2022-03-23 < Weekly activities > 2022-04-06
Activity summary: Wednesday 2021 March 30 to Tuesday 2021 April 5th
Wednesday
Around Royal Wellington Golf Club & Bartons Bush, EM, Tom Broadmore and Joan Basher
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Barton's Bush
The EM trip on Wednesday 30 March was quite a change from our normal bush and hill tramps. Tom Broadmore generously offered to lead a walk around the Royal Wellington Golf Club and adjoining Barton’s Bush in Upper Hutt. (Tom is a member of both the golf club and the Forest & Bird walking group.)
In both locations, our group of 19 people strolled through some of the last surviving remnants of the original valley floor bush cover, cherished and cared for by the current guardians. The golf course itself is a world away from our usual rough terrain, with groomed open spaces and beautiful exotic trees in autumn colours. Tom added to the interest of the day by sharing his extensive knowledge of the club's history and of the game itself. For our morning coffee and lunch stops we had the pleasure of sitting in a comfortable lounge in the clubrooms.
Thank you, Tom, for enabling this very civilised, satisfying adventure.
Wellington Southeast, M, Mary Kane
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11 club members met at Lyall Bay, began the trip by climbing Mt. Albert in the mist, then descended into Houghton Valley to the View Rd. steps, and crossed a very calm Lyall Bay beach. No views were to be had as we took the steps behind the airport up to Kekerenga St., nor on the Eastern Walkway, but the mist, the fog horns, and the absence of aircraft noise, gave the walk a mysterious and serene quality.
By the time we reached Fort Dorset the mist had cleared, so we were able to enjoy the seaward views as we walked back to the cars at Moa Point.
Papatahi Crossing with car swap, MF, Sarah White
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5 members escaped the Wellington clag to enjoy a 10 hour jaunt over Papatahi. Mike and Marie (the A team) left from the Catchpool and made admirable time to Papatahi summit, arriving at 11am. Sarah and Paul picked up Gerald in Fetherston and made more measured progress to the summit from the Wairarapa side.
The bush was very wet so we got thoroughly soaked in the morning. The B team had a glorious afternoon lunching on top of Papatahi and enjoying late afternoon sunshine in the Orongorongo. Gerald returned to the Wairarapa with the A team and persuaded them to try an alternative route home which proved testing and grovely.
Saturday
Makahika, M, Dave Reynolds
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Fine dry conditions for 8 members. It's good to see the Saturday trips being very well supported of late
Sunday
Miramar Peninsular, E/M, Mary Kane
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11 people, all club members met at Moa Point to go over the Eastern Walkway, around Fort Dorset, and back along the coast. We enjoyed the views from the walkway out to the harbour heads, Baring Head and the Orongorongos.
We looked over the WW1 and WW2 fortifications, and ate lunch listening to the waves at Breaker Bay. A thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all.
Total: 54 club members out in the hills