Careys Creek
Encyclopedia
Carey's Creek is a small river in Otago
, New Zealand, which flows from the Silverpeaks
into Blueskin Bay
at Evansdale
.
The Māori
name for the Creek is Whaitiripaku.
The Creek drains the forest plantations and native bush of Silverpeaks Forest and the Careys Creek Conservation Area.
privatisation of the New Zealand Forest Service
to become the Careys Creek Conservation Area managed by DOC. The pine plantations passed through other owners and are now run by the Dunedin City Council-owned City Forests Ltd and known as Silverpeaks Forest
During its tenure as a State Forest the valley floor was grazed, and accessible by farm vehicle for the first few km. Now this area is reverting to native bush through a succession of rank pasture grasses, brooms, willows and manuka.
, during Truby King
's period of management, built a water supply pipeline from a dam at the head of the valley, near Semple Road. Rusting bits of pipe are still visible in places.
about 200m north of the township of Evansdale
. Careys Creek Track follows the old farm track to its end at the foot of Rongomai Ridge and becomes progressively rougher as a narrow foot track to the creek's source, ending at a car park on Semple Road. This section probably dates back to the Asylum pipeline construction. Rongomai Ridge Track has a steep climb, continuing as a forestry road to Mountain Road. Honeycomb Ridge Track branches off further up the valley and heads up steep climbs to emerge at a parking area on Mountain Road. At this point, by heading north along Mountain Road, a sign marking the start Rongomai Track can be found.
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
, New Zealand, which flows from the Silverpeaks
Silverpeaks
The Silverpeaks is an area of rough forest and tussock and scrub covered hill country inland and to the northwest of Dunedin, New Zealand...
into Blueskin Bay
Blueskin Bay
Blueskin Bay is an estuary in coastal Otago, about 25 km north of Dunedin.The name also unofficially describes the rural district which includes the northern slopes of Mount Cargill, the southern slopes of the Kilmog, and the townships of Doctors Point, Waitati, Evansdale, Warrington, and...
at Evansdale
Evansdale, New Zealand
Evansdale is a locality on State Highway 1, 25km north of Dunedin, at the north west of Blueskin Bay. It also has lent its name to a cheese producer, and a census-gathering district, which recorded 1,284 people in 2006.-History:...
.
The Māori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name for the Creek is Whaitiripaku.
The Creek drains the forest plantations and native bush of Silverpeaks Forest and the Careys Creek Conservation Area.
Land tenure and management
The Careys Creek catchment was within the former "Silverpeaks State Forest" created from poor-quality grazing land in the 1960s and 1970s. The native bush was separated from the pine plantation during the RogernomicsRogernomics
The term Rogernomics, a portmanteau of "Roger" and "economics", was coined by journalists at the New Zealand Listener by analogy with Reaganomics to describe the economic policies followed by Roger Douglas after his appointment in 1984 as Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government...
privatisation of the New Zealand Forest Service
New Zealand Forest Service
The New Zealand Forest Service was originally established in 1919 as the State Forest Service. The State Forest Service changed its name to the New Zealand Forest Service in 1949 at about the same time that the Forests Act of 1949 passed through Parliament....
to become the Careys Creek Conservation Area managed by DOC. The pine plantations passed through other owners and are now run by the Dunedin City Council-owned City Forests Ltd and known as Silverpeaks Forest
During its tenure as a State Forest the valley floor was grazed, and accessible by farm vehicle for the first few km. Now this area is reverting to native bush through a succession of rank pasture grasses, brooms, willows and manuka.
History
The Seacliff Lunatic AsylumSeacliff Lunatic Asylum
Seacliff Lunatic Asylum was a psychiatric hospital in Seacliff, New Zealand. When built in the late 19th century, it was the largest building in the country, noted for its scale and extravagant architecture...
, during Truby King
Truby King
thumb|Sir Frederic Truby KingSir Frederic Truby King CMG , generally known as Truby King, was a New Zealand health reformer and Director of Child Welfare. He is best known as the founder of the Plunket Society....
's period of management, built a water supply pipeline from a dam at the head of the valley, near Semple Road. Rusting bits of pipe are still visible in places.
Recreation
The entrance to the Careys Creek valley system is at a small public picnic area, Evansdale Glen, off State Highway 1State Highway 1 (New Zealand)
State Highway 1 is the longest and most significant road in the New Zealand roading network, running the length of both main islands. It appears on road maps as SH 1 and on road signs as a white number 1 on a red shield, but it has the official designations SH 1N in the North Island, SH 1S in the...
about 200m north of the township of Evansdale
Evansdale, New Zealand
Evansdale is a locality on State Highway 1, 25km north of Dunedin, at the north west of Blueskin Bay. It also has lent its name to a cheese producer, and a census-gathering district, which recorded 1,284 people in 2006.-History:...
. Careys Creek Track follows the old farm track to its end at the foot of Rongomai Ridge and becomes progressively rougher as a narrow foot track to the creek's source, ending at a car park on Semple Road. This section probably dates back to the Asylum pipeline construction. Rongomai Ridge Track has a steep climb, continuing as a forestry road to Mountain Road. Honeycomb Ridge Track branches off further up the valley and heads up steep climbs to emerge at a parking area on Mountain Road. At this point, by heading north along Mountain Road, a sign marking the start Rongomai Track can be found.