Trip 075 - Outram Glen - Lee Stream
(Taieri River)

 

DATE: July 30, 2023 (Sunday)
LEADER: Laurence Prattley (027 222 9772)
TRIP GRADE: E (3-4 Hours)
MEET: Clubrooms, 9am

The club doesn’t have a record of when the walking track from the popular Outram Glen picnic area to Lee Stream was formed (or whether it was intended to go any further), but trips have been run to the area since the 1950s.

The first appears to have been ‘Taioma - Lee Stream Junction - Outram Bridge’ in 1951, and was sub-titled ‘Exploration’. This may mean the trip comprised of both riverside travel, and pack-floating or swimming when required (something the club has done a few times since).

The area has become synonymous with river crossing practice since 1955, especially as part of the OTMC Bushcraft Course, given it is the closest river of any size close to Dunedin.

River levels have provided a challenge (sometime too high or low), but many a good day has been spent crossing back and forth along this stretch of river.

This is a ‘there and back’ trip, and there is option to cross Lee Stream and bush-bash up to a steepish ridge for a possible view.