Head 2 kilometers (13.6 mi) west of Geraldine and you'll find yourself in Kakahu. Or follow the Pioneer Trail Heritage Signs, to views across the Waitohi Hills, and takes in the historic Kakahu Lime Kiln and the Richard Pearse Memorial, honouring New Zealand's first aviator.
Follow the Pioneer Heritage Trail to Kākahu School
Built in 1884, the school is where the important poet and leading suffragist Jessie Mackay taught Kākahu School from 1887 to 1890. She is recognized as an important poet and a leading suffragette who worked with Kate Sheppard in securing the vote for women in 1893. "No other New Zealand poet has reached her height of vision, or sung with her intensity of feeling" (Anderson 1916). Bullocky Jones' children went to school here. Learn more here: sites.rootsweb/kakahubush
Find 14 headstones in a neglected churchyard cemetery
The church no longer stands at Saint Aidan's Cemetery. Five headstones were placed after 1964 after the church was decommissioned.
From Geraldine drive 15km (nine miles) on SH79 towards Fairlie, go way past Gapes Valley Hall, look for bend in road, turn left onto Halls Rd, a shingle road. At 2km there is the lime kiln, built in 1881 and nature bush walks. Expect fantails. The previous landowner was Ian Morrison, pre 2008. Mr Morrison initiated the covenant before selling the land. Kakahu Bush is 900 acres of protected bush. Carry on across the one lane bridge and turn left at the T intersection and go about about 200ft and look for the green hanging cemetery sign. At the T intersection if you turn right you would pass the old Kakahu Bush School building, it is on the right, and if you carry on in this direction you will pass the Richard Pierce monument and end up passing the Waitohi hall and either come out at Point or cross the Manse bridge and come out at Temuka, just follow the road. Be prepared for typical South Canterbury scenery with winding streams and gravel roads, various crops, valleys, green pasture, sheep, beehives, cabbage trees and limestone exposures and views of the Two Thumb Range. Beautiful anytime of the year. - sites.rootsweb.com/kakahu_cemetery
Kākahu Lime Kiln 1881
Listed New Zealand Historic Place - C1 Pouhere Taonga 3
This kiln could be described as "Norman" in style and built of marble and limestone. Limestone from the top of the hill was run along tram lines to the kiln, where it was put in layers between firewood and burned. The burnt lime was used in buildings and for agriculture. Lime kilns were established in the Kakahu Gorge area and used marble from quarries in the gorge to produce a very high grade burnt lime. Coal mining and brick making were also carried out on the property by early settlers. The kiln is one of the area's oldest industrial relics. Hall Rd near Kakahu, 3km, off State Highway 79 between Geraldine and Fairlie. Access is also possible from Temuka by driving 23km inland via Temuka Waitohi Road, Earl Road, and Kakahu School Road. Learn more: sites.rootsweb/kiln
If you would like to learn more about limestone, this is an intresting read: nzpam.govt.nz/mineral-potential/limestone
See a limestone escarpment 500m 10min walk from the car park. Walk to the road bridge where the track leads across paddocks to the limestone cliffs. There is an impressive limestone escarpment where the base eroded thousands of years ago.
Get the heart rate up on the Kakahu Bush track 8km 3 hour/s return, follow an old wooden tramway and see exotic trees planted around 1900s as part of a plan to establish a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients. This track will lead you up to the Pinnacles Lookout with panoramic views over bush to the coast. Carry on downhill over a small stream before climbing back up to a huge Balancing Rock, back to the lime kiln and car park. This bush is home to the rare long-tailed bat/pekapeka. Learn more: doc.govt.nz/kakahu-bush-tracks
Investigate some impressive limestone features
This area is regarded as being of national importance by geologists and there are some very interesting and unique geological features. These include an impressive limestone escarpment, mushroom rocks and huge rock pinnacles, some of which have rocks balancing on top.
Wander under a podocarp hardwood forest canopy
This is one of the largest remnants of lowland podocarp hardwood forest in Canterbury. The main species include totara, matai, kahikatea, pokaka, mahoe, broadleaf/kāpuka, lemonwood/tarata, lancewood/horoeka and five-finger/whauwhaupaku. There are also significant areas of kanuka shrublands, wetlands and dry rock plant communities.
Sit still and watch the birds
The birds most often seen at Kakahu include: wood pigeon/kererū, bellbird/koriomako, South Island tomtit/miromiro, brown creeper/pīpipi, fantail/pīwakawaka, kingfisher/kotare and pūkeko. Rare long tailed bats/peka peka live in hollow trees and limestone crevices and only emerge at night.
Find evidence of Māori occupation
According to the Doc website, this was a favourite hunting area for Māori and evidence of Māori occupation can be seen, including rock drawings, shelters, ovens and rubbish pits. A chert deposit was used to produce stone tools.
See the remnants of the pioneer timber days
In 1853 saw milling began in the areas and today benched tracks and saw pits are the legacy of this activity.
Raincliff’s wooden country church, walks at Pioneer Park and mountain biking offer plenty for all. It is a small rural community in the Timaru District, New Zealand. It is located north-west of Pleasant Point and east of Fairlie. The Opihi River and Opuha River runs through the area. Popular camping sites include Raincliff Scout Camp, Pioneer Park, and Raincliff Youth Camp
Pioneer Park gifted by local landowners to be enjoyed by the people of South Canterbury and the nation of New Zealand, located down Middle Valley Road, south east of Fairlie, marks the site of Burke's homestead. From Timaru take Highway 8 to Pleasant Point, turn right at the Hotel Corner and follow the AA signposts for the Raincliff Bridge or travel through Totara Valley - turn right (east) just south of Cave onto Cleland Rd through Totara Valley [map] and enjoy magnificent views of the Two Thumb Range and beautiful rolling pastoral sheep farming countryside. Again follow the AA signposts for the Raincliff Bridge and across the Opihi River, and pass the Raincliff Scout Camp and the Raincliff Youth Camp, you will view the quaint St David's Church on land given by Arthur Hope of Raincliff Station, pass the Raincliff Historical Reserve on Middle Valley Rd map with the fenced in Maori rock art under a limestone cliff overhang, drawn by Maori moa hunters more than 600 years ago using black charcoal and red ocher, barley visible in Nov. 2009, due to vandalism, weathering, time and natural processes of lichens growth and flaking, not worth stopping but note the totara tree, broadleaf trees and cabbage trees. 1 km along the road passes the poplar-lined driveway of Raincliff Station and continue on Middle Valley Road to the gates of Pioneer Park. photos A better spot to view Maori rock art is along the Kurow-Duntroon Rd. Tracks about Geraldine