This article was first published in Tararua Tramper in February 2025
Lees Grove Track, Lowry Trig Lookout, Fern Gully
E - Wednesday 4 December 2024
Eight club members met for our walk. As often happens, we chatted to another group of trampers, this time a large Forest and Bird group going in the same direction - but they turned off at Lowry Trig Lookout and headed to the Cheviot Rd Track.
This track will be the route of our trip in March when the Earina Autumnalis orchids are flowering. On this trip we learnt to identify another orchid, a species of Drymoanthus, thanks to Alison and Michele. It flowers in spring, so we're planning a trip next September. According to Hutt News there are at least 30 species of orchid in the hills above Days Bay.
Back to Rata Ridge to continue our trip and on to Fern Gully Track after lunch. We arrived at the cars at about 2 p.m. A very companionable day out.
Julia Fraser (leader and scribe), Anne and Hadley Bond, Michele Dickson, Lois Kruger, Liz Martin, Kerry Popplewell, Alison Stephenson.