BOTSOC FIELD TRIPS 2008

The following programme is SUBJECT TO CHANGE.   If you wish to go on a field trip, PLEASE help with planning by giving the leader 2 days’ notice before a day trip, MORE notice before weekend trips, and SEVERAL WEEKS’ notice before the New Year’s trip.

Remember the weather can be changeable on field trips.   Sun hat, balaclava, waterproof/windproof parka, may all be used on a day trip.   Recommended trip gear at bottom of page.

Field Trips

Day trips to locations in the Wellington region are usually held on the first Saturday of each month.   Extended excursions are usually held at New Year, first weekend in February and Easter.

2008 Programme

Wednesday 30 January - Friday 8 February 2008:   Summer Camp Field trip – Aotea / Great Barrier Island

GB has volcanic origins.   Its bluffs and ridges bear regenerating kauri forest, and its rolling hills, sweeping white sand beaches, dunes, tidal creeks, and wetlands, provide a wide range of habitats for indigenous flora and fauna.   GB has no possums, deer, wallabies, mustelids, hedgehogs, Norway rats!   Areas we may visit include:
* Hirakimata / Mt Hobson 621 m - endemic Kunzea sinclarii, Olearia allomi, Veronica macrocarpa aff. latisepala.   Fantastic landforms!
* Kaitoke swamp - largest unmodified wetland in Auckland region;
* Whangapoua Estuary - almost unmodified;
* Harataonga coastal walkway;
* Whangaparapara road - Kaiaraara - regenerating coastal forest;
* Other shorter trips;
* QEII National Trust Open Space Covenants.
Maps: NZMS 260 SO8, SO9, TO9.   (GB & Little Barrier, NZMS 259 19798 is out of print).   Brochure: Aotea Great Barrier Island, Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. $2. DOC Visitor Centre, 18-32 Manners St, WN.   Book: Great Barrier Island. Don Armitage 2004. Canterbury University Press. RRP $40.
Further details here.

Saturday 23 February:   Field trip – Druce garden workbee

Help with maintenance of this nationally important garden containing many threatened indigenous plant species established by Tony and Helen Druce over forty years ago.   It is a QEII National Trust Open Space Covenant.
MEET:   from 9.30 a.m. 123 Pinehaven Road, Pinehaven.   Bring food; hot drinks provided.   Bring gloves, kneeler, weeder and secateurs.
LEADER:   Helen Druce, phone 970 7853.

Saturday 1 March:   Field trip – Gracefield Scrub, Wainuiomata

Visit a remnant of swamp that once covered large areas of Wainuiomata.   See Ranunculus macropus, Baumea rubiginosa, Gahnia xanthocarpa and a variety of Carexes.   We will also botanise regenerating bush in the hills above the swamp.   Bring gumboots for the swamp.
MEET:   9 a.m. at the carpark on the east side of Woburn Station.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.35 a.m. train from Wellington Station, 8.30 a.m. train from Upper Hutt Station.
MAP:   Map R27 Wellington.
LEADER:   Chris Hopkins, phone 564 3980.

Friday 21 March – Monday 24 March:   Easter field trip – Western Ruahine Range

Botanise Ngamoko Range, Ruahine Forest Park, and reserves in the Pohangina Valley - possibilities include tussock grasslands, beech and cedar forest, lowland podocarp forest, and even plant communities on road cuttings.
ACCOMMODATION:   Sixtus Lodge, east of Apiti, via Table Flat Rd, and Limestone Rd; $10 pp/night; bring own pillows and bedding.   Pot luck dinners - confer with Chris to ensure we get plenty of variety; bring own breakfast and lunch.
MAPs:   T22 Mangaweka, U22 Ongaonga, T23 Kimbolton, and Parkmap 274-05 Ruahine.   Western Ruahine Forest Park Walks - $2 at DOC Visitor Centre, 18-32 Manners St, WN.   Ruahine Forest Park - walks and tramps, Kathy Ombler 1993.
CO-LEADERS:   Chris Horne, phone 475 7025; Barbara Mitcalfe, phone 475 7149.

Saturday 5 April:   Field trip – Eastern Hutt catchment

Botanise track to Phillips Stream, including wetland, then TL terraces of Eastern Hutt River - matai / northern ratahardwood forest, then TR, and track to saddle - beech / hinau / kamahi forest, with some podocarps and northern rata.   See large patches of Dawsonia superba.   Other possibilities: botanise lower end of Quoin Ridge, or downstream to Western Hutt River.   We will drive to end of 4WD road in Greater Wellington Regional Council vehicles.
MEET:   9 a.m. at Kaitoke Regional Park ranger station, Waterworks Rd, off SH2 at Kaitoke.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 7.35 a.m. train from Wellington to Upper Hutt - ask leader to meet you.
MAP:   S26 Carterton.
LEADER:   Owen Spearpoint, GWRC, phone wk 562 8780, home 562 8780.   Booking essential, numbers strictly limited.

