This article was published in Tararua Tramper in month 2025
Five ways on Johnston Hill, with remarkably little overlap!
Easy Medium, 2 July
The trip announcement read, ‘Five ways on our humble little Johnston Hill? Really? Yep, there are, truly. And this week's EM trip celebrates them all.’
Twenty-two people boldly signed up for the challenge.
The first way was the Parkvale Plod, 150m of relentless climb to the summit of Johnston Hill. What a grand spot to be on a clear day! But no time to muck around; we launched ourselves into the second way: Wriggly Wroute descent to the Hatton St carpark. The pretty track around the Circular Walk was new for many of us.
The third way was the Full Frontal back up to Johnston (puff, puff) for a very welcome late-ish morning tea, in sunshine with enough time to enjoy panoramic views of the whole Wellington area and the hills and oceans far beyond.
The fourth way was the Skyline Saunter, by way of a track over the tops instead of the usual 4WD trudge. Three trampers who preferred a shorter day peeled off on the track down to Ōtari. By 12:30 the remaining 19 of us had reached the spot up above Crofton Downs which has a seat dedicated to somebody named Izzy. It didn't have enough room for us all, so we sprawled on the grass, hunkered down against the cold wind.
The route down to the Crofton substation area was designated - just for this occasion - as Izzy's Track. It was a new route for our group, following a trace that our much-missed David Ogilvie had provided some years before. Steep and a bit slippery, it was quite challenging for some members, so we took it very carefully to avoid mishaps.
Then a brief pause on the flat area not far from the Crofton Substation.
Now onto another steepish, muddyish drop down to say hello to three horses where we joined the 4WD. We trudged up then down then up again to bump briefly into the Skyline where we crossed a stile onto Grants Track/Kohekohe Walk. Our keen eyes were rewarded by spotting a fair number of kohekohe in flower.
By now, the day was taking longer than expected, so part way along some trampers took a shortcut back up to the Skyline, and another group of faster trampers zoomed ahead on the planned route. The remaining six of us were slow but happy as we followed an enjoyable, fairly level sidle all the way back to Karori cemetery.
And finally, the fifth way of the day: the Semetery Saunter and our final ascent of Johnston Hill. That totalled three times going over the summit in one day! Our adventure ended with a stroll down the Parkvale Plod to our transport. (JB)
Time: 6h to 6h45; elevation gain: about 800m; distance: about 13.5km.
Joan Basher (leader), Gillian Ansell, Elsie Barry, Linda Beckett, Bob Buckle, Muriel Christianson, Ursula Evans, Trish Gardiner-Smith, Paddy Gresham, Carol Kelly, Justin Kerr, Ali Laing, Cheryl McDonald, Sue Mahon, Jeanette Martin, Jenny Olsen, Peter Smith, Howard Symmes, Helena Weller-Chew, Christine Whiteford, Glynn Woodbury, Cathy Wylie