Trip 036 - Mt Watkin / Hikaroroa

 

DATE: March 5, 2023
LEADER: Debbie Pettinger (027 473 7932)
TRIP GRADE: Easy (3-5 hrs)
MEET: Woodhaugh, 9am

Mt Watkin is a prominent landmark, being easily identified from the Silver Peaks, State Highway One in various places as well as Karitane. The first OTC trips to Mt Watkin were in 1925, including a Kings Birthday trip on June 3, 1925. That trip caught the 8.40am train to Waikouaiti, and no doubt walked the 10km or so across local roads and farmland to reach the 616m high Mt Watkin.

The area was then visited occasionally up to 1950. It then took until 1981 for Mt Watkin to feature on a club trip programme, Overall, there have only been 25 or so club trips to the area.

The area is now the DCC managed Mt Watkin / Hikaroroa Reserve and is available for public access. The plan for this trip is to get to the top, as well as have a look around the rest of the reserve.