Saturday 10 May:   Field trip – Korokoro - Maungaraki Bush

NOTE CHANGE OF DATE
Explore some of the tracks in this regenerating forest on the Western Hutt hills above Percy Scenic Reserve.   The bush would be a worthy addition to Hutt City’s reserves.   Botanise up to Sugarloaf, down through tall kohekohe forest to George Gee Dr, then in Galbraiths Gully.
MEET:   9 a.m. at pipeline in Akatea Rd, at start of track to Sugarloaf.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.05 a.m. train on Hutt line from Wellington to Petone Station.   Walk up Korokoro Rd to hairpin bend, then up Galbraiths Gully path to Singers Rd, go up it to Maungaraki Rd, then turn right into Akatea Rd - 25 minutes pleasant walk.   Map R27 Wellington and street map.   Korokoro Walks brochure available.
LEADER:   Bev Abbott, phone 475 8468.

Saturday 7 June:   Field trip – East Harbour Regional Park

Botanise Kaitawa Track, Ridge Track, and Ferry Road Track and gully.   See black and hard beech forest, with terrestrial northern rata.
MAP:   R27 Wellington and street map.   Park brochure available.
MEET:   8.45 a.m. at end of Kaitawa Rd, York Bay - limited parking!
TRANSPORT:   Catch no. 83 Eastbourne bus 7.50 a.m. from Courtenay Place, c. 7.59 from north end of Lambton Quay.   Alight at York Bay.
LEADER:   Mick Parsons, phone 972 1148.

Saturday 14 June:   Field trip – Te Marua Bush workbee

NOTE EXTRA FIELD TRIP
Please help BotSoc celebrate Arbor Day week, by planting the new area immediately north of Te Marua Bush.   It was GW Ranger Steve Edwards’ idea to extend the Bush in this way, adding to local, indigenous biodiversity and amenity, with a roadside avenue of totara and matai.   Our planting will be made easier by a post-hole borer which Steve has organised.
In partnership with Greater Wellington, BotSoc has been committed since 1989 to do weed control and revegetation in this important matai / totara / maire remnant in Kaitoke Regional Park.   Our biennial workbees must continue so that we keep ahead of re-invasion by weeds, particularly around the plantings, so please come to help with this important work.   Bring: Lunch and a drink, gloves, kneeler, weed bag, and your favourite weeding tools e.g. trowel, hand fork, loppers, pruning saw, pinch bar.
MEET:   9.30 a.m. at Te Marua Bush (250 m north of Te Marua Store and 50 m off SH2, along the road to Te Marua Lakes, Kaitoke Regional Park), or 9 a.m. Upper Hutt Station carpark.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.05 a.m. train on Hutt line from Wellington Station.   If you plan to use the train to Upper Hutt, please ring the leader to arrange pickup.
MAP:   R26 Paraparaumu, and Upper Hutt street map.
CO-LEADERS:   Glennis Sheppard, phone 526 7450; Sue Millar, phone 526 7440.

Saturday 5 July:   Field trip – Ngaio reserves

Botanise Heke Reserve, Huntleigh Park, and Trelissick Park.   See kohekohe forest in flower, podocarps, kamahi, tall kanuka, hinau and tawa, lianes and ferns; also revegetation plantings.   Beginners especially welcome.   Plant list and park pamphlets will be supplied.
MAP:   R27 Wellington and street map.
MEET:   9.30 a.m. Ngaio Station.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 9.02 a.m. train on Johnsonville line from Wellington Station to Ngaio Station.   Finish at Kaiwharawhara, or if you would like a shorter trip, finish at Crofton Downs Station.
CO-LEADERS:   Barbara Mitcalfe, phone 475 7149; Chris Horne, phone 475 7025.

Saturday 2 August:   Field trip – Pauatahanui Inlet

Botanise this wetland of international significance and see the re-vegetation work being done by Forest and Bird.   Study birds from the specially constructed ‘hides’.
MEET:   Meet 9 a.m. at Pauatahanui Reserve.
TRANSPORT:   Take SH 58 to junction with Paekakariki Hill Rd, then turn into parking area.
CO-LEADERS:   Barry Dent and Sue Freitag 476 6536.

Saturday 6 September:   Field trip – Dry Creek, Belmont Regional Park

Botanise this DOC reserve, which is managed by Greater Wellington Regional Council, as part of the park.   See black beech at its southern limit west of the Wellington Fault, regenerating native forest, and waterfalls.
MAP:   Map R27 Wellington, and street map.
MEET:   9.20 a.m. at Dry Creek entrance car park, Hebden Cres, off SH58 near SH2 lights.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.35 a.m. train on Hutt line from Wellington to Manor Park, then 10 min. walk.
LEADER:   Sheena Hudson ph 389 2270.

