This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 96, no 9, October 2024
Five Wellington hills SF
Wednesday 11 September
It was a grand Wednesday for our big group!
Twenty-three members gathered at the Standen St entrance to the Karori Cemetery. Everyone was keen to enjoy a peak-bagging day out on the tops, and to revel in wide views over our lovely city, the surrounding hills and seas, and to the South Island.The weather was just right: sunshine, with a bit of a cold southerly at our backs.
The bushy track tucked away at the corner of Cross St and Nottingham St enticed us on a gentle climb to our first summit, Johnston Hill, 360m. From there we could peer at the day's long route impressively laid out in the distance.
Descending to Parkvale Saddle, we entered private land, grateful for the farmer's permission to be on his territory. A 4WD track took us down to North Makara Stream. We wandered up the stream (several wet-feet crossings here!) before a scramble up a scratchy, gorse-encumbered fenceline to Jessie's Peak 350m.
'Jessie's Peak?', do I hear you say? Many of us have looked across the valley from Johnston Hill and wondered about the chunky column on the skyline.This medieval-looking monument was built by the former owners of the farm as a tribute to their parents Jessie and Joe Pierce. Hence, Jessie's Peak. Jessie and Joe's ashes were scattered in Cook Strait, near the entrance to Tory Channel, as indicated on the plaque.
Morning tea at the monument fortified us with views, biscuits and a welcome rest.
Next we knocked off British Peak 375m - no cheating here: we really did go over the top instead of meekly sidling around it on the farm road.
The going was easy now, across open land, rejoining the Skyline Track by late morning. A cold breeze meant we needed to hunker down at lunchtime to refuel in the shelter of scrub. Some members of the group tried to hide away in the gorse so they could sneak a longer lunch break, but the leader's stern tones shamed them into hauling themselves back into tramping mode for the assault on the day's highest peak, Kaukau, 445m. (We confess we didn't trudge over to the real trig point, near enough being good enough.) At the Kaukau lookout area, the wind had dropped, so we could take our time admiring breathtaking views.
Our route then tumbled down the South Ridge Track to Simla Crescent and a traverse of Khandallah streets, before our fifth and final ascent, Odell Reserve 220m, where we plonked down on the flat grassy top of the reservoir to enjoy another refuelling pause and yet more views. The pretty Piwakawaka Track wriggled us down to Old Porirua Rd, followed by a steep, narrow tramping track into the Kaiwharawhara Stream, the lowest elevation of our day at a mere 50m. A wander up the stream popped us out onto Churchill Drive for a one kilometre trudge along that noisy, smelly road.
A pre-advertised feature of this tramp was permission to drop out whenever the attractions of home proved too strong. In total, thirteen of the crew abandoned ship at various places during the afternoon. At the bottom of Blackbridge Road, only ten remained to uphold the reputation of the team by completing the entire tramp.
Back into Wilton Bush for a flat stroll along the Kaiwharawhara Stream, and a welcome pause while busting trampers queued at the loo at Troup Picnic area.
Ever onwards, tired legs, brave spirits, we tackled the final 75-metre climb up into Karori Cemetery. The Tangiwai memorial reminded us about the tragic train disaster on 24 December 1953, and nearby on Harry McNeish's grave we read about Mrs Chippy's role in the heroic Shackleton expedition of 1914-1917.
Hooray, the end was in sight. Two minutes later we were back at our cars, gloating about having survived an 8h 15m day, covering a 21.5 km distance and climbing a not-to-be-sneezed-at total of 1,200 metres. But even better than being impressed by our own statistics, was the happiness of a day of views, bush, exercise and friendship!
- Party members
- Joan Basher (leader and scribe), Elsie Barry, Paul Bruce, Katherine Close, John Dement, Susan Guscott, Brian Hasell, Marie Henderson, Ant Hill, Penny Hoy-Mack, Jenny Mason, David McNabb, Peter Morten, Don O'Neill, Mary Perkins, Marilyn Richards, Janette Roberts, Pete Smith, Bob Stephens, Tim Stone, Ann Walker, John Willett, Cathy Wylie.