Date/Time
Date(s) - Sat 24 October - Sun 25 October
All Day
Location
Martinborough Square, by the toilets, Martinborough, Wairarapa
Note not the first Saturday of a month.
Stoney Creek block is owned by Greater Wellington with large areas of plantation forest (which will be avoidws). However, it also contains remnant native forest areas and a large area of regenerating scrub which would be interesting to explore. These include areas where black and hard beech are dominant, as well as areas of mānuka and kānuka. There are wetlands and braided river valleys. There are a number of plant species not found elsewhere in the region present in the eastern Wairarapa, so these will be new to many of the group. If it is anything like the nearby Hiwinui forest, it will be interesting and diverse botanically.
Day one will be accessing via the ridge and turbines. Day 2 will be accessing the block from Tuturumuri. The plan is to botanise the forest remnants as the group comes to them.
There are forestry roads throughout the park, but some are no longer driveable so be prepared to walk, and note that the terrain is steep.
Camping Saturday night: The group will camp on Saturday night and a portaloo will be available. Please bring water for drinking and cooking. Bring one breakfast meal, one dinner meal, two lunches, snacks, and hot drinks. It could be cool so a thermos could be a good idea.
What to bring: Footwear needs to provide ankle support and be sturdy enough to cope with stream walking and rough terrain. Bring clothing for all conditions from wet and cold to hot and sunny, including a thermal layer, gloves, beanie, waterproof parka, windproof leggings, sunhat, and sun cream. Bring your hand lens.
Meet: 10am Martinborough public toilets on Memorial Square, then proceed in convoy towards Tuturumuri and the Stoney creek entrance by the turbines.
Transport: If you have a 4wd vehicle you intend to bring please let trip leader Owen Spearpoint know.
Leader: Owen Spearpoint. Mob 027 285 8083 Email owen.spearpoint@gw.govt.nz