2026-01-07 < Weekly activities > 2026-01-21
Activity summary: Wednesday 2026 January 14 to Tuesday 2026 January 20
Mt Victoria/Pareraho Forest from Belmont School carpark/Birchville Dam – Cannon Point/Plimmerton – Pukerua Bay loop via coast/Wainuiomata to Eastbourne via ‘Kiwi Corridor’ trapline
Wednesday
Ramble, ‘Mt Victoria’, led by Peter Nixon, Wed 14/01 4M
Our group all over 80, walked a contour of Mt Victoria through the Bowling Club, Innermost Gardens and Charles Plimmer Park. We then made the steep descent beside the Monastery to Oriental Bay for lunch with a foggy sea view. Despite the dismal conditions, we all enjoyed each other’s good company.
E Trip, ‘Pareraho Forest from Belmont School carpark, led by Alison Stephenson, Wed 14/01 3M
Our group of members, undeterred by the forecast of rain, completed a very pleasant 4 hour circuit in the bush between Belmont and Kelson. En route we visited the pa site from which the attack on Boulcott farm was launched 180 years ago, and found a picnic table at Rusty Forks to eat our lunch at before heading out down the Forgotten Highway.
EM Trip, ‘Birchville Dam – Cannon Point’, led by Linda Beckett, Wed 14/01 12M
• tramp over 5.5 hours • some inclement weather but only bad when we were out in the open for morning tea on the trig • lunch at Harcourt Park • length 15km • elevation 350 • Summary: a very enjoyable tramp thanks to the great company
M Trip, ‘Plimmerton/Pukerua Bay – Taua Tapu Track’, led by Janet Dobbie, Wed 14/01 11M
Just as eleven of us were about to start, the rain came and so the walk along Moana Road, past the Hongoeka Marae, to Rewarewa Point was very wet. After morning tea, it cleared and we negotiated the rocks, stones and shingle banks with care along the shore. Saw many seabirds on the way. Low tide at 1.30pm meant that the Wairaka Headland was a breeze. We collected plastic along the way in orange bucket found. After lunching at Pukerua Bay we climbed up the Goat Track and along the Ara Harakeke walkway and then the historic Taua Tapu Track. We sighted some young kereru at the Karehana Bay Scenic Reserve and then along Moana Road to our starting place. About 6 hours, returning before spits of rain began.
Janet Dobbie (Leader) Alison Smith, Rebecca Young, Dianne Kerse, Janice Tijsen, Rachel Fry, Peter Morten, Jim Gibbons, Felicity Steel, Etsko Toyoda, Sokha Mey.
MF Trip, ‘Wainuiomata to Eastbourne via ‘Kiwi Corridor’ trapline, led by Mike Voets, Wed 14/01 15M
A repeat of the October trip, this time on a Wednesday. Fifteen trampers crossed the Wainuiomata River (not quite as intimidating as expected), then tackled a steady climb up the Kiwi Corridor trapline, followed by ridgeline travel and steep off-track sections, maintaining a strong pace and high morale throughout. Despite an unfavourable forecast, conditions proved kind, allowing for relaxed breaks and lively conversation. Highlights included travel through regenerating and native bush in seldom-tramped parts of East Harbour Regional Park, numerous Gollans Stream crossings, and some demanding downhill and uphill sections. The day concluded with coffee and cake in Eastbourne, generously hosted by Mike Wespel-Rose and Zita — a fitting and social end to a challenging, rewarding outing.
Total 45 members and Nil non members