Trip reports - 12th June - Reefton and environs
West Coast – Reefton Trip. 12th – 17th June.
You know you’re on the West Coast when it's:
* wet wet wet and still raining,
* mud mud mud and stinky
* trees bush trees and forestry
* waterfalls and swollen rivers and creeks.
We saw it all. We were the only ones towing a caravan so traveled on our own. Firstly to Hanmer, where it rained but the hot pools steamy and warm. The others did a tiki tour from Springs Junction, a bit impossible towing a van. The next day to Refton, debatable re weather because of snow warnings, but all good. Great socializing at night for drinks and dinner for those wanting to get together. The first day we explored Waiuta, an old gold mining village. No longer there but still some buildings standing, some of which we used for shelter from the rain. The following day we drove into Big River. Even though we had been there before, it was good to refresh our memories. The third day we explored creeks in the area, some impassable others a great place for a picnic lunch, then into the museum at Black’s Point. We left Friday while others explored for another day… Pike River I believe. In all …. great scenery, challenging tracks, wonderful camaraderie and exploration of an area of our beautiful country.
Ron and Julie in the Prado
Oamaru to Hanmer Springs, Sunday - Chris Thompson.
8.30 left the business park with 5 vehicles. 7 degrees. Dropped to 2deg after Waimate. First stop Ashburton, for a hot cuppa and loo at the gardens. Back on the road and heading to Amberley for lunch. Met the Weirs there, they had travelled ahead to visit their great grandchild in Christchurch. We travelled to Greta Valley where Les had investigated a side trip for us on the way to Hanmer, he had contacted the owner of Limestone Glen Station, Stuart Anderson, we went left onto Etherton Rd, Kaiwara Rd, which was the main track, then St Leonards Rd exiting at Culverden. It was an interesting bush clad area with limestone outcrops, although quite a few gates .The centre section was designated 4wd only and permission was required. Onto Hanmer Springs and meeting up with everyone at the Speights bar for tea. Some of us enjoyed the hot springs even with the rain.
Well done Les, an interesting excursion.
Monday. We were to have 9 vehicles but the bad weather forecast put 2 vehicles off continuing. Left Hanmer about 10 o’clock, sleety snow on summit of Lewis Pass, steady drizzle, we counted 4 vehicles off the road with one obviously the result of a fresh slip from the hillside right on a corner. The road crew were heading towards the site to clear the road. We followed highway 7 at Springs Junction turning onto Palmer road, a quick cuppa stop along the way. The bush and trees were forming an almost tunnel, we slowed as we thought there was a horse on the road... No... it’s a stag!! He contemplated us for half a minute then bounded into the bush. The road ended at a locked gate in the Robinson River conservation area. Back along the road, which travelled beside the raging Upper Grey River. Back out onto highway 7 and on to Reefton. Checked into our accommodation. We met up in the Dawson’s Hotel for drinkies and thaw out in front of their effective multi fuel fire. The coal burning fires were a plenty with black smoke belching out of flues everywhere in Reefton.
Tuesday. Off to Waiuta Gold mining town. Waiuta Rd, Blackwater Rd, tree felling was being undertaken in the area and we encountered a lady with all the wet weather gear on, she spoke to us and advised what was going on and advised we would have a 5 minute wait. We arrived at the area of relics and buildings, drizzly rain, but it didn’t put us off, jackets and gumboots on, and exploring we went. Bath House, boilers, site of the bowling green and pavilion, some buildings still standing – a barbers and a cottage or two, the Waiuta Lodge which sleeps 30 is on the site of the old hospital, this can be booked, there is also space which is available for camping and caravans. The mine shaft was well fenced off to prevent any accidents. There was a shelter which was on the site of the Post Office, with information boards and seats so we had a hot drink while reading these. There was a toilet block constructed by DOC also. The structures all had info boards placed in front of them which helped too, the population peaked at over 600 in the mid 1930’s. The mine was known as the Blackwater mine. There is an interesting leaflet that has been published by the friends of Waiuta available at the Reefton Info Centre, the staff were very helpful with us. I would be keen to go back another time and explore fully. We travelled around the roads in Waiuta having a look at the site of the Prohibition mine, and passed the School house where the track petered out & we had to reverse back, we observed one member get a bit close to a sign post, but it took very little effort to rectify. Back down to highway 7 and we travelled up Snowy Rd, an incline tramway came down here from Waiuta to the snowy Battery. Further on was “Old Gold Battery” and the Alexander Gold Mine. It was still raining, after all it is the wet coast, we crossed a bridge where the Alexander river flowed through a chasm – a great photo opp, with one member taking a video to get the full impact of the sound of the flooded river. We travelled on until we found an open area where we could all park up, the rain had eased in time for our lunch. 7 degrees, back to Reefton for a cuppa then met up at the Dawson’s for tea.
