Nardoo had been Nardone! 

by Jade Pettinger

#53 of 100 trips for 100 years - Smaills Beach - Karetai Track 6 May 2023

 

Like the first time the OTC undertook this trip in May 1930, we gathered at 1pm on Saturday afternoon. With clear, blue skies and the thermometre reaching 20+ degrees, it wasn't surprising that 18 people turned up for the walk.   We gathered at the Smaills Beach carpark and headed across the sand dunes to the beach.  With quite a number of sunbathers and a few surfers bobbing on the waves, there was talk of a swim after the walk but first we had 300m to climb from Smaills Beach to Highcliff Road. A small number of the group opted to take the Karetai Track while the majority took the more adventurous route from the beach, around the cliff edge to Maori Head. 

As we climbed away from the beach, the views really started to open out behind us.  We had an excellent vantage point to see the surfers on Smaills Beach attempting to catch a wave and further back to Lawyers Head with the hills of St Clair and Saddle Hill behind.  The views down the coast extended as far south as Taieri Mouth thanks to the perfect weather.  Despite the easy walking, there were plenty of stops to drink in the outstanding views often followed by the comment that we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the country and with so many great walking opportunities so close to the city. Dunedin had certainly turned on another 'Dunner Stunner' day.

From Maori Head we skirted around the cliff edge to join the Karetai Track at Pudneys Cliff where we took a small detour below the sheer rock buttresses to the cliff viewing area.  I wouldn't recommend the detour to Pudneys Cliff during windy or wet conditions as the track is narrow and slippery but as the sun was shinning and the temperatures in the early 20C's we had no hesitation in venturing to the cliff viewing area.  From here we had stunning views along the impressively steep cliff faces that dropped 140m vertically straight down to the sea below. 

Returning to the Karetai Track we continued up the constant slope of the hill for about 1km to the Karetai Road where we stopped for a snack and drink in the cool shade of some large trees.  After this much needed rest the next part of our journey saw us follow the road, climbing to 300m above sea level before reaching the junction of Highcliff Road.  The Karetai Road is a little used sealed road and we had ample opportunity to stop and admire the views overlooking the green farmland  with the city and coastline stretched out behind.

Highcliff Road is a much busier road and with no footpath on either side, we stuck to single file, keeping well the side to avoid getting in the way of traffic.  We followed the road for 2km to the Soldiers Monument and Peg 41 track. During the walk along Highcliff Road, we were spoilt for choice with views and with such a beautiful day we did not want to rush.

Regrouping before the short but steep 60m climb from Highcliff Road to the Soldiers Monument, it was a complete contrast to the last time we had been here about a month ago for trip#48 Last time the wind had been so strong that we could barely stand at the monument where as today it was calm, with not a breath of wind.  We enjoyed the stunning views of the harbour from such a great viewpoint. 

The rest of the trip was an easy wander down the Peg 41 track, hugging the fence line most of the way down the hill we negotiated a paddock with cows, another with gorse and finally an empty paddock with the final stretch though a small patch of native bush bordering the Tomahawk Lagoon. The colours of the setting sun were reflected in the calm waters of the lagoon where the resident ducks and swans were settling down for the night. 

After the lagoon, it's about a 1.5km road walk back to Smaills Beach and the cars.  As time was getting on towards 5pm with the sun starting to set it was decided that the time for a swim was past and everyone was happy to climb in the car for a ride home.  It was a very pleasant afternoon walk of 12.3km over a leisurely 3 hours 45 minutes

#52 of 100 trips for 100 years - Rongomai/Honeycomb Tracks Circuit 30 April 2023

 

The OTMC has been using the Rongomai Track since the 1950's and the more recent Honeycomb track since 1980. As both of these tracks head from Carey's Creek to Mountain Road, they make an ideal loop and completing the loop was the aim of today's day trip.  We had followed Careys Creek in January and today we started at the end point of that trip, Evansdale Glen.  The Glen is a lovely, grassy picnic area with a couple of walking tracks for those wanting to explore further.  Unfortunately for us, the start of the Carey's Creek walking track is on the other side of the creek and so it was wet feet right at the start for some of the 14 people on the trip.

The first 3-4km is a charming walk along the side of Carey's Creek with views of the slow flowing creek.  There are a couple of creek crossings so those that kept dry feet at the start soon joined those who had wet feet.  Being in the valley, it was cold but the pace was brisk and we started to warm up.  Stopping in the sun by the Rongomai track to regroup, we took this opportunity for a snack and drink stop

We continued along the track beside Carey's Creek, sloshing through the mud and crossing the creek a number of times so that even the few who had managed to keep their feet dry this far, didn't have dry feet by the time we reached the Honeycomb track about 40 minutes past the Rongomai turn off.  There is nothing easy about the Honeycomb Track as it is straight up, using both hands and feet to gain the ridge about 180m above the creek.  Recent rain had made the track slippery in places so we were grateful to be going up as coming down would have been more of a mud slide.  Taking our time, we all reached the ridge where the trees had thinned and we were rewarded with glimpses of the Carey's Creek area.

