Distance 11.3km; elevation gain 565m; duration 4hrs (approx)

Thirty two trampers set off from Mistletoe Flat, visitors David and Catherine joining the 15 Alternates who set off along the Sidle 73 track. This is a pleasant walk in the Craigieburn Basin linking through to Coalpit Spur Track which flows along the side of the West Coast Road, SH73. With a nor’west brewing we were all pleased that the tramp was going ahead after last week’s cancelled outing, albeit a change of plan from the scheduled Bealey Spur walk.

Having passed a burnt out truck and trailer unit on the highway near Lake Lyndon where crews were in attendance, we were conscious that accidents can happen on the roads or on the tracks. None such event for the Alternates today as Leader Norma maintained a steady pace on our way to an early morning tea break in the sunshine. Remnants of snow had been spotted on the Torlesse Range on the drive, but nothing was seen on the surrounding Craigieburns.

A short walk along an access road led to Coalpit Spur Track, a very agreeable track through stands of beech trees. We successfully forded a fast flowing stream after being instructed to buddy up to avoid any slips or unnecessary dunking.

Against the murmur of background traffic on SH73, a leisurely lunch was enjoyed as we sat in a clearing under the pylons. There seemed a brief interval between morning tea and lunch but which also allowed ample time for discussing tramping and travel adventures, both past and proposed.

Along the way a decided hint of autumn’s approach was reflected in leaves turning colour, and patches of ripe blackberries. Tailender Leonie allowed time to linger and sample. Vivid red hawthorn berries, rose hips, red toadstools and red markers provided a further splash of colour.

The departure from the regular Alternates’ walk, to make allowances for track closures, meant a shorter walking time. Thus we were surprised to see the bus at Manson Creek carpark by Flock Hill Station, with the time being only 1315 hrs. During the hour or so before the Standards arrived the nor’west picked up, white caps appeared on nearby Lake Pearson and most adjourned to seats on the bus.

Bus driver Garry had us back at Bishopdale at 1655 hrs, following a short refreshment break at Darfield.

Text by Marie-Therese

The 17 trampers in the Standards abandoned the original plan to head to Lyndon Saddle via Mistletoe Track.  Instead we headed up Broken River Ski Field Road then right onto Luge Track that runs up to Lyndon Saddle 2.4 km away.  It was a cool start but Leader Chris set a brisk pace and we soon warmed up.

We walked through beech forest on a well-formed track cushioned by leaves to our morning tea stop on the track. It was lovely to have some bird song accompany us here and later in our tramp. We continued onwards and upwards to Lyndon Saddle.  The plan was to make a quick detour up and down Helicopter Hill however it was decided that time wasn’t on our side.  We continued on down to the Craigieburn Edge Track and the Craigieburn Skifield Road.

From the road it was a left turn onto Coalpit Spur Track and a nice sheltered and grassy spot for lunch. Soon after lunch we crossed the Craigieburn Stream and the event of the day was our Leader coming to grief and getting rather wet. He wasn’t harmed and only his pride was dented! The rest of us crossed without incident.  After one more stream crossing we reached the bus at 2.30pm. This was a relaxing day out in beautiful bush which was enjoyed by all after the cancellation the previous week.

Text by Janice and Warren

Alternates up & ready to go after morning tea

View towards Flock Hill

Brief pause on the trail

Standards enjoy trackside lunch

Splash of colour on the forest floor

Bus awaits the returning trampers

Stream crossing on the return journey

Distance 12.3km; elevation gain 298m; walking time 3.5hr

Following early rising in the dark and cellphone checks for cancellation on a cold wet morning it was an 8am start from Bishopdale. After bus driver Alan had picked up the Yaldhurst trampers we were 34 strong. Stepping up for President Bev, away due to Covid, VP Judy was on the microphone and welcomed visitor David F. NB The last report for this tramp is dated 18 March 2020 when we were daily counting new Covid cases, one week after the WHO declared an official pandemic and one day before the government closed the country’s borders for the first time ever to all but New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

There were lots of roadworks on the way which made for circuitous travelling and delayed the start of our walk to 10.50am. One comment made was that if we’d been in a fleet of cars rather than on the bus some of us would never have got there, would have gone for coffee and cake and returned to Christchurch.

