Out There and Beyond Wellington

Out There and Behond Wellington: Oruaitu Reserve

We are very lucky to have a number of areas that can be enjoyed. These vary from the small to the large and wild.Oruaitu is no exception.
Quietly sitting at the end of the Miramar Peninsular is The Oruaitu Reserve (formally Point Dorset) and for many people who drive around this coastline they will not as much as give it a second glance.
There is nothing that really stands out that shows how nuch history there is on this small section of coastline.
Oruaitu Reserve sits proudly above and between Seatoun with great views of Wellington Harbour on one side and Breaker Bay with views of Pencarrow light houses,the Cook Straits and if you are luck you may even catch a glimpse of the South Island.
The reserve extends up a small ridge from Churchill Park in Seatoun and covers the headland over to Breaker Bay.

A Brief History:

The first resident in the area was James Coutts Crawford who bought the deeds from the NZ Company in the 1840’s, who then established a quary to the west of Breaker Bay.
Point Dorset itself was named afer a early European settler called Dr John Dorset who was a local politician and surgeon
As the point sat above the entrance to the harbour it was used by both the Maori and the Euopeans tp protect the entrance.
During 1905 and 1991 the area was used by the NZ Defence Force as part of its coastal defence and training.

Remains of the military bunkers and assorted building can still be seen and these can be explored giving a idea of what the military were living and working and why this area was well suited for the purpose.

In 2000The Department of Conservation took over the management of the coastal so that it could protect the access for the public as well as the historic and the eco system.
Then in 2009 the area was transfered to the Trust via the Port Nicholson Block as part of the Clains Settlement Act 2009.
Wellington Council took over the control and management of the land as a Recreation Reserve ( section 26 of the 1977 Reserve Act)

Note: The Reserve has a cultural and spirituallu significant to Taranaki Whanui and contains a old Oruaiti Pa.

As part of the improvements to the area a grant of $400000 from the Plimmer Bequest Fund which helped to upgrade the tracks, install steps and signage.

Some 3000 plants were also planted by mayor Celia Wade-Brown and volunteers in June 2012 as part of Arbor Day followed by another 2000.
Also part of this upgrade work was done to improve and protect the habitat of the Little Blue Penquins that breed in the area.
The Oruaiti Reserve is one of only a few sites on the coastline of Wellington that is not containtained by roads or sea walls. This haelped many native plants including Pingao and the thick leaved Mahoe to survive.
The track signage is to help maintan the plants and the remaining dunes that surrounds the area.

The centre piece of these impovements was the installation of a 17 metre long Waka structure which symbolises the arrival of a Waka into Wellington’s Harbour.

A dawn blessing was conducted on Wednesday 21st November at 06.00am to celebrate the completion of the new walkway and other work on the reserve.

Take care around the reserve as it is exposed and the cliffs are steep and dangerous.

Getting There:
There is parking in Seatoun near Chrurchill Park and also in Breaker Bay. Both have access to the Reserve and are well signed.
The #11 bus from Wellington via Kilbirnie to Seatoun. The last stop is near Churchill Park.

Oruatiu Reserve Map
Port Dorset Management Plan.

Taranaki Whanui.

Waka

Metlink Timetable.

Military History
james/wildbaynz/windyhillflying club.

Out There and Behond: Wellington’s Hidden Art: The Doo Doo’s

This piece was created by Peter Kundycki in 1998. It sits on the south coast of the North Island between Moa Point ( nr Wellington Airport) and Tarakena Bay ( below the Turkish Memorial: Ataturk Memorial)
It has been given the name of The Doo Doos before the sewage treatment plant was constructed at Moa Point the raw sewage was piped out into the Cook Straits and the stones reminded the locals of what was seen floating out and around the area.

The only way that you can see the piece is either by car where you can park near by or walk from Lyall Bay passing underneath the southern end of the airport, or you walk the Eastern Walk Way which will take you by the sculpture.

Take time to enjoy the great views that this coast line has to offer.

Eastern Walk Way. A brief details on the walk.

James/ wildbaynz/windy hill flying club.

Waikanie to Otakai:Walks Beyond Wellington

This is the final section of the coast that starts at Paekakeriki and stretches all the way to Otakai. In doing this section of the East Coast of the North Island you will pass some interesting places and varied sections of the coast beyond the beach itself.
Take a look over the dunes and take a look at what there is which is easily missed.

Starting at Wakainiae beach you head along the sand beach which at low tide is a joy to walk along. When at low tide you will come across many people walking or walking the dogs, horse riding or youngsters using there imagination.

Also imagine what the drift wood looks like from a distance. A seal raising its head or the Grim Reaper

About 40minutes walk you will come across a small village of Peka Peka, which hit the headlines in 2011 when a Emperor Penguin from the Antarctic took a 3000km detour and arrived on the beach.. At the beach access for Peka Peka you will find a information board that is dedicated to its short but now famous stay on the beach.

About 10 minutes or so will be a steam that will require crossing, so be prepared to get your feet wet.

A further 1hr or there abouts you will see some houses that is the beach side place called Te Horo. Here is another but larger stream. At times of the year you will see people with nets waiting for the Whitebait. The Whitebait season generally runs from mid August to the end of November.