Saturday 20 September:   Field trip – Te Marua Bush workbee

In partnership with Greater Wellington, BotSoc has been committed since 1989 to do weed control and revegetation in this important matai / totara / maire remnant in Kaitoke Regional Park.   Our biennial workbees must continue so that we keep ahead of re-invasion by weeds, particularly around the plantings, so please come to help with this important work.   Bring: Lunch and a drink, gloves, kneeler, weed bag, and your favourite weeding tools e.g. trowel, hand fork, loppers, pruning saw, pinch bar.
MEET:   9.30 a.m. at Te Marua Bush (250 m north of Te Marua Store and 50 m off SH2, along the road to Te Marua Lakes, Kaitoke Regional Park), or 9 a.m. Upper Hutt Station carpark.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.05 a.m. train on Hutt line from Wellington Station.   If you plan to use the train to Upper Hutt, please ring the leader to arrange pickup.
MAP:   R26 Paraparaumu, and Upper Hutt street map.
CO-LEADERS:   Glennis Sheppard, phone 526 7450; Sue Millar, phone 526 7440.

Saturday 4 October:   Field trip – Coastal plants of Rocky Bay and Whitireia

Botanise the neglected but important Rocky Bay coastal wetland, then continue round the coast to Whitireia Park.   See the last stand in Titahi Bay of what used to be Hebe elliptica var. crassifolia, now merged into Hebe elliptica.   Further round the coast in the park see Aciphylla squarrosa, Asplenium appendiculatum ssp. maritimum, Carmichaelia australis, Melicytus crassifolius, Carex cf. testacea (“raotest”), Raoulia hookeri var. hookeri and two completely different forms of Pimelea – Pimelea prostrata and P. urvilleana.   Continuing round the coast see Spinifex sericeus, planted Austrofestuca littoralis, Euphorbia glauca, pingao, Arthropodium cirratum and five wetland species.   The planted coastal and wetland species are part of a revegetation project in the park.   After botanising a patch of coastal turf, we return to our vehicles via an original patch of bush, previously botanised by BotSoc, see the Nationally Endangered Leptinella nana, and view old terraces formerly used by Maori to grow kumara and other vegetables.
MEET:   9 a.m. at Rocky Bay carpark on Terrace Road, Titahi Bay.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 8.35 a.m. train on Hutt line from Wellington to Manor Park, then 10 min. walk.
LEADER:   Robyn Smith ph 236 6086 or 027 437 2497.   Phone if you need a map showing how to get there - I will e-mail it to you.

Saturday 1 November:   Field trip – Eastern Hutt catchment

Botanise TR bank from swingbridge at Hutt Forks, either up to Quoin Ridge, or up valley along the track to the saddle.   See podocarp / hardwood forest down to the forks, similar to Kaitoke Regional Park, and up to the saddle, see beech / hardwood forest with some podocarps.
MEET:   9 a.m. at Kaitoke Ranger Station, Waterworks Rd, off SH2 at Kaitoke.   We will drive to end of 4WD road in Greater Wellington Regional Council vehicles.
TRANSPORT:   Catch 7.35 a.m. train from Wellington to Upper Hutt - ask leader to meet you.
MAP:   S26 Carterton.
LEADER:   Owen Spearpoint, GWRC, 526 4133 (w), 562 8780 (h).   Booking essential - numbers strictly limited.

Saturday 6 – Sunday 7 December:   Field trip – Eastern Tararua range

Day 1:   Donnelly Flat, Atiwhakatu Valley: Botanise swamp maire forest, and see mistletoes, hutu etc.
Day 2:   Botanise Gentle Annie Track, via Pig Flat, to Mountain House shelter, a steepish climb, or along Atiwhakatu Track.
MAP:   Tararua Forest Park, or S26 Carterton.
ACCOMMODATION:   Holdsworth Lodge $8-10 / night; $4-6 / campsite.
MEET:   10 a.m. at Holdsworth Lodge 10 a.m.   From Wellington, take SH2 to Clareville, 1 km past Carterton, turn left onto Chester Rd, and left at its junction with Norfolk Rd, which further on becomes Mt Holdsworth Rd.
LEADER:   Tony Silbery 06 372 5620.   Wellington contact: Sunita Singh 387 9955.