While the length of the track is orange poled, the poles weren’t always easy to spot with patches of the track overgrown. Thistles (past flowering), matagouri and fences topped with barbed wire all posed threats to skin and shorts. We much appreciated Dave R’s leather gloved gallantry holding down barbed wire while we clambered over. There was a short climb to the upper river terraces before our morning tea stop. Sitting in the sunshine under a blue sky warm congratulations were extended to the weather team on their call to commit to the tramp.

We continued to follow the gorge until the decision was made to stop for lunch before  Gunsight Pass – the Standards had run out of time due to our late arrival and the time the return bus trip would take. The two groups lunched within sight of one another, with spectacular views of the gorge and milky river below. After lunch it was back mostly the same way. Some of the footing was uneven and awkward. Fortunately any cows were a long way off so on occasion we again crossed over the fence to easier ground.

The Standards did have time on returning to the bus at 2.35pm to look at the start of the 67 km Rangitata Diversion Race. Built between 1937 and 1944 it was the first such construction in the country. It is a combined hydro power generation and irrigation scheme diverting water from the river to irrigate over 100,000 hectares of farmland in mid-Canterbury. In 2022 a fish screening facility was added to prevent fish being swept out of the river and into the Race. The screen captures more than 30 cubic metres per second of flow from the river and safely returns fish to the river via a 190 metre bypass channel.  It is designed to protect salmon and trout and a variety of native fish species

All aboard the bus and we were stopped by a truck parked across the road – doing some sort of Diversion business? After about 20 minutes the road was freed up and we were on our way home. We arrived in Christchurch to a clear cool evening feeling blessed to have experienced the autumn sun’s warmth and fresh air beside the Rangitata Gorge.

Text by Jen C

Alternates navigate the trail behind the Standards

Alternates leader rallies the troops

Standards enjoy lunch in the sun

Downhill on the return journey

Back on the trail after lunch

Rangitata River viewing downstream

Arrival back at the bus pick-up

Distance 16.3km; elevation gain 539m; time walking 4hr

After we had collected everyone from Yaldhurst our coach with driver Alan carried 43 trampers steadily through to Castle Hill Village. Fortunately, there were no road works or other issues this week and the blue sky enhanced all the farm and mountain views during the road trip. Vice-president Judy gave us the day’s information and thanked Audrey for her last week’s provision of masses of “blood red” peaches – the new name illustrating a sign of the times!

At around 10:15am we set off along the village road and were immediately welcomed by a beautifully loud chorus above us from the resident korimako/bellbird population. The tuneful accompaniment remained with us whenever we walked through any patches of beech forest. In fact for the whole day whenever we were in bush we could listen to birds singing happily (well, we assume happily) to each other. The work that goes into trapping in this area is obviously paying off very well. In the bush sections of track, there were also many patches of the rather magical looking white spotted red toadstools – probably Amanita muscaria.

The Alternates group had won the numbers stakes but caught up with the 17 Standards during their morning tea stop at the Lightning Tree. This minority group enjoyed their brisk hike along the terraced area, down to a noisy but easily negotiable Long Creek crossing, through more bush and open areas, over Waterfall Creek on a sturdy bridge before climbing the zig-zag track to Picnic Rock Lookout. All had to stand aside to let a solo MTB cyclist pass by on the way up. The group detoured off the formed MTB track to climb to the Hogs Back Ridge and enjoyed a glorious lunchtime view over the Craigieburn Basin area. During the lunch break, we trampers watched about a dozen cyclists emerge from the Cockayne Alley MTB track area, ride up the road to join “our” Hogs Back Track and pass by below us on their way back to Castle Hill Village. Good timing, we thought.