As the stream can be deep and fast flowing the best option is to head inland along a road for about 50m until you come across a bridge. Cross over and continue along the road and after about 30 minutes the road curves round to the left. A couple of minutes later you will see a change from the sandy dunes and sandy beach to one of stones and a scrubby area.

There is no beach of such as the stones head all the way to the waters edge, a marked change in a very small area.
Follow the dirt track and on the way you will see some amazing shacks made of some what ever the person can find.

After a short walk head up to the bank to you right. Here gives you some good views of the small lake left from the high tides and the Otaki river as it heads out to sea.

On the other side is Otaki and the only was that you can get over to it is to carry along the bank until you arrive at SH1 and cross the bridge (care required and there is a path). Once across along he other side and you will end up at the Otaki Beach Reserve.

Here you will a lot of work to restore and replant part of the area.

Also a group of locals have been helping to restore and replant the river banks.

This is the theme along this stretch of coast from Paekakeriki to Otaki where groups are working hard to maintain the beauty of this area.

It will take around a 2hrs to around around the river.

At the reserve continue along the road which will take you to Marine Parade where you will end up near the Surf Club.

From here you can wait for the bus (or if feeling up to it walk back into Otaki) to take you back to Waikanae if heading back to Wellington.

Getting to and from. The easy part is getting to Waikanae and walking to Otaki. The hard part is ensuring that you give yourself time to catch the bus back from Otaki as there is a limited service Mon to Fri and less so over the weekend.

It would be better to start early and get the earlier bus from Waikanae to Otaki then do the walk to Waikanae where the bus service offers a better frequency.

Friends of the Otaki River

Earthsky: Happy Feet Article

Waikanae and Riverbank Scientific Reserve

Queen Elizabeth Park and Area

Distances. Total approx is approx 27Km
                Waikanae to Peka Peka. 3.5Km
                Peka Peka to Te Hoho   5.5Km
                Te Hoho to Eastury        3.4Km
                To Otaki Beach Via
                river bank and Reserve   10.4Km
                Otaki Beach to Town     2.5Km
Allow around 6/7 hrs.
Be prepared for changes in weather. Take food and water and wear good foot wear.

Bus 280 offers good service to Waikanae Beach and rail station.

Bus 290 is the Waikanae Rail Station to Otaki.

Metlink Bus/Rail Service

James/Windy Hill Flying Club

Out There and Beyond Wellington: The Settler’s Museum, Petone

The Settler’s Museum is located on The Esplanade, Petone, opposite Buick Street, which runs between The Esplanade and Jackson Street, where the Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life) is located.

The building commands unrivaled views Soames Island, Wellington and its Harbour to right and to the left the Rimutaka Hills and the Harbour entrance and over to Seatoun.

The building itself is one of New Zealand’s significant memorial buildings, namely The Wellington Centennial Memorial.This was opened in 1940, which then became the centre point of the beach life around the area.

After 70 years the building was refurbished to bring the experience more up to date. The current exhibition is about the areas history from when the 1st settlers arrived in the area.

On Saturday 25th August 2012 The Amazing Travelling Booth will be there from 15.00 to 19.00 as part of Petone Winter Carnival 2012

The current opening times are Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm

A couple of good web pages with full and up to date information are below:

New Dowse: Settlers Museum Main Info.

Hutt Valley NZ: Also other facts and info about the area.

James/ Windy Hill Flying Club.

Out There and Beyond Wellington:Petone’s Historic Jail

The jail was original built in 1909 and was until 1972. It was located in Elizabeth Street but it now can be found at 274B Jackson Street (Petone’s main road). This situated a little back from the road and is next to the current Police Station, on the other side is a cafe offering a great coffee.
In 1991 Petone Historic Society took over building as well as the old Police Station.

Below are2 good links that give some very good information about the Historic Jail.

Hutt Valley NZ
Jackson Street Programme

James/ Windy Hill Flying Club

Out There and Beyond: Petone’s Artesian Water

Petone (Pito-one) was where the 1st attempt to colonise the area was made.

Originally people of the area used the water from the Hutt River for a number of years.Later, Artesian Water was discovered which provide much better and purer water.

Now days the residents are supplied treated Artesian water, also free untreated Artesian water is available from The Spring of Life ( Te Puna Wai) which is located in Buick Street with the junction of Jackson Street, the main street of Petone.

The water is free of micro organisms and organic substances. This is possible because it is filtered over the time it takes to arrive at this point.

Every day when passing The Spring of Life you will see people filling up water containers,with many traveling long distances to get there.

Water from the Hutt Valley River works its way through layers of sand and gravel which in turn are surrounded by layers of silt and clay. The water starts at Taita Gorge north of the Hutt Valley.

Over a number of years the water will travel through sand and gravel before it reaches Petone and the Spring of Life. From here it will continue into the Harbour at Wellington before finishing it journey at the mouth of the harbour where its meets the Cook Straits.

So if every out near Petone don’t forget to take some water containers and give it a try. Even if you forget there is a small drinking fountain on the site.

There is a very food information sign that will give some good information about the history Artesian Water.

The fountain was designed by Louise Purvis and was commission in 2003/

Petone’s Artesian Water Fountain

James/ Windy Hill Flying Club.