Travelling Granny comes home 2017: My Favourite Walk

Walking on the Otago Peninsula

by Robyne Selbie

My favourite walk is on the Otago Peninsula which is the rural hinterland for Dunedin city and host to a number of walks which lead to various bays and headlands along the coast, or to vantage points overlooking the city.

My route leads me to a little known walk which begins at Greenacres Street in the Macandrew Bay township. . The return trip takes me about one hour thirty from my back door to the top road and back to Marion Street.

Signs at the bottom of Greenacres Street point out the direction to my destination via a walking track to Highcliff Road. The walk takes you from sea level to two hundred metres above sea level. From here there are marvelous views across the peninsula and down to the headlands towards Taiaroa Heads, better known for the only mainland breeding albatross colony or back towards Dunedin city with views of Saddle.Hill.

Figure 2: The view back to Dunedin City

Setting off from my home in Macandrew Bay is the easy part. It is a short walk around the edge of Otago Harbour on a brilliant autumn morning, calm, with water lapping alongside the walkway. Seagulls and sea life accompany me on the early stages of my walk and the smell of the sea gives me a sense of well-being. How lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place.

Once I turn off the walkway and start the hike up Greenacres Street I pass the local dairy and the school tennis court, houses and fields, easy walking because the track levels out through the suburb and ascends gently towards the hills.

Once I pass the blue gums and blackberry grove the climb up Greenacres Street begins to demand more energy, the view becomes rural and the city seems far away. Sheep graze beside the track in lush fields , the Highland cattle lumber across the paddock to investigate my presence and sometimes a rabbit or hare will race into the pine plantation ahead. A local farmer stops for a chat as he loads some feed into the hay-racks for the cattle. I am pleased to have a stop and catch my breath before the next phase.

Figure 3: Highland cattle waiting for breakfast

This part of the walk is on a gravel track which leads up to the pine plantation and turns off to the left on a private road, from here you turn right on a pathway which leads up to the top road. This point is marked by a little wooden bench seat ,just the place for a rest and an apple before heading upwards through the pine trees which line the track and provide some shelter from the wind and rain. Not today though as the sun shines and the breeze is gentle. This section is a little bit of wilderness and a real contrast from city living. Horses graze up here and as you leave the plantation you clamber over a stile and cross into the final phase of the track alongside farm pastures and beautiful views back to the city.

Figure 4: I am joined by a dog enjoying his romp through the grass

The track narrows and steepens but the views get better and better as I climb out onto the final section of the track.

Today I can hear the bellbirds and a tui singing amongst the trees whilst in the distance the sound of the train heading away on a journey to the north can be heard on the still air. I am joined on my ascent by a dog and its owner making the most of the open spaces.

Once I reach the top of the track I emerge onto Highcliff Road. This leads to Camp Road and Larnach Castle, well known tourist attractions on the Peninsula. You walk past the delightful settlement of Pukehiki with its historic library and church also worth a stop. This is a nice diversion and well worth a look through the site before walking on to the road leading back to Macandrew Bay. Some days I turn back down the track but today I continue on along the round trip, a little longer but the day is beautiful and the scenery spectacular so I make the most of the day.

Figure 5: Lunchtime with a view towards Port Chalmers and back towards to Harbour Cone

Lunch is calling and I follow my usual trail past the turnoff to the castle and turn down Camp Road overlooking Broad Bay. Harbour Cone overlooks the harbour and protect some of the rare gecko lizards found on its slopes.

Camp Road is a narrow gravel road which leads back to Macandrew Bay. Not easy walking if there is a lot of holiday traffic but worth the efforts for the views of the Harbour and surrounding bays. There is another option to return home via the walking track from Larnach Castle to Broad Bay but today I do not have enough time so the road walk it is.

Once I arrive at Company Bay I walk back along the walkway to my starting point in the village.