Bush Walking tracks
There are several hiking tracks through the bush, and the entrances are marked on the map below. See also the guides for the Beech, Lookout, and Court Naked tracks.
- Beech track (A, B, or via Court Naked track, also connects to Lookout track)
- Lookout track (from Beech track). Steepest track, with good view
- Court Naked track (C, leads to Beech track)
- BBQ track (D, E, or F). Mainly flat track
- Pool track (G or H). Short flat track running along stream
A Walker's guide to the Beech Track
Entrance marked A on the map. Follow the directions in reverse if starting from B
Some signs have been placed on the Beech Track to help you navigate your way along it. Follow the driveway that runs behind the hall, go uphill and go straight ahead at the top. Climb the wooden steps on your right and follow the track. There is a sign saying "Beech Track" on the steps. The track is marked regularly with red tape, if you can't see any red tape you may have strayed off the track.
Sign | Notes |
---|---|
Hand Brake Turn | This is the sharpest turn of the track. |
Easy As | A long straight run, good for a bit of pace. |
Rocks | Never was so much owed to so many by so few as when this piece of track was made. |
Speed Bumps | We don't want you going too fast. |
In between these two signs the Lookout Track starts, see the guide for this track. The Lookout Track is generally steeper than the Beech Track. | |
Whoop-de-do | Keep at least one foot on the ground through here. |
The Squidge | A creek runs across here when it rains, conditons may be malleable underfoot. |
Tree Hug | Hug the tree and you will be ok. |
Beech Trees | Here there is a grove of beech trees and a view of the grounds. A bench seat is available for your repose. |
You've Got To Be Joking | As the track made its way across the hill it ran into some sort of existental problem. It is not known what this problem was but the only apparent soluton appeared to be a sharp turn. |
Persephone's Decent | This is a comment made by someone doing some formatve work on the track. |
Squeeze | These two trees are close together and were in the way, but we did not have the heart to cut them down. |
Old and New | This is where the Court Naked Track heads off uphill, see the guide for this track. Take the right turn (downhill) here to stay on the Beech Track, or left if you are going the other way. |
Level Playing Field | Be careful not to lose your footng through here. This part of the track is now more level that it used to be. |
You should come out on the driveway just above the hall car parks. |
A Walker's guide to the Lookout Track
Some signs have been placed on the Lookout Track to help you navigate your way along it. Follow the Beech Track from either end untl you are between the "Speed Bumps" and "Whoop-de-do" signs. From a small step, the track climbs uphill to the Lookout. The track is marked regularly with pink plastc ribbon, if you can't see any pink plastc ribbon you may have strayed off the track.
Sign | Notes |
---|---|
Kanuka Corner | The first bit of the track climbs to Kanuka Corner. It is not much of a corner now afer the first part of this track was recut. It is now more of a kink that avoids a tree root. The bottom end Scarp Route is near here. Please ignore the Scarp Route if this is your first visit. |
The Grind | This is the longest straight run on the track, and it goes uphill, which makes sense, as most lookouts are up a hill. |
Stll Grinding | It took a long time to cut this piece of track, it does go on a bit. |
Zig | The track turns sharply to the right, in Zig fashion. |
Zag | The track turns sharply to the lef, in Zag fashion. |
Ferns | There are some kowaowao or hounds tongue ferns beside the track. |
The Crux | "The crux", in mountaineering, is the most difficult part of the route when climbing toward a mountain summit. In this case, you have done most of the hard work already and the next part is not very difficult. |
Slippery When Wet | This is exactly what is says it is. There is a unique combinaton of clay and leaf litter here that is slippery after rainfall. |
Meander | Whoever first marked the track here likely lost their way for a while. But on the bright side, the grade is easier than it would be if the track was straight. |
Bare Habitat | You may encounter bares at any tme in this area. And in lots of other places too. |
Fence | An old fence line crosses near here. You may fnd some antique number 8 wire if you look around. The same fence line crosses the Beech Track near Tree Hug. The top end of the Scarp Route is near here. Please ignore the Scarp Route if this is your first visit. |
High Point | Well done. Be careful climbing over the roots here. Keep going. |
A short descent takes you to the Lookout. Don't stand too close to the edge. Enjoy. |
A Walker's guide to the Court Naked Track
Entrance marked B on the map. Follow the directions in reverse if starting from C
Some signs have been placed on the Court Naked Track to help you navigate your way along it. Follow the Beech Track uphill from the hall carpark end untl you are reach the juncton named "Old and New". The Beech track is the "old" track and goes of to the lef and the "new" Court Naked Track goes uphill to the right. Follow the red plastc ribbons on the Court Naked track, if you can't see any red plastc ribbons you may have strayed off the track.
Sign | Notes |
---|---|
Chicane | The track climbs steadily to "Chicane". A couple of bends were put in the track to slow people down and avoid running through tree roots. There is no chicanery here. |
Animal Rock | Keep climbing. Animal Rock is slightly below the track. Some think it looks like a cat, others a dog. It doesn't look much like a fish. |
Boob Rock | Keep climbing. Boob Rock, viewed from the right angle while wearing very dark sunglasses on an extremely cloudy day, maybe. Boob Rock has a mossy green coat. This is the highest part of the track. |
Golf Ball Corner | Contnue onward to descend to Golf Ball Corner. A golf Ball was found on this spot when forming the track. |
Clearing | Contnue downwards. The Clearing offers some views of the surrounding hills and has a seat for your repose. |
Quarry | Many boulders had to be split in two or broken into tiny pieces and some bedrock cut out to form this part of the track. In spite of best efforts, no gold was found during the excavatons. |
A short descent takes you to the sealed playing courts. |