Start: At the end of Aylmers Valley Road, Akaroa
Finish: Same place (it's a loop)
Time: 5 hours
Distance: 13.5 km
Date: Friday 13th October 2023
Off on another Friday excursion. We were driving the wiggly piggly windy roads from Ōtautahi/Christchurch to Akaroa, discussing the benefits of donning magnetic bracelets to protect against car sickness. Our findings possibly won't make it to an internationally peer-reviewed journal but we managed to get to Akaroa and park halfway up Aylmers Valley Road without feeling too squiffy.
We walked to the end of the road, admiring the cute cottages and the spring blossoms - and encountering a seriosly fat kererū and a fairly tubby tui. The Frank Worsley Track begins at the end of the road and meanders uphill through lovely native bush, to the Newton's Waterfall turn-off. The falls are definitely worth checking out- they are just a one minute detour from the turn-off. I don't know why, but it is always good for the wairua to look up at tumbling water.
We returned to the Frank Worsley Track and began the steep climb upwards towards the ridge. It was mostly on farmland now - not much shade and the air was muggy - a balmy 21 degrees. I slowed down to snails pace - probably the result of several weeks of winter coughs and colds. Not fit!! My lungs were struggling. We chatted to a cow and then stopped for a break, sheltering under a scrubby matagouri. Nicole kindly shared her frooze balls.
With renewed energy - kind of - we plodded on up the hill. At some point, just under Brasenose bluffs, we gained the ridge and were overtaken by a guy who was zipping along at top speed. He paused to chat for a few minutes - he works for the council and it turns out he had actually cut the track. He told us that the council owned the two valleys on either side of the ridge and that above us, west of Brasenose is tapu land. According to Kā Huru Manu (Ngāi Tahu Cultural Atlas), the Māori name for these bluffs is Ōteauheke - "The Place of Auheke". But "auheke" has multiple translations and I could not find which was the correct one here.
Two hours from the carpark, we finally reached the stand of pine trees at the top. Macrocarpa I think. From here the trail traverses the contour underneath the trees through the flowering gorse. Very pleasant - like walking through a sea of yellow.
We intersected the Misty Peaks Track and then continued on to Stony Bay Road, taking a short detour up to the Information Board for lunch and a summit selfie. Fabulous views were to be savoured - Stony Bay/Ōpātuti and beyond. An expanse of ocean: Te Moana Nui a Kiwa meeting the sky. We were on the edge of the Hinewai Reserve and we checked out Hugh Wilson's newsletter at the Information Board. Numerous tracks are awaiting us to explore. Ka pai!!
It was time to return to Akaroa. We hooned down the steep and long Stony Bay Road to the township, for coffee and friands in a convivial setting at The Common Cafe & Garden Bar.
Magnets back on, we drove the wiggly piggly windy roads from Akaroa back to Ōtautahi, discussing the delights (and possible addictions) of Instagram. The list includes: cats of the world being nutty; octopi walking across ocean floors; people picking barnacles off whales; owls in all shapes and sizes and, last but not least, the pebble of the day.
