This article was published in Tararua Tramper in month 2025
Matariki walks and shared lunch
All grades - 25 June
The Wednesday group celebrated Matariki with a happy gathering for all our grades, at the Wilton Bowling Club. Our shared culinary talents combined to create a scrumptious feast. There were about 40 of us in all - 17 walkers plus 23 extras for the lunch - enjoying the chance to catch up with friends we don't see all that often.
A special thank you to Michele Dickson who has been organising this event for a good number of years. She nobly held the fort and did all the organising of the hall and the food so that everything was ready when the hungry trampers returned from their preceding two-hour walks. Michele also led the big cleanup at the end. We very much appreciate her work in making our Matariki party a pleasure for us all. (Joan Basher)
Blue Trail Walk at Ōtari Seven trampers completed the Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush Blue trail, making our way to the Picnic Ground, then crossing the bridge over the rushing stream, and up the muddy and slippery trail. We delighted in the many fallen kohekohe flowers on the track and the sprays of flowers magically sprouting straight out of the trunks. We stopped briefly at Moko, the 800 year old rimu tree, then continued uphill to the junction with the track leading up to the Skyline Walkway. Kerry and Joan then took an early exit, with the other team members cautiously descending the many steps to the more gentle section of track returning to the picnic ground. From there we made our way up through Ōtari to the welcome lunch laid out for us at the Wilton Bowling Club. An enjoyable trip, luckily between rain showers earlier and later in the day. (M C)
Muriel Christianson, Joan Basher (leaders), David Campbell, Lainey Cowan, Dudley Finter, Kerry Popplewell, Penny Salmond
Wilton Exploration Although the suburb of Wilton is only 3-4 km from the heart of the city, it is shielded from city lights and sounds by Ahumairangi. It is a suburb rather underrated by visitors who are attracted to the Ōtari/Wilton Bush side of the valley which Wilton overlooks.
Ten TTC members were ready to explore Wilton as soon as a heavy shower had passed through. We climbed two long sets of steps which lead up to Cecil Road and the entrance to the Western Slopes Reserve. The weather had cleared sufficiently to enjoy the views of the valley, including a birdseye view of the Bowling Club we had started from 30 minutes earlier.
It is easy walking through the reserve, down the southern slopes of Ahumairangi to Ian Galloway Park. We entered Ōtari Bush near the sports pavilion for a leisurely walk back along the stream to join the trampers who had been enjoying alternative circuits. (R H)
Ann Walker, Rob Handyside (leaders), Virginia Ashcroft, Paul Bruce, Robin Chesterfield, John Dement, Susan Guscott, Howard Larsen, Jenny Mason, Karen Vaughan