After another half hour of walking along the ridge we reached the junction of the 'nature walk' which is about a kilometre of sidling around the contour to join up with the Rongomai Track.  As there is a large flat area at the junction we decided that this was a good spot for lunch.  Everyone found a comfortable place to sit and enjoyed chatting while we ate.  After lunch we followed the nature walk which I had never been on and found it a very pleasant alternative to continuing climbing another100m up the Honeycomb Track before joining the Rongomai Track at the top of the ridge.  The nature walk involved a bit more up and down than I realised and included a short but steep down climb into a creek using a rope along with negotiating some tree fall over the track. The nature walk joins the Rongomai track on the edge of the pine planation. 

The next part of the track involves descending 200m down the sharply defined ridge to Careys Creek.  We had been down here before on trip #18 and trip #26 and like those previous trips down this ridge, we made good use of the well placed trees to help slow, an otherwise fast descent to the creek at the bottom.  The final leg of the trip involves retracing our steps along the side of Carey's Creek and back through the creek crossings so if your feet had started to dry out, they were well and truly wet again by the time we reached the car park completing the 12.8km trip over 5.5 hours.  

#50 of 100 trips for 100 years - Yellow Ridge - The Gap - ABC Cave 25 April 2023

Last time I'd been at the start of the Tunnels Track and heading towards the Phil Cox Hut was six months ago for trip #5 along Rocky Ridge.  It was at the start of the 100 trips and I was feeling very unfit, today was halfway with trip #50 to The Gap and ABC Cave and I wasn't so sure that I was feeling any fitter however I was happy to be part of 12 people keen to mark the halfway milestone of 100 trips on ANZAC day.  ABC cave is named after three club members from the 1960's who were keen rock climbers and found a large bivy rock near some good rock outcrops - their names Alan, Bruce and Colin hence ABC Cave.  The first club trip to ABC cave was on ANZAC day in 1971 and 52 years later, we were recreating that trip. 

It hardly seemed fair as the track starts with a sharp descent of 220m through a pine plantation to the Waikouaiti River where everyone got wet feet crossing the river before a steep 240m climb to Phil Cox Hut.  The abrupt climb out of the Waikouaiti River is challenging in places with a couple of fixed ropes for safety but is mostly just an uphill slog and reaching the hut is a welcome resting place.  After a drink and snack break, we continued climbing another 100m in height to Yellow Ridge.  Once on Yellow Ridge it is a reasonably easy 120m climb over 3km along the undulations of Yellow Ridge.  The changes in Yellow Ridge over the years has seen the scrub encroach onto the ridge, leaving barely any of the iconic yellow tussock that I remember and shown in the pictures below - the top photo Yellow Ridge today and the bottom is Yellow Ridge in the 1986.

As we approached the junction with Rocky Ridge the wind started to pick up so we didn't spend much time admiring the rock tors on Rocky Ridge before following the track away from Rocky Ridge towards The Gap.  The Gap is a prominent cut in the ridge that from a distance looks like a bite has been taken out of it.  Not having been to this unusual geological feature for 10 years, the short detour was a must for me, even if we had to negotiate shoulder high gorse to reach it.  Once at The Gap it was time to refuel the body again before turning back to rejoin the main track to ABC Cave.

The route to ABC Cave took us through some patches of the golden tussock that once covered all of the Silver Peaks and made it easy to navigate without the need of a track, however today the track is a distinct trail through the scrub that has grown since the stock was removed from the Silver Peaks 30 years ago.  The track drops 120m down from the ridge, out of the wind and joins an old four wheel drive track as it follows the creek for a short distance before a short, steep 40m climb up to ABC Cave.  The cave is well positioned to avoid most of the wind and we relaxed in the sun while eating a well deserved lunch.

Despite the temptation to stay for longer, after lunch we reluctantly headed down the hill back to the four wheel track for our return journey back to the cars.  The 120m climb out of the valley that ABC Cave is in didn't seem as bad as I had feared when we made the descent and it seemed no time that we were back on the ridge and heading around to the Rocky Ridge junction.  This gave us a good opportunity to see the rocky tors that are more common at this end of the Silver Peaks.  The sharp, jagged rock tors are many metres high and have some interesting shapes

The return journey along Yellow Ridge was uneventful until I started noticing the different varieties of mushroom growing along the side of the track.  The fungi was not as abundant in size and colour as trip #49  a couple of days ago but they were still worth stopping for a look. Once off the ridge and heading down towards the Phil Cox hut the mushrooms disappeared.  

