Tramp Reflections 780a - Te Toto Gorge Historic Walk

30 March 2008

Trampers on the day: Bruce, Sheila, Lynne Ironside, Nick Toppin, Janey Nolan, Brett Robinson, Adrienne van Hellemond and first timers Tracey Yao, Aileen Gablich.

Elizabeth was originally co leader on this trip, having organized it with Bruce some time ago.

It's not often one gets to have a Sunday morning lie in on a tramping day, however because we were not travelling far and the tramp was to be relatively short easy walking, the meeting time was arranged for 8.30 am so we were lucky enough to grab a few extra Zzzzz's!

Comfortably settled in the DOC van, generously organised and driven by Bruce we set off, travelling through Raglan and on to Te Toto Gorge, arriving at the Gorge car park around 9.30 am. Once changed we walked to the Lookout adjacent to the car park, providing excellent views down into the Gorge. Bruce pointed out several areas of interest and also explained that the lower area we were looking at was in fact 3 sunken volcanos. From the lookout we back tracked a little and headed south along the cliff top track.

As we walked Bruce took us through three natural coastal amphitheatres which were once the site of extensive Maori gardens. Remnants of stone rows which would have outlined garden plots can still be seen in places, as well two small pa, storage pits and terraces. He also talked about the history of the land and how ownership had changed hands over the years from Maori, to Crown then Private Ownership and then back to DOC.

There is little recorded tradition about this area but the rather eroded state of the earthworks suggests it was occupied between about 1700 and 1800.

When Polynesian ancestors of Maori settled in New Zealand they brought several plants with them such as kumara, yam and taro. The climate they encountered here was vastly different to that of their tropical homeland and new techniques were developed to improve the yield of crops.

Such techniques included terracing; complex drainage systems; stone rows and mounds; and the modification of soil to improve warmth and fertility. Many of these techniques have left archaeological remains that can still be seen today. We lunched on the cliff top with views across to Gannet Island, sitting (some dozing!) on thick straw like grass. It was very comfortable!

From there we walked further along the coastal track then uphill to the road and back to the carpark, with a detour on the way to visit an area of native bush protected by the Queen Elizabeth 2nd Trust which included a huge and magnificent Karaka tree.

Thank you Bruce, for an excellent and very interesting day. It was enjoyed immensely by all and hopefully we will be able to organize another trip in the not too distant future.

Thanks to Elizabeth for organising the trip, I know you were there with us in spirit!

Sheila

Photographs by unknown (Canon PowerShot SX100 IS).