2025-03-12 < Weekly activities > 2025-03-26
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 March 19 to Tuesday 2025 March 25
Cruickshanks Tunnel/Ngaio, Silversky Tr, Skyline, Kaukau, Bell’s Tr/Porirua to Khandallah via Colonial Knob/Patuna Chasm/North Saddle to Papatahi/Gollans Stream – Butterfly Creek to Mt Lowry/Rata Ridge/ Welcome Flat, Copland Pass
Wednesday
E Trip ‘Cruickshanks Tunnel’, to be led by David Campbell, Wed 19/03
Cancelled due to weather conditions.
EM Trip ‘Ngaio, Silversky Tr, Skyline, Kaukau, Bell’s Tr’, to be led by Muriel Christianson, Wed 19/03 3M
Cancelled due to weather conditions.
M Trip ‘Porirua to Khandallah via Colonial Knob’, led by Ann Walker, Wed 19/03 6M
The planned trip was one way from Porirua to Khandallah via Colonial Knob and Mt Kaukau. Our group of 6 hardy members met and started at Camp Elsdon on Raiha Street, Porirua at 9.00am and then ascended Colonial Knob via the left track and its 710 steps, to the Lookout and then on to the top of the Knob. Due to continuing inclement weather, we decided to continue down the Te Araroa path through to Spicer Forest where we had a very brief stand up morning tea under shelter. We continued on to Ohariu Valley Road and lunch in the grounds of Holy Trinity Church, where we had been granted shelter into the beautiful little church should we wish to – which we did. The remainder of the trip was aborted at this point due to increasing miserable weather conditions, and transport arrangements were co-ordinated. [Rob Handyside, Jill Wild, Paul Baker, Mary Perkins, Andy Leslie & Ann Walker]
EM/F Trip ‘Patuna Chasm’, led by Chris Ward, Wed 19/03 21M
On 19 March 21 members availed themselves of the opportunity to walk through the Patuna Chasm. Nobody was disappointed with the experience. We were fortunate with the weather which surprisingly was dryer than Wellington. The chasm experience is a commercially run operation on private land. Seven people loaded into the Landcruiser and another 14 hopped on to the trailer. Upon being dropped off we walked upstream for 45 minutes and then descended into the chasm. On the way through we saw waterfalls, "the Cathedral" and had morning tea under a huge overhanging limestone rock. We marvelled at the preserved shells in the limestone from 2 million years ago and the mostly stalactites in overhung areas. A different experience for members taking about 4 hours in total. No injuries just topped off a great day. Thank you Peter Smith for opening and closing 6 gates.
MF Trip ‘North Saddle to Papatahi’, led by Mike Wespel-Rose, Fri 21/03 3M
We left Lower Hutt at 6am, reaching Catchpool at 6.35am. The weather was good for a while but there was wet mist and bush along the range top with limited views. Both the spur up to 830, and the route along the range top are so interesting and attractive, and the descent spur is not that bad in spite of reputation. The huge eroded side valleys are very impermanent mountains. Overall about 11 hours back to the car - a long and demanding day, but very satisfying. Apologies to those who missed out due to the trip being delayed until the Friday.
Weekend:
MF Trip ‘Gollans Stream – Butterfly Creek to Mt Lowry, led by Sarah White, Sat 22/03 6M/1NM
Great walk to Butterfly Creek picnic site and from there following Gollans Stream all the way to the top of Mt Lowry and down to Days Bay for an ice-cream.
E/M Trip ‘Rata Ridge’, led by Muriel Christianson, Sun 23/03 5M
Five club members took part in the Rata Ridge walk in Wainuiomata in fine and warm weather with mostly dry tracks. We commenced at the Lees Grove track, walking up to the junction with the Rata Ridge track, and then on to the junction with the Main Ridge Track for morning tea. We continued north along the Main Ridge track back towards the start of the Puriri Track, and then returned to the start of the Rata Ridge Track. Lunch was at Mt Lowry, with a calm pleasant bush outlook. Walking back along the Rata Ridge track we enjoyed the scent of orchids, with many small blooms still on display, and our final descent was down the Fern Gully track, back to our cars in Wainuiomata.
Multi-Day:
M/SF Trip ‘Welcome Flat, Copland Pass’, led by Peggy Munn, 15 – 23/03 10M
Ten of us set off on 15 March for 9 days down south. The plan was to spend 5 days in the Copland Valley enjoying the hot pools at Welcome Flat and exploring further up the valley towards Copland Pass. The van broke down at Ahaura north of Greymouth; Chris drove down to Hari Hari with no clutch. We dreaded having to stop uphill but managed to keep going on one way bridges and at road works. The prospect of having to stop on Mt Hercules and the hill before Fox resulted in a decision to return to Greymouth. Attempts to get the van looked at in Hari Hari and Greymouth failed. Five people abandoned ship and went home in a rental car. The other five hired a car and settled down in Reefton for 5 days of interesting tramping in perfect weather. We were not happy deserting the van in Greymouth; it has supported so many of our adventures and we hope it gets well soon.
Total 51 members and 1 non member