Back into the Harry Todd Reserve, and Further Afield
I began at the same place as last time (bush bash 64), the Harry Todd Track entrance on Hine Road. I followed the same route up the hillside until I reached a sign pointing to Willis Street, where I diverted from my previous walk on Harry Todd Track and followed it for a short distance. It ran along the western side of a gully that I assumed lay behind Willis Grove.
I then left the track and started descending into the gully, wondering how far back in the gully I would emerge once I reached the bottom and the inevitable creek that must run through it. I thought I might need to head upstream if I dropped in too far down the gully.
The western flank was far steeper than I had expected, and the pine trees were huge, and from what I could tell, holding parts of the hillside together. These trees could easily be over 100 years old. Given that the original forest was likely logged in the 1860s or 1870s, these pines may date from not long after that, although I do not know who planted them or exactly when. My guess is the Sinclair Family, but maybe John Wakeham?
Walking through the pine forest on such a steep slope was hard work. Further back, I noticed an area of native bush, so scaled the slope towards it and found the descent from there much easier and more pleasant. I eventually reached the creek and looked upstream, but it seemed too steep and enclosed to be worth exploring. Heading downstream, I found the scenery nice to start with, but in no time it changed. There were no nikau palms or rich native forest like my last walk in this reserve. Instead, the steep sides of the gully were dominated by pine, with only scattered native trees in between. It was not as attractive as true native bush, and the thick carpet of pine needles probably suppress other typical trees like ferns and nikau palms. The slopes were unstable, with many large pines and one Lancewood fallen across the banks and into the creek, making progress difficult. Where the creek flattened out, it offered little relief as those sections were often choked with supplejack.
As I continued, it became clear that this gully was much larger than I had anticipated. From the road at Willis Grove, it looks more like a simple hillside than a deep gully. I began to doubt that I would even come out near Willis Grove at all. I kept going, expecting at some point to cross the Harry Todd Track, which I knew I must reach if my sense of direction was right.
Eventually, I spotted a small footbridge and realised I was back on the Harry Todd Track. I was relieved, as the walk had been tough and the scenery not especially rewarding. I soon came out at the head of Willis Grove and could see why the gully is so easy to miss from the street. It sits mostly hidden behind the hillside, only opening up slightly on the western side.
Overall, I was pleased with the exercise, even though it was hard going, and the temperature was a hot 27 degrees. I felt like a swim, so headed to the Wainuiomata Baths. After a refreshing swim, I felt human again and drove home.
