2025-04-30 < Weekly activities > 2025-05-14
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 May 07 to Tuesday 2025 May 13
Karori Park Café, Belmont area, Cambourne Walk, Bells Track, Skyline, Johnston, Te Ahumairangi, Trelissick Park, Parangarahu Lakes, Mt Wainui, Wainuiomata Waterworks, Zealandia
Wednesday May 7th
Lunch at Karori Park Café led by Carol Haig. 7M
Seven of us had an enjoyable time discussing the geography of Wellington and reminiscing over a fine lunch at the Karori Park Café.
E tramp in the Belmont area led by Alison Stephenson. 9M
Nine members left their cars at Belmont School for a trip in the Pareraho forest. We followed the traditional Māori route up the steep spur to the pa site. After following the ridge a little further we turned onto the Ngaokeoke track which provided a bush link between Belmont and Kelson. Lunch was enjoyed at the Rusty Forks picnic table before we took the Forgotten Highway (aka the old sewer line) back to the cars.
M tramp over Bells Track, Skyline, Johnston, Te Ahumairangi and Trelissick Park led by Linda Beckett. 11M
Eleven of us headed off from Ngaio Town Hall to walk on the track behind the library and up Awarua St. to Bell's track which took us to a windier-than-expected Skyline.
What a great team! Not a complaint was heard as we struggled along the track, eventually conquering the worst of the north-westerly at about a third of the way to Johnston Hill. From there it was down through the pines to Karori Cemetery and then up the Albermarle track to the lookout and lunch at the Te Ahumairangi lookout and lunch. So much for my request to bring the tramp forward in order to avoid the Spring winds. After lunch we descended Weld St. and entered Trelissick reserve via Hanover St. and then Heke Reserve via Thatcher Crescent. The tramp took us 5.5 hours.
M cycle/walk to the Parangarahu Lakes led by Jim Gibbons. 8M
The plan was to cycle from the road end at Burdens Gate, Eastbourne, to Lake Kohangapiriri and park up the bikes there, and then go for a walk around the Pencarrow lighthouse. After that the plan was to ride around to the second lake, Lake Kohangatera, park the bikes again, and walk the Valley View track, then cycle the Cameron ridge track and then cycle back to Eastbourne.
Seven club members arrived at Eastbourne, with a range of electric bikes and very old manual pedal power bikes. It was a cloudy day with a forecast of rising wind from the north, which means very windy at the harbour entrance around the lower Pencarrow lighthouse. The Pencarrow access road had been damaged by the previous week’s storms, some areas with fresh soft gravel, some areas with logs and other debris on the road, and while we were there a digger was working on the road. It added up to a much harder ride than normal even with the northerly tail wind. We walked the planned Lake Kohangapiripiri and Pencarrow lighthouse circuit, then over lunch decided to return early. The return ride was as expected, much harder into the wind.
Jim Gibbons ( leader) Chris Ward, Jill Wild, Janet Dobbie, Vic Armstrong, Carolyn Jenkins, and Jane-Pyar Mautner.
SF tramp Mt Wainui led by Ant Hill. 18M
I've often looked up at Mt Wainui driving past, but never got round to climbing it so when my other idea for a tramp turned out to be unrealistic, I thought I may as well go exploring with some good company and as a bonus, test my baking on them. I had a very rough idea for the route but luckily some of the party knew where they were going. We set off at 8:30am and had lunch on the top in the cloud. In the picture I took on the way down you can see Karen Baker's hair indicating a 15 to 18 knot northerly.
Thanks to Marg Pearce for getting permission to cross private land. We could have managed without but it would have made for a longer and less elegant trip.
Stats (Thanks to Marg Pearce): Elevation gain/loss: 1,026m Distance: 13.9 km Time: 6 hrs 50 mins.
Saturday
M tramp to the Wainuiomata Waterworks led by Sarah White and Paul McCredie. 10M
Ten members enjoyed a fabulous day in the Wainuiomata Water Catchment area. Following the pack track we ascended to point 800 and joined the East Whakanui briefly before plunging down a ridge to the Ōrongorongo River and lunch at the weir. Returned via the pack track. 1300 m ascent/descent, 7.5 hours duration, 17.2 km distance. Virgin bush and great bird song.
Sunday
Afternoon tramp around Zealandia led by Liz Martin. 2M
Two TTC members had a very pleasant afternoon exploring the groves of Zealandia. Birdsong abounded on what seemed to be a very busy Mother's Day for the Sanctuary. Total 65 members