Meanwhile, most of the Alternates enjoyed their lunch at Table Rock Lookout though a small group had stopped earlier in comfort before the zig-zag section. We believe there could be a  pair of walking poles still resting elegantly there – waiting to be found!

During the tramp back to the village everyone enjoyed the “other direction” views which included snow-free, bare hills with patches of pink scree typical of that area. The Standards caught up with the Alternates at the Lightning Tree again and all had reached the bus by 3:15pm.

So it was blue sky and sunshine all day, no wind at all and a comfortable temperature for tramping. What a stunning day out that was.

Text by Janne

Morning arrival Castle Hill Village

Leaders show the way

Beech Forest & Birdsong

Alternates & Standards enjoy morning tea together

Enjoying morning tea in the sunshine

Alternates enjoy awesome views during lunch

Standards descend from Hogsback Ridge after lunch

Enjoying expansive views of the Castle Hill landscape

Distance 14km; elevation gain 570m; time 4hr 30min

Today’s tramp began with Plan A – Rabbit Hill & Trig M. However plans started to go astray early on when the Weather Team had to change to Plan B – Okuti Valley & French Peak as the weather wasn’t looking good for Rabbit Hill. But it became obvious we weren’t going to get there either when our bus was constantly overtaken by police vehicles, fire trucks and ambulances before Little River. We were all grateful for Dave R’s timely Plan C – heading to Halswell Quarry, and driver Alan’s clever tactics managing a u-turn on the congested road. The two-vehicle accident which had occurred on the road ahead was obviously very serious and the road was going to be closed for a few hours.

So it was a slightly subdued bunch of 38 trampers (including visitor Georgie F) who set out just before 10.30 in two groups from the quarry. But a good steep hill walk beckoned and we certainly weren’t deterred by a little drizzle.

The Alternates somehow managed to arrive first at the morning tea spot near where the Kennedys Bush track proper starts but there was space for us all. The name of the track sounds rather appealing, but the reality is there is precious little bush along most of the track. And it is rather steep. However the track is wide enough to allow for groups to mix and chatter, and there were just a few mountain bikers to contend with. So what was there to see? Christchurch and environs under a cloudy sky behind us and the enticing Kennedys Bush Reserve ahead of us up the hill.

Some of the more savvy Alternates managed to score some blackberries along the way, but I doubt if they will tell us where from. The walk through the bush was a treat, especially as the day was becoming hot. Like so many thousands of people who have made their way to the Sign of the Bellbird since it began its existence as a tea house, it was a pleasure to lunch at this lovely place. Four young soldierly folk had been enjoying the peace and quiet before 22 of us arrived at 12.30. The Alternate group gladly took up our good spots in the sun or in the shade when it was time for the first arrivals to begin our descent back to Halswell Quarry.

Our trek down was easy going, although it was becoming seriously hot. Our only distractions were the beautiful black cattle who were happy for us to pass by within metres of them. More alarmed by our presence was the horse which needed a lot of encouragement from its rider to get through the gate in front of us.

When we made it back to the quarry we found our driver Alan had kindly parked the bus in the shade (not far from the ice cream caravan) which was much appreciated as by now it was 26 degrees.

So our day which had begun so sadly turned out to be quite pleasant and we were grateful to have got a good walk in.

Text by Shirley

Alternates in pursuit of the Standards at the beginning of the uphill trek

Standards (foreground) & Alternates (background) break for morning tea

Kereru spotted near Sign of the Bellbird

Standards heading through a section of bush approaching Sign of the Bellbird

View of the Canterbury Plains from Sign of the Bellbird

Alternates enjoy lunch at Sign of the Bellbird

CCC Sign at Sign of the Bellbird

Alternates on the way down

Distance 14km; elevation gain 662m; time 4hr 15min

A bright cool day greeted 38 trampers at Bishopdale where Alan stood ready to take us to Sumner. Of those, we had no visitors as Les, David, and Brent have become full members of BTC and joined us on the tramp. Congratulations and welcome!  Four other members met us at the Scarborough Clock Tower (bringing our total number to 42), and off we went, the 20 Alternates being taken up to Evans Pass to start, and the 22 Standards starting up the zig zag course up and over the hill. The bus was remarkably quiet once we left Sumner. Just sayin’.

