Otago Peninsula Volcano Walk
It dawned cool, crisp and clear in Portobello today with a solid frost on the windscreen of the car to remind us that winter still bites. Portobello School have been studying volcanoes and were taking the short climb to the top of Harbour Cone (Hereweka). The cone is a remnant of the volcano that exploded 10-13 million years ago and created the Otago Harbour. After a short steep climb the spectacular views across the Peninsula and harbour are worth the effort, and the whole area was bathed in bright sunshine. Enjoy the pictures by clicking on them for the viewer.
Papanui Inlet and Victory Beach – Harbour Cone
Hooper’s Inlet, Allans Beach and Mt Charles – Harbour Cone
Main Street Landscaping Project
Members of Portobello Community Incorporated have worked steadily over the last few weekends to get the planting and edging of the main street plot completed, and what a difference! With a donation from the Dunedin Amenities Society for the plants from Ribbonwood Nurseries, a good supply of mulch from John Clearwater Contracting and using the old Portobello Jetty timber for edging, this little project has really tidied up an unused area of the main street of the township. Thanks to all of the team from Portobello Community Inc. especially Paul, Peter, Richard, Wayne and Geoff Sheridan for the use of the truck to cart all of the timber. Well done, let’s do more! Click on pictures below to see in viewer.
View from the Creek
Main street landscaping
Overview from bus shelter
Changes to Hooper’s Inlet Channel
The opening of the Hooper’s Inlet channel by the Dunedin City Council on the 6th of June saw a marked change in the water levels within the inlet. Since the opening work was undertaken the Otago Peninsula has been in the grips of a keen storm front that has swept across from the South Island into the central North Island. Accompanying the storm were high seas and tides and it was worth the chilly walk to see how the channel opening had coped since the original opening.
There has been a marked increase in the width of the channel as the eastern edge has eaten into the existing dunes. This has increased the height of the channel upwards of 3-5 metres in places. Typically of storm periods there was significant debris on the beach which had also been pushed into the inlet. Noticeable too has been the increase in water around the old channel position across the beach, though it was difficult to see whether it had reopened back into the sea. There is still extensive water movement in and out of the channel and visitors should be cautious while visiting the area. Certainly the recent tidal and wind conditions along with the water movement have altered the area and it will be interesting to see how the channel changes once the weather calms down into spring and summer. The pictures taken here were at high tide on Sunday the 23rd July. Click on pictures to view in gallery.
Compare the pictures from the initial opening.
High winds blow loose sand across the beach
The easterly movement into the existing dunes
View from the inlet showing the easterly movement
A large log washed up on the inlet edge
Debris field on the inlet side of the dunes
High tide and strong seas
Riding High to Success
Peninsula teenager Raphael Kammlein-Cutler from Hooper’s Inlet has been confirmed for the New Zealand Downhill mountain biking team to represent NZ at the IUC World championships in South Africa this year. Raphael has also been selected as one of 3 mountain-bikers and 5 other top junior cyclists from other cycling disciplines as a member of an excellence in sport NZ Team Academy programme at the Sport Otago High Performance Centre.
In June, July and August he and fellow junior downhiller, Lawrence Cawte from Rotorua, will be based in Morzine (France) for training and racing IXS Swiss/European cup and world cup races in Europe with the aim to build up for the world championships. Raphael was overall under 19 winner of the Down-Hill Southern Series on the tough Clyde, Signal Hill, Queenstown and Cardrona tracks. He was also the winner of the NZ Open in Christchurch and gained a second place in the second round of the NZ National Cup Downhill series on the exposed and muddy Bluff Hill track.
Raphael has had his share of injuries, with a couple of bad falls in training and a broken hand meant he missed most of the national series. He had only a week to prepare for the Oceania’s in Tasmania where a bad fall brought home the need to do more work on his recovery. Now back into training and supported by former Olympian Kashi Leuchs and Greg Leov at Bike Otago, Raphael has been focussed and determined to show the selectors he can make it in international competition.
