Trip Report - Tuatapere and environs
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Tuatapere and Environs 15/11/22
Manapouri South Arm, Borland area, Lake Monawai, Clifden suspension bridge.
You know you’re in Southland when everything is green, there are sheep galore, native bush, plantations of beech forest and eucalypt trees, flax on the sides of the road and beautiful mountains.
Tuesday morning, in glorious sunshine, we lined up for our first excursion, although others had been on a trip the day before into Lake Houroko.
There were 13 trucks in all, after collecting others from Te Anau and Invercargill and evidently I had been a ‘bit lippy’ the night before, so I was awarded the job of scribe for the trip report!!
From the carpark outside of Tui Base Camp, where most of us stayed, we headed for Clifden, over Wairaki River, full of great fish so we hear, and onto Borland Lodge. A great wee place to stay, occupied by James Hargest school children when we were there and a possibility for another trip??
The Borland Road took us past a cafe in the ‘middle of nowhere’, up to the Saddle at the top, over looking Grebe Valley and onto the South Arm of Lake Manapouri. It was a bit of a pylon city with many pylons carrying wires. There was a discussion about why some were green. Maybe it was to keep some camouflaged, maybe they ran out of grey paint, or was it to keep conversation going?
We were there 3 years ago when many contractors were in the process of painting them, green undercoat and grey top coat, so my pick is that they ran out of paint and the contract will continue! There were spectacular views and on a fantastic day, we could see for miles.
On exploring at the Saddle, where we stopped for morning tea, we saw an amazing transformation of bush, absolutely covered in lichen. While at the South Arm, mountains to the right of us and mountains to the left, some thought it was warm enough for a swim but
others protected their delicate skin from the sand flies!
Back to the Grebe Lookout for lunch, via a walk over the locked bridge that went through to the West Arm of Manapouri. Off limits to us but open to walkers and mountain bikers.
Onto Lake Monawai, that forms part of Te Wahipounamu/ South West New Zealand World Heritage Area, and is one of the South Island’s oldest hydro-electricity generating stations, opened in 1925. It was interesting to see a hovercraft in the car park so we waited around to see if it was to be launched but no, not this time.
Heading back to camp we called into the cafe in ‘the middle of nowhere’ to patronise local business, for an icecream, but alas, no icecreams!! so it was onto the suspension bridge at Clifden and back to camp.
Thanks Norm and Jackie for your planning and leadership and the opportunity for fun, social and, at times, challenging day trips.
Julie and Ron in the White Prado
Day two of Norman and Jackie's trip.
It was a wet rainy day when nine vehicles met on the main street of Tuatapere.
We headed off to Athol 133kms away. Two vehicles met us along the way.
As we drove along Norman imparted his knowledge of the area and the places we passed.
After hitting a large patch of fog, the sun came out just past Mossburn.
We stopped for morning tea at Athol before heading down Eyre Creek Road to go through Eyre Creek Station.
After going through a couple of gates we hit a very slidey wet mud patch just before the third gate.
We had to stop for a couple of minutes to give way to some chicks.
The track was muddy and slidey with large puddles of water.
We reached the spot where Norman drowned his truck last year. Chris tried to get through in the Landy but got stuck and had to be towed out. Everyone else took the safer option round except for Glenn who made it through in his Hilux.
After many river crossings we stopped at Shepherd Creek Hut for lunch.
We then carried on over the river. After a while the river crossings started to get a lot bumper with big rocks and it got too hard to watch where the vehicle in front went while keeping an eye on the vehicle behind so the decision was made to turn around and go back the way we came.
I tried to keep count of the river crossings. There were at least thirty and that was before we turned round and went back over them.
Out of the eleven vehicles that went on the trip, unfortunately one got damaged and had to be towed back to Athol for the AA to take home.
Thank you Norman and Jackie for a very enjoyable trip.
Trip report by Michelle and Greg McFarlane.
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