It was a beautiful and relatively cool day with a few clouds and a breeze providing respite from what could otherwise be a quite warm tramp with few trees between Taylors Mistake and Evans Pass. The Alternates’ route took them up, over, and through the Scarborough Reserve where we saw gun emplacements and stunning views of Lyttelton Harbour where two tugboats stood ready to guide a tanker into Port.

We passed the Standards just as we arrived at Godley Head (having taken the option for the longer tramp) for an early lunch at 11:30. Apparently, the Alternates missed the 3.3 earthquake whose epicentre was pretty close to Godley Head as we packed up to continue around noon. Our tramp took us by the Scott House, down the path past Boulder Bay (“I’ve never seen it from this perspective”), the cutoff to the penguin habitat (now fenced off to protect the penguins from trampers), and through the just-past-prime gardens of many baches at Taylors Mistake.

For the Alternates, the last hour was the trek up and over to the Clock Tower at Sumner, not an easy task! Apparently at about the same time, one of the Standards took a slight header as they descended to Evans Pass, but fortunately suffered little damage. The Standards, having finished about 30 minutes before the Alternates, were bused back to Sumner where they had time to admire the architecture of the homes and apartments in Sumner and the wind surfers out on the Bay.

And just because I know you’re dying to know, the cornerstone for the Scarborough Clock Tower was laid 14 December 1934. The clock and tower were donated to the Borough of Sumner by Richard Edward Green, to perpetuate the name of his father Edmund Green who had arrived in Christchurch on 4 August 1859 to install the first telegraph system in New Zealand. The clock, like many others in Christchurch, suffered damage in the earthquakes to both the building and the workings of the clock leading to a restoration process in 2018. Fun Fact: the hands of the clock are manually moved forward and back to accommodate daylight savings time.

A trip to The Valley Inn for a quick refreshment, and we were back to Bishopdale by a little after 4. Another good day’s walk.

Txt by Michelle

Standards muster at beginning of Godley Head track

Standards lead en route to to Godley Head

View of track from Taylors Mistake to Godley Head

Alternates negotiate a section of the Crater Rim track en route to Godley Head

Alternates enjoy an early break for lunch

Standards take a break at Scott’s Cabin, Godley Head

Distance <13.4km; vertical ascent m; duration 3hr 35min

Forty six trampers set out from town for Banks Peninsula/Horomaka with Alan driving. Our number included Associate Member Sun and visitors Les, David, Brent and Peter. We arrived at Pigeon Bay at 10.50am. For some of us it was all new.

Māori legends about this place include Tūterakiwhānoa a benevolent god whose task was to make Te Waipounamu habitable. His work included the creation of bays, harbours and estuaries, among them Pigeon Bay.  Another involves Maui who, resting after fishing up the North Island, was confronted by an evil giant. Maui cast the giant into the sea and heaped mountains upon him. Throughout the winter the giant remained still but in summer he stirred causing the land to split forming Akaroa Harbour. Maui subdued the giant again by piling more mountains on top of him until the next summer when he stirred again forming Pigeon Bay.

Ngāi Tūahuriri, a sub tribe of Ngāi Tahu were living in the bay when Europeans began arriving in the 1800s. Whalers were followed by French settlers and then in 1842 the Sinclair and Hay families from Scotland arrived. Descendants of the latter still live here.

It was a blue sky turquoise sea sort of day at the bay. Hot enough for boots to kick up dust – a marked contrast with the mud of the previous week’s walk. We started out from the Boating Club following the water’s edge and then climbed onto grassland. A grove of eucalyptus provided welcome shade for our morning tea stop. Then it was up a track to meet the farm road. There were views of the mussel farm and of boats on the horizon whetting appetites to be sailing (one walker recounted past adventures sailing from Lyttelton to Pigeon Bay) or eating something delicious from the sea.

