Trip Report #2 - Molesworth safari - Chris and Russell Thompson
Friday 27th November.
9 Vehicles departed Hanmer Springs heading through Jollies Pass which was a challenging start to the trip, good ruts and washouts, this road is no longer being maintained. We stopped at the Acheron Accommodation House where restoration work has been underway since we were there last. In the grounds we observed gooseberries, apple trees and currants, the gooseberries wern’t far from ripe and would have made a good feed.
Travelling through the Molesworth we stopped at Pig Trough Bridge – NZTA built 3 bridges through the area for access to pylons with this one being the only one left standing, although access is blocked as it is no longer safe to use. Vegetation is quite green on the flats with the Rose Hip doing well. We took a side trip into the Severn to Sedgemere track but encountered a gate so we didn’t get far. Back on the main track we stopped by a bridge for a lunch stop.
Travelled on – next stop at Cob Cottage, where some took the Molesworth lookout walk ( 10 minutes). On we go, the dust has been an issue as we are tail end Charlie – cough, cough, gasp!!!
As we travelled down the Awatere Valley we observed a lot of bee hives, and came upon several double cabs and two trucks loaded with hives, - Taylors Honey co, quite a big operation. Back out onto State Highway 1 and into Blenheim. We entered grid lock traffic as it was right on 5 o’clock, they could do with traffic lights instead of the roundabout. We settled into the Blenheim Bridge Camp – formerly the top ten. A quick shower to remove the dust and over the road to the pub for dinner – a great feed, although we discovered that 3 of the group forgot to pay for their meals, no names mentioned – but Greg gave them a hard time about it. As we exited the pub there was a little rain falling, at least it will settle the dust.
A great day thanks Greg & Michelle.
Hanmer Springs weekend, day 2
A beautiful clear morning, 8.30 start. Russell was trip leader for today, we were heading from Blenheim to St Arnaud.
We had a toilet stop at St Arnaud while waiting we had a quick briefing – the sand-flies were very hungry, sunny but only 10 deg.
Russ gave out maps of where we were intending to go. The Porica Track, The Braeburn Track and The Maruia Saddle.
So through St Arnaud and left into the Howard Valley road. We disturbed a Kingfisher trying to catch his breakfast in a stream that we had to ford. After travelling through the Valley we came upon the Porica Track, a bit rough to start with but amazing bush with lush ferns and dense Beech trees. We stopped at an amazingly well maintained cabin for a cuppa. On we went taking stops for photo opportunities (see the photo of Dave & Alison Feary looking down a steep bush clad gully on the web site).
The track was pretty good but the usual pot holes and ruts. Finally the bush started to open up and we caught our first glimpse of Lake Rotoroa, more photos. We stopped at the lake front for lunch just on 12 o’clock. The sand-flies were following us despite a slight breeze, Dave Feary seemed to attract most of them, he must have tasty blood. Spotted a good sized eel in the lake, there were bellbirds, Tui, ducks and swans in the area.
On through the sleepy Lake Rotoroa Village and into The Braeburn Track, which follows pylons. A Weka ran along the side of the track for a bit before diving into the bush. We encountered 2 motorbikes and a cyclist with no helmet, they had to endure our dust. Into the Mangles Valley road and back onto highway 63 and into Murchison, left at the 4 square store heading up the Maruia Valley Road. We came across cows on the move across the road, so we all moooved through quietly!! Pardon the pun.!
Stopped for a photo at the 1923 Horse Terrace Bridge where the Matakitaki River flows through a tight gorge of rocks, fast and deep. (photo on website)
We stopped at Springs Junction for a coffee or an ice cream, when we walked through the door and started asking for ice creams the Asian gentleman panicked and said “ I will have to call my colleague back in... you ALL want ice creams.... oh that’s a lot of ice creams.!! “ at one stage Russell asked him “was he busy during the time the Kaikoura road was closed and all the traffic was going past?” He replied “yes but not as busy as this..”
Back to Hanmer Springs, drinkies at the pub 5.30.
A great day had by all and thanks expressed to Russ for leading an interesting day and Ron Pringle as tail end Charlie.
Sunday 29th November, Hanmer Springs Trip. 9am start.
We met outside the Hot Pools for a briefing with Greg, he advised that Owen Phaup had sorted out a trip for today.
Lake Tennyson, St James area. We headed up Jacks Pass, bad corrugations in places on the lower level of the road.
Onto Top House road, the gorse is growing well here, whole hillsides covered in the yellow flowers, although the valley floor appears to have been sprayed. Stopped at the St James Homestead ( old red buildings and horse drawn wagon photo on the website) where we came upon a cluster of Citroen 2CVs, I bet they rattled a lot on the corrugations, it appeared that they were participating in a rally, ( there were about 20 of them at the Top Ten overnight) they were heading up the road probably to Lake Tennyson. We stopped at Fowler Hutt for a cuppa and toilet stop.
Back on through the Maling Pass, we came to the end of the vehicle road where you could continue if you had a mountain bike, horse or tramping. The St James is a huge conservation park that was purchased by the government in the 1990’s I can remember Helen Clark officially opening the mountain bike track. We stopped here for lunch beside the Waiau River, out came the food and then the insect spray was liberally applied... they love my blood!!
Greg crossed the river on foot to see what he could see, and as he came back over his teenage son delighted in throwing rocks into the water trying to get dad wet!!!
I picked up some ballast for the back of the jeep – nice rocks for the garden, I write the name of the trip and the date on the bottom of each rock so our garden is full with momentous of our trips since 2004.
Pack the truck again and back the way we came. Once out and back on Top House Road, we travelled onto Lake Tennyson where a thankyou was expressed to Greg, Russell and Owen. Greg did a lot of work arranging the trip away for us and it was a great success he even organised great weather too. Great company, great Four Wheel Driving
I want to thank Greg for organising the weekend trip also he did a great job.
Chris Thompson. ( do check out the website photos the views were awesome)
| 