Once back at the Phil Cox hut we knew we only had an hour of walking left so had an afternoon tea stop and enjoyed the moment as the hut is situated in a lovely, sunny and sheltered clearing.  The final hour of walking is the reverse of our morning with a 240m very steep descent down to the Waikouraiti River, using a couple of fixed ropes over some of the more challenging pieces of track.  The downhill seemed to take a lot longer than I remembered as it also required constant concentration to stay upright on the more precipitous parts of track.  Once at the bottom it was wet feet again as we crossed the river then the constant 220m climb back up through the pine forest to the road and cars.  The 15.4kms had taken us 7.5 hours with around 1000m of climbing.

 

#49 of 100 trips for 100 years -Gabriels Gully/Otago Dam 23 April 2023

 

The discovery of gold at Gabriels Gully in 1861 lead to the Central Otago goldrush. Dunedin almost emptied as 4000-5000 people rushed to Gabriels Gully in the first months to try their luck at finding gold and by the early 1900's the gold had gone and the area was deserted with most of the fortune hunters leaving broke.  Today ten of us arrived in Gabriels Gully to not only explore and discover a little of it's history for ourselves but also to see some beautiful autumn colours that the area is popular for at this time of the year.  We arrived at Greys Dam and were not disappointed as the lovely autumn colours were reflected in the mirror calm water of the dam. 

The Otago Dam was built early in the goldrush to provide water to Greys Dam which was used for the gold workings of Gabriels Gully.  The track to Otago Dam skirts around the edge of Greys Dam before passing through a section of exotic trees wearing their magnificent autumn cloaks and covering the ground with a golden layer of crunchy leaves which we swished our way through. 

Once past this beautiful section we entered the native bush with easy walking for about 15 minutes before the first of six creek crossings. Each creek crossing is reasonably straightforward with large rocks marking convenient crossing points although the rocks can be slippery and require some careful foot placement to successfully negotiate with dry feet.  

The track climbs steeply in a couple of sections before flattening out and following an old water race.   Following the old water race was easy walking and this was where we really started to notice the many mushrooms sprouting from the forest floor.  There were all colours of mushrooms from black to dark brown, caramel, cream, white, yellow, red, orange and of course red with white spots.  There were mushrooms with pointy tops, rounded tops and flat tops.  They ranged in size from pin heads up to dinner plate sized.  Some mushrooms were well camouflaged while others proudly wore their bright colours.  It became a game of spotting the fungi with some clinging to trees, sheltered under muddy banks, hiding behind foliage or simply growing on the track. The sheer variety and number of mushrooms was amazing. 

After an hour of walking we skirted around the edge of a pine forest before arriving at the Otago Dam.  The dam itself is nondescript as it is surrounded by native bush and pine forest but it does give a good sense of the height gained from Greys Dam   The sheltered site of the dam meant the water was calm giving wonderful reflections and an air of peace as it is rarely visited.  We stopped for a snack break and there was some talk about how deep the dark waters of the dam might be but no one was game to test the depth.

The Otago Dam was our end destination so after morning tea and rest we retraced our way down the sometimes, muddy track and again marveled at the variety of mushrooms.  This was a mushroom lovers paradise and while we came to see the autumn leaves, the mushrooms stole the show! We followed the water race around the side of the valley, taking the time to appreciate the work that had gone into building it 150 years ago and all of it still in tact.

The track did not seem as long on the return journey and the creek crossings were again successfully negotiated with dry feet.  The creek is picturesque with the water flowing past the rocks, overshadowed by moss and ferns as it winds it's way towards Greys Dam.  The 6.1 km walk to Otago Dam is only an hour each way and is well worth the time, especially at this time of year.  Once back at Greys Dam, it was time for lunch and with our group the only people in the area, we enjoyed the peace, the autumn colours and reflections.

After lunch the plan was to walk the Gabriels Gully loop which is an easy 1.5 hour loop track that circles around the outer edge of Gabriels Gully, following old water races and giving a good views into the gully itself. The track starts off climbing steeply, gaining 120m in height before flattening out once we reached the old water race.  We followed the water race to Pollards Dam which no longer holds water but is a great place for autumn leaves. 

After visiting Pollards Dam we continued following the water race and stopped to inspect the Racemans Cottage site before moving onto the Blue Spur lookout which gave us panoramic views of the surrounding hills including down into the valley floor where hundreds of tents once housed the miners and over to the remnant stacks of conglomerate (gold bearing) rock.  A bit further on we discovered the remains of the North of Ireland stamper battery where we tried to imagine the work involved in keeping the stamping battery operating along with the noise the stampers made echoing off the valley walls.  After walking through regenerating forest, we passed the Great Extended Mine shaft before following the track down the hill and back to the car park.