2025-10-08 < Weekly activities > 2025-10-22
Activity summary: Wednesday 2025 Oct 15 to Tuesday 2025 Oct 21
Wednesday 15th
Ramble around the zoo led by Margaret Foden. 8 M
As most of our group of 8 hadn't been for many years, we were amazed by so much forested area for animals to hide in and not a cage anywhere. After lunch at the old elephant house cafe the faster ones went up to visit more inmates including 3 giraffes sharing an enclosure with hungry ostriches wanting food. A great day out!
Easy tramp around Zealandia perimeter fence led by Diana Barnes. 4M
Four of us enjoyed a well–ventilated trip round the perimeter of Zealandia, which we completed in four hours, including lunch near the turbine in the sunshine. I must say it seemed more strenuous and longer than I remembered. I think age had something to do with that!
Easy Medium Rangituhi - Colonial Knob Loop led by Vivienne Radcliff. 17M
After days of bad weather Wednesday was fine but windy. 17 members walked a Rangituhi/Colonial Knob circuit from Spicer Botanical Park to join with the Te Araroa track coming from Ohariu Valley. It was very windy across the farmland at the top but sheltered for morning tea and lunch. The amble down Te Ara Utiwai and across the Spicer Link back to the cars was very pleasant.
Medium Catchpool - Harvaard Spur - Cattle Ridge led by Joanne Gapes. 17M
17 club members met at 9am, Catchpool. The weather was overcast, not too cold. We walked up the 5 Mile Loop track to meet the Clay Ridge track. Approximately 50 metres along this, a route to the right took us down to the McKerrow Stream. This route is overgrown and with at least one short marked detour necessary because of windfalls. The stream was crossed and on higher ground to the right, a blue arrow pointed to the beginning of the spur. An initial steep climb for 30 minutes ensued, then more gently on up the spur which was reasonably well marked but there were some with some windfalls. On reaching the McKerrow Track we turned right and walked down the track (steep in parts) to meet the Ōrongorongo Track.
A short distance along this track is the sign for Cattle Ridge. As we climbed the ridge, not 50 meters up from us a tree crashed down across the track making quite a bit of noise, changing the conversation for a few minutes. Further along the ridge, we turned right and carefully made our way down Browns Track; again, steep in parts. A pleasant amble out along the Orongorongo Track ended the tramp. The trip lasted just over six hours. Poles recommended.
Medium Fit Mt Matthews and the shingle slide led by Anthony Hill. 3M
Slip Slidin Away. Mt Matthews and the sign, SHGL SLD ensured an extended monologue on the great Remutaka vowel crisis. We walked up Mt MTTHWS via GT STRM, where we became slightly lost, and then up to the TP where we had lunch. The top of the SHGL SLD is easy to find, and it's by far the best way to descend. We had afternoon tea back in the RNGRNG RVR BD. It was full of fluffy seeds blowing around. We were home in time for tea.
Total 49 members