2026-02-11 < Weekly activities >
Activity summary: Wednesday 2026 Feb 18 to Tuesday 2026 Feb 24
Wednesday
Ramble: Waiwhetū Stream led by Kath Kerr. 6M
Kath met us at Naenae station and advised a change of route because of too many fallen trees along Waiwhetū Stream. We went westwards through suburban streets with many fallen trees and a few fences fallen with fenceposts snapped off at the ground. Also saw Avalon House under an enormous toppled tree. Lunch was at Avalon Park, which area brought out the state of our members being second childhood. After Lunch it was a stroll north on the true left stopbank for a visit to Kath's new residence and a bus back to Lower Hutt.
Easy: in the Catchpool area led by Diana Barnes. 6M
Six of us enjoyed a congenial walk in warm, sunny weather with an accompaniment of cicadas in full voice along the Nga Taonga track to Clay Forks and then up over Middle Ridge and back down the road to our cars. There were notable traces of the recent wild weather. The ground was littered with fresh debris, but with only a couple of fallen trees, which needed a bit of effort to negotiate.
Easy Medium: Owhiro Bay Quarry to Red Rocks Track to gun emplacements at Sinclair Head led by Paul Bruce. 7M
As the day began with light winds, we decided to do a clockwise loop beginning with the coastal walk. We observed the debris left over from the southerly storm a few days earlier, before climbing the steep gully between Red Rocks and Sinclair head to the gun emplacements for morning tea. We had lunch beside the beautiful Waipapa stream, where we chatted with a regional council employee checking tracks. The vigorous regeneration is a testament to their success in reducing possum and rat numbers. A connector track took us to the 4-wheel drive to the red rocks track and back up to the junction where one is able to descend down and back through the Quarry. One of our number took advantage of a short ride in the Council four-wheel drive vehicle on this route. Judy Alexnder and Al Benge captured the returning oyster catchers and back-billed Gulls, the rugged scenery and southerly swell breaking over the coastal rocks and the fabulous views of the coastal bays in their photos wonderfully. The circuit took the 7 participants a bit over 5 hours with 625 metres gain. Paul Bruce (leader), Alan Benge, Judy Alexander, Virginia Ashcroft, Trish Gardener, Brian Hasell, Glynn Woodbury.
Medium: East Harbour Regional Park led by Jim Gibbons. 23M
There was a major storm on the Monday before, with heavy rain and strong wind, but the forecast for Wednesday was good. Despite the weather, numbers grew and after 23 people had indicated they were coming I decided to close the trip. The route was all in bush, with about half of the time on tracks and the other half on traplines. I was worried about windfall, especially on the more difficult trapline sections, but there turned out to be surprisingly few fallen trees, and most of those were on the more open tracks. There was a lot of leaf litter on the ground, so sometimes the ground track was not as obvious as it usually is. Gollans stream was full, but the water was clear and it was not difficult to cross it. The route started at Days Bay and went up the Kereru track to the ridgeline, then down a trap line into Gollans stream. Then up the stream, crossing it as needed to stay on the trapline route. The climb up to the ridge east of Gollans was slow, then north along the relatively flat ridge to join the Rata Ridge track. We followed this track to Lowry trig, then south along the main ridge track to the Koromiko track and back to Days Bay. With 23 people, travel on the off-track sections was slow with constant stops to keep everyone together. The result was a longer day than expected. Back at Days Bay there was time for a beer at the Days Bay Pavillion.
Medium Fit: Rae Ridge – Dennan led by Franz Hubmann. 5M
Five members went up Rae Ridge to Dennan then down via Field Hut.
Saturday
Medium tramp Solomons Ridge, Wainuiomata Water works area led by David McNabb. 14M
Fourteen members completed this tramp starting from the Wainuiomata Water Treatment Plant. We first walked up the road to the Orongorongo tunnel entrance, and then followed the Pack Track almost to the top. After a steep scramble up the final 60m to the East Whakanui Track, we headed west, stopping at the large grassy area in the saddle overlooking George Creek for lunch in the sun. We then continued to the Old Whakanui Track, and re-entered the water catchment area via Solomons Track. We encountered several new windfalls along the way, and the usual mud on the East Whakanui Track, but otherwise good track conditions and perfect weather. 11km, 6 hours. Thank you to the water catchment ranger for permitting this trip.
Total 61 members