This article was published in Tararua Tramper in February 2026
Gollans Stream
M - Wednesday 19 November
We set off from Kowhai Street to Butterfly Creek on an overcast grey morning, anticipating rain. Mary left us at the picnic area and ten of us continued, negotiating the wet bush and all the different twists and turns of Gollans Stream. Moving upstream we came across lots of smelly bait stations in need of cleaning, battled with supple jack, dense kiekie stands, windfall and countless river crossings. Reaching the S-bend and the short cut across it took longer than anticipated by the leader. We had lunch there at the fire pits, still no rain, all of us wet but not cold! No need for a fire. Unfortunately, one in the party slipped and twisted her foot just before the S-bend, still managing to walk. The decision was made by all of us to walk out along an easier and quicker route, rather than continue further upstream into the headwaters of Gollans Stream and up to Mt Lowry. We took a spur just north of the S-bend leading us up to the Days Bay loop track and came down the gentler Kereru Track to Days Bay. Two opted for the quicker and steeper Kereru track.
All in all we were on the move for 6 ½ hours covering nearly 14km. Not a bad day for Gollans Stream Part 1, Part 2 up to Mt Lowry and back along the tops yet to come. The whole trip as planned originally would have taken us 8-9 hours. [Trace provided by Joan. Our route is shown by the pink trace]
Leonore Hoke (leader), Joan Basher, Helen Beaglehole, John Dement, Penny Hoy-Mack, Carolyn Jenkins, Mary Kane, Ann McIIroy, Diane Munster, Tim Stone, Lynne White