| Group | Leader | Mentor | Understudy | Tailender |
| Stds | Alan H | Chris | Bev | Ailsa |
| Alternates | Margaret S | Nick | Ali | Leonie |
Stats: distance 13km, ascent 260m, time 3hrs 50mins
We set off from Bishopdale Carpark at 8.30am. After picking up the rest of our fellow trampers at Princess Margaret Hospital we numbered 46, plus Victor who was our driver for the day.
We arrived at the Hoon Hay Reserve at 9.30am and the 27 trampers in the Standards set off at 9.40am followed by the 19 trampers in the Alternates. Our tramp for the day consisted of an undulating walk along the Crater Rim Walkway, then various tracks in the Omahu Bush with the Alternates following and doing a shorter loop in the Omahu Bush.
It was a stunning day with clear blue skies and a slight chill in the air. Stopping for morning tea at 10.10am, we basked in the sunshine while looking at the beautiful still harbour below. We were protected from the cool southerly breeze which was more cutting in open areas. After morning tea, we continued on the Crater Rim Walkway arriving at Coopers Knob for lunch at 12 noon. Sitting under the rocky knob was very pleasant and the views were amazing. A touch of snow on the Southern Alps reminded us we were heading into the winter season. Some of us climbed up the rocks to the top of the Knob which at 573m is the highest point of the Port Hills with amazing all-round views. It was nice to see all the lovely vegetation below which had grown well with the wetter than normal summer conditions. Departing at 12.35pm we headed down the track passing the Alternates and continuing on until we came out on the Summit Road to enter Omahu Bush at 12.55pm.
Omahu Bush was formerly part of the Otahuna Estate owned by Sir Heaton Rhodes and was purchased by a charitable trust and opened to the public in 1997. Omahu, meaning “running silently”, “escaping” and “a place of healing” was the Maori name given to the area following an escape through the bush by several of the followers of a Maori chief who had been killed in a skirmish on Coopers Knob. A feature of the Omahu Bush is the very many Kōtukutuku, apparently the world’s largest fuchsia, growing amongst the other trees. They looked stunning with their trunks covered in thin flaky orange bark. The flowers are rich in nectar so are loved by birds such as bellbirds and silvereyes, and the dark purple berries are edible and taste like tamarillos. There is also Mahoe, Kahikatea, Kanuka, silver tree-ferns and juvenile lancewoods growing in the Bush and all the plants were looking very green and healthy. We saw a lot of predator traps along the Crater Rim Walkway as well as in the Omahu Bush. We could hear quite a lot of birdsong so hopefully the traps are having the desired effect of keeping predators such as possums under control. Possums are particularly fond of the Kōtukutuku (Tree Fuchsia).
We made our way down Kirk’s Track then on to Nelson’s Track arriving at Annie’s Waterfall. We exited the bush to make our way up Rhodes Track, a steep grass track, before entering the bush again and following the top of Kirk’s Track to arrive back at the Summit Road. The cold wind was strengthening so it was nice to get on the warm bus parked in the Gibraltar Rock carpark. We stopped for coffees and ice-creams at the Sign of the Kiwi and departed 3.45pm for home. It was a great day out and we were very pleased that the cold southerly conditions predicted for some time in the afternoon did not eventuate while we were tramping. Txt by Judy