The walk is mostly open grassland with a little coastal scrub and the occasional group of watching cows. We were brought to a halt at 12.30pm by a cattlestop and signage advising that private property Annandale was over the brow of the hill.  Annandale’s website advertises that it offers “luxury villa accommodation with total privacy and relaxed informality in a historic and dramatic landscape”. We opted for a relaxed and informal lunch on the hillside with dramatic landscape (and seascape) in front of us.

The Alternates, numbering 24, walked the same out and back route as the Standards. Along the way Sun lost the sole of her boot and running repairs needed to be done. Sadly Sun’s repaired boot didn’t last the distance.  Happily a passing farmer offered Sun a ride back to the beginning where some of the Standards had time to dabble hot feet in the sea before the rest of the Alternates returned.

Text by Jen

Sources:

Banks Peninsula – Cradle of Canterbury, Gordon Ogilvie, Government Printer, 2007

Old Maori place names around Akaroa Harbour by Louis J. Vangioni; with supplementary notes by D. J. C. Pringle

Morning tea in the shade

Onwards after the morning tea stop

Sun’s boot sole requires running repairs

On the trail & heading towards the lunch spot

Enjoying lunch & expansive seascape views

Negotiating a stile near a grove of eucalyptus trees

Distance 9.74km; vertical ascent 714m; duration 5hr

With Garry as our driver we set off at 8.00 am from Bishopdale with a pickup at Yaldhurst.  The early start was due to the distance we had to travel to Mt Alford Scenic Reserve.  We had a lower turnout than normal with just 30 keen trampers including one visitor, Brent M. The day was overcast and humid. Road works slowed us down on the Main South Road and Thompsons Track (which involved a detour) but at 10.00 am we had arrived at our destination.

The track alternates across public and private land and is a steady climb (600m vertical) through beech forest then tussock and sub alpine scrub to the top of Mt Alford (1171m). The Standards numbered 16 and the Alternates 14. In our two groups, we set off across a short section of farmland before entering the Alford Scenic Reserve. We all climbed up steadily through the beech forest. The track was very muddy in places. One member’s pristine new boots were not looking so good after a few metres but she was very happy with the comfort level of her toes!!

We had morning tea at 10.40 am in an open grassy patch and were pleased with the cloud cover as when the sun popped out occasionally it was searingly hot.  We set off again at about 11.00 am through an open scrubby section following a fence to a 4WD track . We crossed the track and followed marker poles up another ridge to an open grassy area with a rickety picnic table and what would be good views of the Ashburton River on a less cloudy day.  The Alternates were walking to this spot for lunch then returning from here on the same track to the bus. The Standards who arrived ahead of the Alternates kept on to the summit.

From here on it was quite a climb and 14 made it to the top for lunch arriving at 12.30 pm.

Although, apart from small glimpses, due to low cloud cover we couldn’t see the promised amazing views across the Canterbury Plains and inland mountains, we were all very pleased to have made it.  The fact that there were no midges swarming around made the walk much more pleasant than last year although the humidity made it a very hot and sweaty experience.

At 12.50 pm we set off down the same track.  The Spaniard grass was in full flower and very spiky so was to be avoided.  The track through the beech forest was even muddier on the way down and we all took advantage of a small stream to wash as much mud off our boots as possible. I took the prize for the muddiest legs. We stopped to put on jackets at one stage as a drizzle set in but it didn’t last long.  We arrived at the bus at 3.00 pm.  The Alternates had been waiting for about an hour for our return. To avoid the roadworks Garry took a different route going through Windwhistle to get back to Christchurch. It was another great tramp enjoyed by everyone.

Text by Judy

Kitted up & ready to go..!

