Trip 078 - Head Of Race (Whare Flat)

 

DATE: August 12, 2023
LEADER: Debbie Pettinger (027 473 7932)
TRIP GRADE: E (3-5 hours)
MEET: Woodhaugh, 9am

There have been over 70 trips to the Silverstream valley that mention the water race. The first trip was in 1924, and the meeting place was at the Stuart Street tram (cable car) terminus in Kaikorai Valley. We undertook a trip like this in January as part of 100 Trips and came away in awe of how far our foundation club members tramped in a day.

The water race in the Silverstream was built to supply water to Dunedin City from 1877 and remained in use until the 1960s. What has been left is a network of walking tracks that lead to the top weir at Raingauge Spur.

The Silverstream is often a good destination to visit when the weather elsewhere is poor, given the shelter the valley provides.

This late winter wander is a part loop and will involve a couple of crossings of the Silverstream.