Saturday 13 December:   Field trip – Petone rata walk

See northern and southern rata, and other species of the genus Metrosideros, including some in flower, plus native plantings on Petone Esplanade.   A 3 - 4 km walk.   A cafe call after the trip is inevitable.
MEET:   9.15 a.m., Petone Station, Hutt Road, cnr. Jackson St.
TRANSPORT:   Catch no. 83 Eastbourne bus 8.50 a.m. from Courtenay Place, or 8.45 a.m. from Eastbourne, or 9.05 a.m. train on Hutt Line from Wellington Station, or 8.30 a.m. train from Upper Hutt.
LEADERS:   Dave Holey, phone 566 3124; deputy leader: Margaret Aitken, phone 566 2731.

Friday 16 January - Monday 26 January 2009:   Summer Camp – Westport - Karamea

The summer trip of January 2009 will be based in Westport and Karamea.   We will arrive on 16th in Westport, move to Karamea on the 21st and leave Karamea on the 26th of January.
It is being left to individuals to find their way to Westport.   Once there, we can arrange transport to group lodgings and botanical field trip activities from either the town centre or the airport.
Cabin accommodation has been booked for a specified number in both Westport and Karamea.
A range of botanical trips are being planned for both Buller and Karamea and may include:
•   Charleston and Pakihi terraces near Westport
•   Denniston
•   Millerton ecological park
•   Charming creek and Glasgow range
•   The Fenian/Oparara walkway, Karamea
•   Heaphy track to Scotts Beach and beyond.

See August newsletter for further details of arrangements and a registration form to be returned by the 31st October.

Ideas please

We welcome your ideas about:
•   places to visit on field trips
•   topics and speakers for evening meetings
•   information or photographs for BotSoc web site
Please send ideas to our secretary, Barbara Clark, PO Box 10 412, Wellington 6036, ph 233 8202.

ATTENDING FIELD TRIPS

If you intend to join a trip, PLEASE phone the leader at least TWO DAYS beforehand, so that he/she can tell you of any changes and/or particular requirements.   If you cannot ring in advance, you are welcome to join on the day.

Recommended Clothing for field trips

Sun hat, balaclava¹ or hat¹, waterproof / windproof parka, long-sleeved cotton shirt, singlet¹, bushshirt¹, 1 or 2 jerseys¹, waterproof / windproof overtrousers, nylon shorts, longjohns¹, longs¹, underclothes, swimming togs, 4 pr socks¹, hut shoes, boots, gaiters, mittens¹, handkerchief.

Day trip gear

First aid kit, compass², map², insect repellent, whistle, matches in waterproof container, water purification tablets, water bottle, thermos, pocket knife, camera², binoculars², hand lens², note book², pen and pencil², sunblock, sunglasses, large plastic survival bag to line pack.

Overnight trip gear and food

As well as the day trip gear listed above, bring torch, spare bulb and batteries, candle, mug, plate, knife, fork, spoon, small towel, soap, tooth brush, tent, fly, poles and pegs, groundsheet, sleeping mat, sleeping bag, liner and stuff bag.   Bring bread, butter / margarine, biscuits, fresh fruit and scroggin.

SCROGGIN = Sultanas, Chocolate or Carob, Raisins, Orange peel, Glucose³, Ginger, Including Nuts.

¹   = wool, polypropylene or polarfleece as applicable.
²   = optional
³   = dried apricots are recommended instead of glucose but would spoil the acronym!!

BotSoc equipment

In addition to the gas stoves, billies, kitchen utensils, flies etc., used on long field trips, the following are also available:
• first aid kit.   NOTE: anti-histamines NOT included, because of short shelf-life
• ten NZMS 260 Sheet R27, Pt.Q27 maps
• ten Silva Type 3 compasses
If you are leading a BotSoc trip, and would like to take these items, please ring Chris Horne ph 04 475 7025, or Barbara Mitcalfe ph 04 475 7149.

Health and safety

•You are responsible for you own first aid kit.   If you have an allergy or medical condition, please carry your own anti-histamines and medications, tell the trip leader of any problems you may have and how to deal with them.
•You are responsible for keeping with the party.   If you have any doubts about your ability to do this, you must check the trip conditions with the trip leader, who reserves the right to restrict attendance.

Fitness and experience

Our field trips vary considerably in the level of fitness and tramping experience required.   Although our main focus is botanical, our programme sometimes offers trips which, in the pursuit of our botanical aims, are more strenuous than others.   Although leaders take care to minimise risks, everyone participates at their own risk.   If you have any questions about whether you are fit enough for a particular trip, please contact the leader well beforehand.

Transport reimbursement of drivers

We encourage the pooling of cars for trips.
• Passengers: Please pay your share of the running costs to your driver.   We suggest 10c/km/passenger.
    – If a trip on the inter-island ferry is involved, please pay your share of the ferry fare.
    – If you change cars mid-trip, leave a written note for your driver.
• Drivers: Please ensure that you know where you are going, and who is in your car;
    – Zero the odometer at the start, and agree on a return time;
    – Account for all your passengers before you come back;
    – Collect contributions towards transport costs.