Onward & upward through Beech Forest

Standards break for morning tea

Alternates enjoy a break together on the acscent

Standards head upwards above the observatory

Birthday Boy & Standards Leader, Alan, on Cloud Nine

Standards descend through tussock after lunch

Negotiating the muddy track on the downhill leg

Distance 14km, elevation 514m, time 4hrs 40mins (Standards)

With 46 trampers on the bus, including visitors Les G and Brent M, our new driver

Gary delivered us safely to the start of the Weka Pass Farm tramp, after a slight detour on the way through the residential streets of Woodend, due to the north bound lane of the main highway being closed for road works.

Without the coolish wind that was present at Bishopdale the day was already warm, and would get hotter still.

Before setting off the farm owner Richard Murchison gave us a brief overview of the farm and history of the area.

The property consists of two farms and is stocked with 3200 sheep (which was evident during the morning tea stop) as well as a few deer and cattle. He also mentioned they had a lot more grass than usual, which was also evident when walking through some of the paddocks.

The two groups set off up the farm track above the creek onto a rolling limestone ridge, before stopping for morning tea higher up on the hillside.

On the way the Standards arrived at one of the many gates, which appeared to be locked, so a scramble through the wire fence was called for. With everyone assembled unscathed on the other side a shout could be heard from behind. Looking back, the Alternates could be seen proceeding through the now open gate.

After tea the Standards carried on up the hill, while the Alternates backtracked and took a slightly shorter route that would avoid the steep downhill that could possibly be slippery.

At the bottom of the slippery slope, the Standards carried on through the empty deer paddock and on to the farm road at the other end. From there it was up and down the farm road, and through more gates (unlocked), paddocks and a couple of minor streams until reaching the usual lunch spot at the hay barn. On some tramps it has been used as a buffer from the wind, but on this occasion it was the shade it provided that was welcomed. The limestone outcrops the area is known for could be seen on the hill nearby.

After lunch it was more of the same. Easy farm road and paddocks and gates with a few gentle slopes, until reaching the top of a slight incline where the bus could be seen below us.

With the Alternates having already arrived there would be time for a refreshment stop in Amberley after a very pleasant day in the hills.

Text by Sally W

One of many farm vistas encountered during the day

Alternates trek up one of many open ridges

Alternates rally for a group photo

Standards follow the leader along one of the farm fence lines

Standards rally at a high point following morning tea

Standards on brink of steep downhill descent

Standards follow a farm track on the homeward leg

Distance (approx)17km; duration 5hrs 40min; vertical ascent 410m

As driver Alan took us across the city to Sumner, some juggling of leadership roles was undertaken with members continuing to succumb to the persistent Covid.

38 trampers including visitors, Brent, David and Les, alighted the bus at Bishopdale. We were dropped at Evans Pass where a 39^th member joined us. We walked westward along the Crater Rim walkway, which is also part of the 360 Trail. Good cloud cover and a following breeze made for ideal walking conditions although there was an immediate climb.

There’s something about these uphill stretches where head is down and what is seen is tussock grass, clover, yarrow, dried docks, blue flowers, yellow flowers, backs of legs, boots, rocks, socks, packs, with only the occasional glance to expanded views over harbour or city. Or so it seems.

The track took us ever upwards with Standards reaching the morning tea stop sufficiently ahead of the Alternates for them (or at least one, sorry Judy) to be ousted from their chosen rocks. Standards disappeared from sight, the Alternates resumed their walk. In the far distance a strimmer was audible, City Council workers maintaining the track, cutting and tossing aside straw.

A cruise ship was in Port, the consensus of walkers was that it would be far preferable to be walking the hills than queuing for a ride for a brief visit to the city.

Lunch was a relaxed affair, trackside overlooking the Woolston industrial area between Rapaki and Bridle Path tracks, so relaxed that one or two missed hearing the two minute call to walk. Sarah, an obliging passer-by at the top of Rapaki Track obliged by taking a group photo of the Alternates, whereupon we all bunched up, posing in the sunshine.

