This article was first published in Tararua Tramper in April 2025
Cannon’s Point Circuit
EM – Wednesday 12 February
Ten trampers set off at 0830 to head up to the Cannon's Point Trig. We parked at the Awakairangi carpark and took the elevated path in the Awakairangi Park which carried on above the western bank of the Hutt River. A swing bridge took us to a very pretty bushy track beside a stream and minor waterfalls until we reached Birchville dam and lake behind. Then it was a steep ascent on a narrow gravel track until we came to the grassy undulating track which we followed to the trig for morning tea and panoramic views over the Hutt Valley and Wellington City.
After morning tea and a photo of the group - taken by a kind random stranger and giving proof of ‘having knocked the b...... off’, we tramped on in the same general direction down and then around the hill until we connected with a zigzag track which took us almost back to the top. Some advice was necessary and offered but disparaged (‘the good times are over’ and ‘don’t look up’) for this challenging ascent. We bypassed the undulating track for an alternative parallel path which returned us to the previously trodden gravel track to the dam. From there we tramped back to the bridge crossing the Hutt River, stopping at Harcourt Park for a leisurely lunch at the picnic tables, before making the short trudge to the cars.
5.5 enjoyable hours of tramping with a lovely group of trampers.
Linda Beckett (leader and scribe), Paul Baker, Alistair Beckett, Paul Bruce, Judy Burney, Dianne Kerse, Cathy Milne, Jo Poole, Janice Tijsen, Jill Wild