Wednesday. Big River, drizzle, 6 degrees, left Reefton at 9.40. out over the bridge and left onto Soldiers RD passed the Merrijigs Hotel site and also signage for old mines. 2 tunnels into the rock just before the signage for the Golden Lead Battery – which is a 1 hour walk. Passed the wreck of a Suzuki down in one of the steep gullies, when we were last in Big River with the club (22-6-2017) it was in better condition, now a rusting relic. Tail end Charlie informed us that a vehicle had caught up with us – DOC heading in to do track maintenance, as there are no pull in areas on the narrow track they had to just follow along at our careful pace. They were a couple of local boys and one of them said that his descendants had been involved with the restoration of the boiler & winching building, which is an impressive red construction. After fording the swollen river we came out beside the cyanide tanks, these were used to dissolve the quartz and 95% of the gold was extracted compared to the old system. On up the track to the Big red building, I’m sure the track wasn’t this rough last time we were here. We made use of the building to have our lunch in it was cold but at least it was dry. After lunch some walked the track up to the reconstructed Poppet head, a very steep almost hands and knees climb at the top. A helicopter was flying about dropping gear for a mining company that was doing exploration in the area. ( Siren Gold Company, an Australian mining company.) Back into vehicles and over the river again, rain a bit heavier now. We progressed on for about half an hour when we came upon a Siren gold vehicle heading in ,back down the road turned right to go up to the lookout above Reefton, the rain had eased off and we had a good view of the town, a good photo opp thanks Shirley! Back into Reefton 4pm. Drinkies at Dawson’s Hotel at 5. Another great day, bumpy though, so I’m having the day off tomorrow. Well done Russ the trips been a success so far, all who have taken part have enjoyed themselves.
Chris Thompson.
Donald Taylor has this to say..
​Thursday 16/6/2022
Waitahu River Track, we got approx. 1km before coming across a slip with rock and trees etc. It was gallantly attacked by Ron Pringle, but after bottoming out on the top of the slip, he tried winching forward with limited success, after much work by Gary and Russell, reverse was successful in getting his Prado onto more even ground. A bit stressful for Julie, no major damage done except for a bit of tyre wear, refer to photos on website to see smoke off the tyres.
Another valley to mining relics was driven - up the Larry’s Creek Valley, but a 4.8km walk to the relics at the end of the 4wd track was left to another day. Lunch and then back to Boatman’s Creek Rd up to Kirwin’s Track. Back to Reefton at 2pm and then up the road to Black’s Point to a museum, where we met Arkright behind his silver cash register rated in pounds, shillings and pence. He must have been vaccinated with gramophone needles as he talked all the time. Unfortunately I recognised quite a few things I used to use, must be getting old. Back to Dawson’s Pub for drinks and tea. Another enjoyable West Coast day of the NO4WD Club’s winter trip.
Friday 17/6/22
First road trip up Mai Mai Road to a coal mine, no admittance. First off Road excursion was into Waipuna Creek where we planned to go up approx. 10km to the Napoleon, but after going 50 metres thru the gate Glen McGregor and his trusty side kick Gary lurched into approx. 800mm of brackish water off a metre high bank followed blindly by Russell Thompson in his Jeep, which almost went beyond the point of no return from right to left. I was sure I saw a small oil leak at the back of the Jeeps transmission, I could see that far under his truck. Now we had 2 vehicles on the river bed and 3 on the bank.
After much digging and grubbing of the riverbank and the guys in the riverbed throwing rocks into the water to build up a ramp, Glen decided to give it a try, not really successful but he did bugger most of the work we had done on the ramp. See photos on web site. It looked like another hour of work, but Gary had a look downstream under the bridge & found a way out onto the road. The ford would have been approx. 75mm deep but it was a downstream ford. Both trucks suffered slight damage some of which was fixed later on the day, See photo of 5 guys with Harry Van der Pauw’s donated truck tow strap, straightening Glenn’s rear protection equipment. After some major exertion we got it to approx. A half mm off perfect.
Lunch was declared after the vehicle recoveries, at the Waipuna River Bridge. After our 50km trip that took approx. 1 ½ hrs. Lunch was had in perfect 13deg sunny weather typical of the West Coast after 3 weeks of no sun in the Reefton area.
After lunch we toured back to Ikamatua and headed for Blackball to the Pike River Mine, again no admittance, but the memorial area was quite something. Very well done. We then headed back towards Reefton, thru some of the best West Coast farming area I have ever seen. Gary had a side trip up Soldiers Rd where we turned off up a rough narrow track which was hard on paint work & mirrors, to a turnaround area. Glenn & Gary carried on for some 2 to 3 km but it got too tight even for the Monsterlux. On the way back down the track it came up on our GPS screen we were actually on a designated walking track!!! Back to Reefton for tea and Ovaltine.
Norm & Neil, I think you made the right decision to bale out, it would have been too rough & the water too deep for you ex Southlanders. The weather only affected our Napolean trip otherwise it was ok. Donald Taylor
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