Another trip based on a trip from 100 years ago is a long road walk from the north end of the city to just short of Waitati, and return. The reason this is on the programme is that Elizabeth Tweedie reported in her early Otago Tramping Club diary that this was ‘the best day so far’ (in the context of the first month of OTC trips – (note: the 1923 trip was run as an ‘unofficial’ trip and had 5 members).

The club appear to have had use of a ‘crib’ in Waitati, where long pauses were had on trips such as this (4 hours in this case). The original trip left the Gardens at 9am and arrived at Waitati at 12.10pm. Leaving Waitati at 4.30pm, they arrived at Sullivans Dam at 6.45pm. Leaving the dam at 7pm, they arrived at Duke Street at 8.15pm – all of this sounds like some fast walking.

Now the State Highway is in place, this trip will detour down Donald’s Hill Road and connect with Waitati Valley Road. There are two crossings required of SH1.

As it is not expected that this trip will attract a lot of interest, there is an option for someone to organise a complimentary bike option, this is a circuit the club and club members have completed a few times over the years.