Flagstaff and Swampy Summit (Dunedin)

Nice walk that goes up two of the summits surrounding the city of Dunedin in New Zealand, Flagstaff (668m) and Swampy Summit (739m).

The hike starts at The Bull Ring carpark where there is plenty of space to leave our car. This area seems to be popular during the weekends. We first go up Flagstaff which summit we will reach in a bit more than 1 kilometre. It's a bit steep since it goes up 160m from the parking area.
After a short break to enjoy the views and take some pictures we start descending and then make a left turn to join Rollingsons road. This is a kind of gravel road only accessible to authorized vehicles. It starts at The Bull Ring carpark and it goes all the way up to Swampy Summit. Although the terrain is easy it's worth mentioning a signpost I encountered which stated "THIS TRAMPING TRACK ACROSS RUGGED EXPOSED HILL COUNTRY IS SUBJECT TO SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND IS RECOMMENDED FOR WELL EQUIPPED EXPERIENCED PARTIES ONLY".
I encountered good weather so it was fairly easy to get to Swampy Summit. At the top there is a Doppler VOR, a device to help aeroplanes to stay on course. The views from the top are not that nice apart from seeing the antenna at Mount Cargill.

To return to the carpark there are two options: You can go back the same way as you came, following Rollingsons road all the way back to the carpark. Alternatively, you can continue on Rollingsons road which after a sharp left turn will take you to a junction where you make a left again on Flagstaff-Whare flat road which will take you back to the carpark, closing a lop in this way.
This track takes the first option, going back the same route, since I wasn't completely sure of the second one closing the loop.



Full description and more pictures at Back from Summit: Swampy Summit