Raphael achieved a very pleasing 4th placing in the Junior Elite at the IXS Swiss cup race at Morgins and was fastest NZ junior at the 2013 World Cup race. He’s enjoying a little less pressure and more fun as he and 7 other Kiwis, race in the IXS European cup race in Austria before returning to Morzine. While based in Morzine the team will train, ride and eat down-hill as they prepare to wear the New Zealand jersey at round 3 of the World Cup Downhill in Andorra and the 2013 World Championships at Pietersmaritzburg, South Africa. A great achievement Raphael, we look forward to hearing more from your events with the Kiwi team.
Roading Conditions on the Otago Peninsula
Important Notice
Received today from the Dunedin City Council, Monday 17th June, 11:30 am.
Harington Point Road between Portobello township and Weir Rd has been closed by a large slip. Peninsula bus services to Harrington Point are cancelled. All Peninsula services are now terminating at Portobello township. The closure will be in place all day today, overnight, and into tomorrow. It is unknown at this stage when the road will open as slip material continues to come down.
A detour is being put in place (Allan’s Beach Rd , Shepard’s Rd, Papanui Inlet Rd, Weir Rd) but this detour is not suitable or safe for buses.
Services to Palmerston are cancelled due to highway closure.
Updated from the Dunedin City Council Monday 17th June, 5:00pm
Home bound traffic should take extreme care as darkness comes as there is still significant debris falling onto the road.
- Seaton Rd slip clear
- Highcliff Rd clear
- Harrington Point Road still blocked by slipping
Please take extreme care on all Peninsula Roads.
Updated from Portobello Police Tuesday 18th June, 12.30pm
-
Hatchery Rd closed with slips on the Portobello side of the cattle stop with debris coming down from the cliff and the road has slumped on the seaward side. Contractors are on site.
- Highcliff Road a slump is developing above the Cone-henge property.
Please take extreme care on all Peninsula Roads.
Opening of Hakuiao at Otakou
The opening of the new wharekai building, Hakuiao at Otakou Marae was a milestone day for Te Runaka O Otakou. The blessing and opening of Hakuiao fell on the 173rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi at Otakou, June 13, 1840. The runaka hosted a significant number of people from a wide range of organisations and regions at the powhiri. The generosity of the hosts was also evident in the sumptuous kai served at the table with tuaki (cockles), titi (muttonbird), koura (crayfish) and many other tempting dishes for the large group of manuhiri. With its excellent kitchen, dining and sleeping areas, Hakuiao its something that Te Runaka O Otakou and all Kai Tahu can be justifiably proud. A great achievement, that will serve its people well for many years to come. Kiaora.
Portobello school children look on at the marae
Sumptuous kai in the new Hakuiao dining room
Planting at Harbour Cone
Bring your spade and your energy and help the Save the Otago Peninsula group at a working bee planting native trees and removing broom to help restore the Harbour Cone native forest. This is a great opportunity to visit one of the Otago Peninsula’s great landmarks and for you to make your mark on an important restoration project.
Friday 5th July 10am – 2pm and Saturday 6th July 10am – 2pm.
Meet at Highcliff Road – 300m on the Portobello side of the junction of Highcliff Rd and Sandymount Road. Bring your work gloves, a spade, grubber loppers or a pruning saw along with a drink and something to eat. You’ll need suitable outdoor clothing and footwear for steep and muddy slopes. Energy and enthusiasm a must!
To be able to confirm numbers on the day you can contact Moira Parker at;
Telephone: (03) 4780 214
Email: moiraparker@clear.net.nz
Main Street Landscaping Project
Members of Portobello Community Incorporated began its main street landscaping project on Sunday 9th of July. The landscaping project is being carried out beside the Portobello Hotel and the planting at Portobello Creek. The landscaping will utilise low growing native plants and will be edged with some of the timbers from the old Portobello Jetty.
On Sunday the group took time to clean out the litter and weeds as well as digging and levelling the area in preparation for the edging and planting. This area has been in need of tidying up so that it links the Portobello Creek planting undertaken by Paul Pope of Spiralis Ltd, Save the Otago Peninsula volunteers and the Portobello Bowling Club. The new edging should be installed over the next 2-3 weeks and will be a welcome addition to the look of our main street. Looking forward to seeing this project completed. Click on the images below to view.
Portobello Community 