This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 94, no 3, April 2022
Cannon Point Trig E/M
Wednesday 2 March 2022
Eighteen of us set off for an EM 10 km circular tramp from the Awaikairangi carpark to the Cannon Point Trig. We warmed up for the 345 metre climb with a stroll on the flat to Tulsa Park and then followed the track ascending to the Cannon Point trig for morning tea and misty views over the Hutt Valley and Wellington City CBD.
The descent began along a wide grassy undulating track on old forestry roads through the Akatarawa forest and continued on a gravelled bush track down past the historic Birchville Dam and lake. The dam was built in 1929 and supplied water to Upper Hutt until the Kaitoke Scheme commenced water supply in 1954.
After pausing to take in the sights and for photo opportunities, we continued on the bush path beside a stream, crossed a swing bridge and followed the Hutt River to a bridge across to Harcourt Park for lunch. Regrettably, no one thought to bring wine for lunch, so with nothing to delay us we packed up and completed our tramp (rudely suggested by one participant as being a ‘ramble’) by continuing along the western bank of the Hutt River to cross the field adjacent to the carpark.
Thanks everyone for your great company on this tramble.
- Party members
- Intrepid trampers: Diana Barnes, Alistair Beckett, Linda Beckett (leader and scribe) Bob Buckle, Mike Crozier, Michele Dickson, Jim Gibbons, Carolyn Jenkins, Justin Kerr, Carol Kelly, Jane–Pyar Mautner, Peter Morten, Rachel Morten, Pip Newton, Mary Perkins, Kerry Popplewell, Penny Salmond, Janice Tijsen