Colonial Knob Box

Under the Leafy Trees - Colonial Knob Letterbox, Porirua.

Placed 5th September 2004 - Clues updated 4h January 2005

UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS

DOC have upgraded the track at Colonial Knob, closing an existing track and replacing it with a walk through the Broken Hill Botanical Area. As a result the old instructions are invalid. On the plus side, they have constructed a new bridge so you won't need to get your feet wet while retrieving the box.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS

To find this letterbox you need to go to the Broken Hill Road entrance to the Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve in Porirua.
From the north, take the 'Eastern Porirua, Tawa & Elsdon' turn-off from State Highway One. Go around the round-a-bout towards Porirua City.
From the South take the Porirua turnoff and turn left toward Porirua City.
Cross the bridge and take the first turn left before the round-a-bout. (By Enterprise Motors.) Continue down this road (Kenepuru Drive) about 2km and turn Right into Rahia Street.
Go up Rahia Street and take the first left, about 500m up the hill, into Broken Hill Road. Continue along to the end of the road to the entrance of the Porirua Tip, where you will see a small carpark on the right for Colonial Knob and the Broken Hill Reserve. Park your car here.

Walking route

Follow the "Australis" track for about 5 minutes. You will arrive at a fork in the path at the start of the "Europiea" walk. (When you cross the stream) Go to your right and into the Colonial Knob walk. Walk along for about 100 metres and you will get to another fork where two streams join into one stream. Take the right fork, and walk for another two minutes. Cross a small arched bridge and you will come to a man-made lake (with the inspiring name of "Reservior no.2"). This lake was built as a water supply for the Porirua Hospital before the hospital was connected to town supply. More information about the lakes is available at this link.

After checking out the lake get back on the track (turn right at the end of the bridge) and continue up the track about 100 metres, where there is a smaller track off to the right side running down to the lake.

Walk down this small lake-side track for about 15 steps down and along (careful, it's slippery). Look under the roots of a young tree growing in the enbankment and you will find the Letterbox tucked in with a smattering a leaf coverage.

The box contains a homemade logbook and a homemade stamp (Chaucey's first efforts), along with a stamp pad and a first finders certificate. Please let us know whether you find it or not, and what the condition is of the box.
You can return the same way that you came or return via the first dam, by taking the other path back near the arched bridge and following the signposts back to Broken Hill Road. This way takes about 20 minutes down. You may notice that you don't see a lake. Dam no.1 has collapsed and so the lake has drained away. It also has washed away part of the track so you will need to ford the stream - should be easy to do.
Other things you can do at Colonial Knob Scenic Reserve
At the northern end (closest to the carpark) of the man-made lake there is a small grassy area ideal for having a picnic. On the day we placed the Letterbox there were geese frolicking in the lake and we spotted a Fantail. Bring a rug though as it might be damp.
You can also continue up the no.2 lakeside track for about 10 minutes to a farm road. Going up the road takes you to the summit of Colonial Knob. Or you can go back along the track to the dam and take the secondary track - I recommend this route for going up. It will take about 3 hours up and back.
From the summit in a southerly wind, you can watch jets flying in over Porirua all the way to Wellington Airport. You can also watch ships and yachts in Cook Strait, see Marlborough Sounds and South Island. On a clear day you can see the Kaikoura Range, and every now and then in Winter (when it's clear enough and enough snow has fallen on the mountains) you may be able to see Mt Egmont or Mt Ruapehu! (I haven't managed it yet, but others I know have.)

Michael

Back to clues page

	Follow the "Australis" track for about 5 minutes. You will arrive at a fork in the path at the start of the "Europiea" walk. (When you cross the stream) Go to your right and into the Colonial Knob walk. Walk along for about 100 metres and you will get to another fork where two streams join into one stream. Take the right fork, and walk for another two minutes. Cross a small arched bridge and you will come to a man-made lake (with the inspiring name of "Reservior no.2"). This lake was built as a water supply for the Porirua Hospital before the hospital was connected to town supply. More information about the lakes is available at this link.
	After checking out the lake get back on the track (turn right at the end of the bridge) and continue up the track about 100 metres, where there is a smaller track off to the right side running down to the lake.
	Walk down this small lake-side track for about 15 steps down and along (careful, it's slippery). Look under the roots of a young tree growing in the enbankment and you will find the Letterbox tucked in with a smattering a leaf coverage.