There was a brief discussion to (a) walk up Mt Vernon or (b) walk around Mt Vernon. Route (b) was taken by the Alternates, whereas the Standards walked up, over and down. The temperature climbed and there was some small relief in the pockets of pine and bush, before the cool and shade of Mitchell’s Track. We briefly watched a harrier hawk, wings outstretched, spiralling effortlessly upwards on a thermal.

On arrival at the Sign of the Kiwi, Leader Norma informed us that the bus was waiting further along the Summit Road, increasing our walk to nearly 14 km. Meantime the Standards walked down Harry Ell Track to the Sign of the Takahē where they had about a ten minute wait.

The Standards were canvassed for an account of their walk. “You should ask the Tail Ender!” Alas Kay had been left off the count at the Sign of the Kiwi when she had diligently been placing rubbish in a bin. Kay’s “Where’s the others?” was soon followed from Harry Ell Track with “Where’s Kay?” A phone call between parties established that Kay would go in the bus along with Janice who was forgoing the extra 4 km.

In summary, another splendid day in the hills.

Text by Marie-Therese

Alternates & Standards heading towards Mt Pleasant

Standards rally at the start of the crater rim trail

Alternates by Rapaki

Standards head up the ridge trail towards the morning tea stop

Standards enjoy a break for morning tea

Standards preparing to resume walk after lunch

Standards negotiate the Crater Rim trail

Distance (approx)12km; duration 4hrs 25min; vertical ascent 424m

The first tramp of a new year 23 trampers and our driver Alan gathered at Bishopdale. This including two visitors Les (his third tramp with us) and Brent. We left a little early allowing us to pick up our final tramper (President Bev) at Woodend, stop for a necessary break at Amberley, and arrive at the tramp car park by 9:40.

As usual, the Standards left first with their hearty group of 11; the 13 Alternates followed shortly thereafter. For those who have never done this tramp, the bus parks at the top of a hill and we tramp down to the beach where we have lunch and then return. It’s a lovely and well-marked trail, albeit with the ascension/descension parts reversed from most of our tramps.

Transwaste Canterbury operates the Kate Valley Landfill adjacent to the Bush area. It funds the conservation project with the goal to regenerate a 407-hectare lowland native forest at Tiromoana Bush through which we tramp. This link contains pictures of Kate Valley in 2004 and 2019; Kate-Valley.jpg (720×1040) (transwastecanterbury.co.nz) The changes are obvious.

The weather was drizzly, and most donned rain jackets and sweaters before starting off.  The Alternates caught up with the Standards at the designated morning tea spot, neither group staying all too long with the drizzle. The Tiromoana Bush Track is truly undulating which keeps the legs in good working order. The route taken by the Alternates can be seen on the map from the following link (from car park to 2, left to the toilet symbol and then down to 9, 8, Te Ara Kanuka track to 6, 5, and finally 4): Tiromoana Bush Walkway – Transwaste (transwastecanterbury.co.nz).

The Standards took the same route except they continued past Te Ara Kanuka cutoff to Ella Peak. They dropped their packs at the turnoff for the 30-minute return side trail described as “not easy due to some steep parts but the view from the top across the Canterbury Bight to the Port Hills makes it worthwhile”. (Peter Moore)

The Alternates arrived at the beach at 11:50 after crossing a small stream four times. The Standards arrived just as the Alternates began their journey back up to the bus. Some discussion was had whether the return should be via the road (shorter but steeper and shown as the northernmost branch of the Track on the map above) or whether we should retrace our tracks and then taking Te Ara Tawhal track which would have been longer but not as steep. The decision was to do the former leading to the Alternates reaching the bus by 2; the Standards arrived shortly thereafter.

Due to dampness, we did not stop at Amberley, but headed back to Bishopdale after another good day’s tramp.

Text by Michele S

Standards head off fresh from the bus

Alternates head towards lunch on the beach

Alternates rally on the beach, Pegasus Bay

Standards enjoy lunch on the beach

Forest art encountered on the return leg

Standards making their way up the forest trail