TRIP REPORT : Otari-Wilton’s Bush

 7 September 2002 :   Otari–Wilton’s Bush

This was a combined trip with Botany students from Victoria University.   The weather was good, and so was the attendance of twenty-nine people.

From the Wilton Bush Road entrance, we went up the valley to near the Troup Picnic Area, then up the True Left of Bledisloe Gorge, to the more gradual valley beyond the bridge over the stream.   Here we saw large pukateas that must be original, many gully tree ferns, and some aged mahoes.   From here we went down the other side of the gorge and turned onto the upper Blue Trail, stopping in the two conifer groves and, in particular, admiring the 800 year old rimu.   Continuing beyond it, the forest becomes quite low and is dominated by kohekohe.   Some of the group diverted to an exit in Karori, while others followed the Lower Blue Trail back to the Troup Picnic Area.

Tony Lawson, who has explored Otari-Wilton’s Bush extensively, provided a species list. John, Barbara and Chris recced the route on 1 September and added some species to the list.   Tony’s list forms a good basis for further searching and, in particular we would welcome assistance with listing the mosses, liverworts and lichens.

Leaders: Dr John Dawson and Prof Phil Garnock-Jones, Victoria University; Barbara Mitcalfe and Chris Horne, BotSoc.

John Dawson