2025-06-11 < Weekly activities > 2025-06-25
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 June 18 to Tuesday 2025 June 24
Otari, Karori Cemetery/Makara Walkway/East Harbour Regional Park/West Mangaone Loop/Belmont Traverse – Porirua to Petone/Goat Stream, Mt Matthews
Wednesday
R ‘Otari to Karori Cemetery and Return led by Margaret Foden, Wed 18/6 3 Members
E Trip ‘Makara Walkway’ led by Lois Kluger, Wed 18/6 13 Members
Makara.......... Never fails to please, and always manages to surprise! Our group was a mix of easy and fit trampers, and thankfully the fit ones kept to an easy pace!!!!! We headed up to the Gun Emplacements, down the fence-line into Opau Bay, we had lunch in the sunny Karaka Glade, back up the road to the top and a temperature drop, to amazing views South and North over a glass flat sea, beautiful cloud formation and the sun trying to peek through.
EM Trip ‘Whakanui Loop’ led by Angela Vanderpoel, Wed 18/6 13 Members
At the last minute our planned E/M on the Whakanui loop had to be abandoned due to the likelihood of helicopter activity in the area! Plan B saw us instead in the East Harbour Regional Park on a "Carolyn Jenkins special". Starting from Lees Grove we ascended to the Lowry seat, along Main Ridge track to join the Ferry Road track where we were rewarded with stunning views of Wellington and its beautiful harbour. From there we sidled along and then down to Mahina Bay for the best Wednesday lunch spot possible - on the rocks (without the whiskey). Heading up through York Bay we had a steep ascent up to the Main Ridge again and then back down to Lees Grove. 5 hrs 45. A great day out.
M Trip ‘West Mangaone Loop’ led by Chris Munn, Wed 18/6 9 Members
9 members met at a very chilly Mangaone Carpark (0°C on the drive in) to complete the West Mangaone Circuit. Not-withstanding the frosty start, the weather for the day was bang-on perfect. A casual stroll to the start of the climb saw everyone limbering up for a decent climb of about 400 metres to the ridge line that navigates around the catchment headwaters. Navigation was challenging in 3 or so locations, with lunch being enjoyed at the top of the headwaters before an interesting descent back to the Mangaone Track . Just under 10 kms, done in a little over 6 hours. A very enjoyable day out.
SF Trip ‘Belmont Traverse – Porirua to Petone’ led by Jenny Mason, Wed 18/6 14 Members
Fourteen of us met at Porirua Station and walked under the highway and up the Bothamley Pathway into Cannons Creek and then made our way up to the high point overlooking Porirua and Transmission Gully. We crossed under Transmission Gully at Duck Creek where we met a WRC pest control contractor who showed us the new self-resetting possum traps. We had morning tea on a pylon footing with a bird’s eye view of the highway. It was a gorgeously fine day but too cold to linger so we were soon climbing up to the ridgeline north of Cannon Head. Stock have made the track to Belmont Trig very muddy. We had lunch at the trig, with views of both the Tararua and Kaikoura ranges before descending into the western branch of Korokoro Stream; down a community - maintained track that accesses the picturesque upper gorge. When we arrived at Baked Bean Bend the sun had already left and so afternoon tea was cancelled and we hastened straight on downstream to Cornish St and the train.
Weekend:
MF Trip ‘Goat Stream, Mt Matthews, Shingle Slide’ led by Sarah White, Sat 21/6 3 Members/1NM
We enjoyed a hearty feast and good night's sleep at Waerenga Hut on Friday night. Saturday saw us striding up Mt Matthews and descending via the best shingle slide in the North Island. A quick cuppa, some firewood sawing and lashings of excellent chocolate brownie were indulged in before heading back to the Catchpool carpark.
Total 55 members and 1 non member