Photograph shows Coronation Hill, Russell Road entrance. Route 3. RUSSELL ROAD TO THE QUARRY ARTS CENTRE OR VISA VERSA. Via the Rust Track and Frank Holman Memorial Track. If coming from the city go up Rust Avenue, across Western Hills Drive to Selwyn Avenue into the Quarry Arts Centre and you will find a lage area on the right (see photographs route 2). At the back left you will find the entrance to the Coronation Reserve. If entering from the Russell Road end, follow the Sub-tropical gardens direction signs and you will find Russell Road at the foot of the Kensington rise up Western Hills Road. The entrance is well signposted, just over rge bridge across the Waiarohia Stream. For the purposes of this portfolio we will be entering at Russell Road and following the 'New' Rust Track (the old one from Western Hills Road is now closed) to the Frank Holman Track, along to the Quarry Arts downhill track, across to the lookout and back to the track, coming out at the Quarry Arts Centre
This sign was erected at the Russell Road entrance to the Coronation Reserve, sometime in September, 2013.
The Russell Road end of the Coronation Reserve.
The Waiarohia Stream runs past the bottom of the reserve and under the traddic bridge to continue down the east side of the highway.
NB. Invasive species thrive on the stream banks. A Pukeko (Swamp Hen) lurks in the grass.
The new Rust track leads into the reserve, a 10 minute walk to the Frank Holman Memorial Track.
The new sters are well constructed. This is the first flight.
Bracken Fern growing at the top of the staircases above Russell Road.
Part of the new flights of steps installed in 2012.
Ferns provide most of the ground cover.
A deep water rut follows down the centre of the track in the steep parts before the ridge.
After the steep rain rutted track it levels out into the upgraded Frank Holman Memorial track through more open fern land.
Erina mucronata, NZ Tree Orchid, flowering in October in the Coronation Reserve. It is growing as an epiphyte on a totara tree.
Silver tree fern.
Tree Fern Grove. Silver Fern, Cyathea dealbata.
The Epiphyte Astelia banksii is hosted by a totara and is also gtowing as a ground plant at the base of a young Tanekaha.
Young silver tree ferns form the undergrowth of the Tanekaha forest.
A cluster of young Tanekaha seedlings.
A juvenile Rimu - Dacrydium cupressinum.
Typical bush on Route 3. Fern with sparse undergrowth.
Fern and Tanekaha bush in a very dry reserve, February, 2013.
February 2013 during the drought when most of these photographs were taken. The bush is very dry.
The metal on clay track from the top of the Rust Track steps on the Route 3 portion of the Frank Holman Memorial track was upgraded in 2012.
Some unique ground cover.
A mixture of ground species.
New spring growth on ground ferns almost knocked out by the drought of 2013.
Another seating or rest area.
Two of Tane's sentinels guard a very dry track in this drought of 2013.
Undergrowth of juvenile Rimu, Lancewood, Fern and Totara.
Fern undergrowth thickens as we approach the intersection.
The intersection - Left down to the lookout and Arts centre. Right through the centre of the reserve via the Frank Holman Track to Kauika Road.
Tanekaha (left) and Totara, side-by-side.
The bush gets thicker on the down track.
An old stump is host to a climbing plant.
Once again let me remind you to follow the waymarkers.
Always tread carefully on down slopes, as loose metal or bush leaves can take your feet from under you in an instant.
One day I will forget to duck and collect this rather large spider's web spead between these two trees which form an archway across the track at about 6ft.
This Silver Fern is host to many epiphytes.
Some fallen trees form a natural barrier on the track.
This old stump has been beautifully sculpured by the weather.
Like a giant prehistoric animal - Another natural archway. To high to do any damage to ones head.
We Go left, onto the lookout track. If you have visited this lookout on your way down from Route three, you may wish to pass at the intersection.
Thw well maintained lookout track.
You step down to the gully and up again to the lookout.
Down in the gully.
Up again to the lookout. A short track from the top of the steps takes you there.
At the top of the steps there is a short track to the clearing.
Asparagus scandens. This invaider is not unatractive.
This climbing fern is Asparagus scandens. It is claiming the bush around the lookout.
A dry summer's day.
An early winter morning view from the lookout. More Photographs are on Route 2.
The clearing at the lookout.
Looking back into the reserve from the lookout clearing.
This invasive Asparagus scandens fern is strangling the native flora.
The view from the track nearing the bottom. As you go down from the lookout track intersection you pass some lower lookout vantage points.
A view north from the steps.
A patch of fern on the bank above the Parataniwha.
Nikau Palms (Rhopalostylis sapida) are a feature of the Coronation Reserve.
Unfortunately invasive plants like gorse are moving into open areas like this lookout area.
Twelve months later we are in a mid-summer drought.
Another patch of fern.
Tanekaha bush.
Dense bush on the lower slopes.
The Arts Centre between the trees.
Looking up Selwyn Avenue from Rust Avenue towards the Quarry Arts Centre at the end of Selwyn Ave.
THE END OF ROUTE 3. I hope you have enjoyed our walk.
In March 2014, Cyclone Luci struck over the weekend of the 14th /16th. Only minor damage was done, in fact it seemed to have a beneficial effect in most cases, in that any rotting or dead branches were brought down safely, while nobody was walking the tracks.