QUICK TRIP TO OLDMAN RANGE & MACETOWN

[furnace]

Hi Helen and i have just got back from a quick trip to Central Otago...Didn't start off well as we hit a patch of diesel coming down the hill to Whataroa and went over the bank [ lucky only doing about 50kph ] the locals that were following were marvelous [ thanks to a lady who was incredible & to Gary deans ] we got the Jeep turned around in the scrub and winched off Gary's Pajero..out we popped with out to much damage..
Based ourselves at Alexandra...headed up the Old Man Range Tuesday but the old Jeep stopped about a k from the top,glided back down and got checked,a stuffed Crank Sensor,Davies Auto ordered a new one from Ch for Saturday,so we went to Benego and checked out the sites there [ motor was only cutting out when hot ] also went to the Wanaka AMP show [ that was great ]
The sensor turned up late Saturday night & Brendon fitted at 8am Sunday,howz that for a service [ doz of speights ] We headed back up the Range but by this time it was pissing down [ hence not many Jeep photo's Hele told me to get stuffed ..lol..] the track was bloody wet and muddy but not to bad the bogs on Whitecoombe were deep..meet some of the Clutha 4x4 club they were having a ball,great bunch of Guys and ladies,we were up there for about 12 hours dark by the time we got back
Had a couple of goes at getting to Macetown the river was right up,my elbow touching the water when crossing under the pipe line,so pulled the pin and went next day,the river was a lot better but still up to the windscreen under the pipe line.A Really good trip up there nice and easy,the rivers were all down on the way back..We didn't get to the Godley as we run out of time

Note here.. the Southern Oldman range has a gate locked not far after crossing Coal Pit Road..at the second stock yards where there is 2 gates close together..the second gate is locked.i think the farmer got sick of people not sticking to the track..i think you can ring and get the key..not sure though

[curly12]

Davies Auto

Yep baby, this mate of mine and I used to drive over the top of MT greenland to the end and back, many years ago...

[furnace]

More photo's

[furnace]

Still more photo's

[furnace]

STILL A FEW MORE

[furnace]

couple more

[zephyrheaven]

Great pics! Cant wait to get up there one day

Be careful near the tower esp with what kind of alarm / immobiliser you have - can mess with them & leave you stranded in a bad way

Cheers

[furnace]

Great pics! Cant wait to get up there one day

Be careful near the tower esp with what kind of alarm / immobiliser you have - can mess with them & leave you stranded in a bad way

Cheers

Cheers for that..The Old Jeep is pretty basic..lol..

[KIWI_TERRANO]

What access like into those track? Can you do them byburself if u dont have a winch? Bloody awesome photos cant wait to get done there

[callum007]

The snow obviously had all gone up at Obelisk then. It got rather covered 3 weeks ago while we were working near by..
Never heard the one about imobilzers near transmission towers.. its a bugger for us that work on them.. I think you'll find its not true..

What condition was Whitecoombs in?? or did you not go down from potters to Piano flat

[UBZ]

your a damn lucky fulla .
Mt Hercules has some nasty drop offs!!!

great photos , will be Heading that way in a few weeks time.

[furnace]

What access like into those track? Can you do them byburself if u dont have a winch? Bloody awesome photos cant wait to get done there

The access and tracks are good as in the dry a bit tricky in the wet,Oldman Rock & Oldman range are not a problem unless snowing,..i wouldn't do Whitecoombe road alone unless got full recovery gear..you will have a ball
A ps here i would carry a bit of recovery gear though if you are on your own...very definitely a good shovel,maybe hi lift jack,and some to tow [ maybe some one up there ] just to be on the safe side

[furnace]

The snow obviously had all gone up at Obelisk then. It got rather covered 3 weeks ago while we were working near by..
Never heard the one about imobilzers near transmission towers.. its a bugger for us that work on them.. I think you'll find its not true..

What condition was Whitecoombs in?? or did you not go down from potters to Piano flat

I went from potters about 5 k's [ took wrong track it was pissing down and foggy as ..lol..] Everything was boggy as,the bog holes deep,but the track didn't seem to bad..The Jeep is nice a light so was not to bad in the bogs [ had less trouble than when i took the Cruiser last time ]...I turned around and come back so did the bloody bog twice..lol.. i was wanting to do Southern Oldman Range this time..I do carry a lot of good recovery gear as i 4x4 a lot on my own [ i like having a good look around,so do a bit of walking which you cant do in groups i've found ]

[furnace]

your a damn lucky fulla .
Mt Hercules has some nasty drop offs!!!

great photos , will be Heading that way in a few weeks time.

Very lucky,gave us a hell of a fright..the locals told us some one goes off the road in that spot every month ...very smooth tar seal and diesel being the problem...stretched our relation ship for a couple of hours ...lol..

[albundy]

What access like into those track? Can you do them byburself if u dont have a winch? Bloody awesome photos cant wait to get done there

Tracks closed between late march and early october. I have done countless trips around these ranges and the serpentine. Some of the best country ever. You can actually travel from Bannockburn along the Old woman range, old man range and down to piano flat, 4wheeling. you can also get into the Nevis half way along, but trust me it aint for the faint hearted. These main tracks have gotten easier over the years, doc filling in holes etc. The gate has been locked for a few years now. Whitcombe road down to flat was made a heap easier after the rollover deaths several years ago. That used to be straight down, or straight up. Don't think you can do that anymore. It's an awesome mountain range to tackle in snow. There would be heaps of old pics on this site about our trips down there.
AL

[furnace]

What access like into those track? Can you do them byburself if u dont have a winch? Bloody awesome photos cant wait to get done there

Tracks closed between late march and early october. I have done countless trips around these ranges and the serpentine. Some of the best country ever. You can actually travel from Bannockburn along the Old woman range, old man range and down to piano flat, 4wheeling. you can also get into the Nevis half way along, but trust me it aint for the faint hearted. These main tracks have gotten easier over the years, doc filling in holes etc. The gate has been locked for a few years now. Whitcombe road down to flat was made a heap easier after the rollover deaths several years ago. That used to be straight down, or straight up. Don't think you can do that anymore. It's an awesome mountain range to tackle in snow. There would be heaps of old pics on this site about our trips down there.
AL

Depending how deep the snow is..i used to always do late in the season,got stuck once for over 8 hours in the bogs and snow..i had a very capable wagon to,5' lift simexs and ARB lockers..winched using spear tyre,bloody hard work [ have a good ground anchor these days ...lol..] This little trp is only second one i've done in summer, i've be been on these tracks for about 30 years now and yes they are a lot better these days,still think Whitcoombe shouldn't be taken to lightly
Was told by the Clutha club that Doc have closed Oldwoman range
I think you can still go up there till end of may,unless changed very recently

[albundy]

[quote="Was told by the Clutha club that Doc have closed Oldwoman range
I think you can still go up there till end of may,unless changed very recently[/quote]
That's a real shame, knew it would happen one day.

[drive it ...]

Had a nosy along Old Woman at Xmas. You can only go about 6 or 7 k's from Duffers Saddle then theres a gate with no vehicle access sign. -had been hoping to see if we could get across to the Old Man. Couple of trailbikes came over the hill and through the gate just after we turned round. Not locked but usual story -one or two will ignore the sign and next thinng the whole area locked down.

[KIWI_TERRANO]

WouLd anyone be keen for a trip in nov-dec to show me round? That and in jan-feb is about only time i get off when its open? Might start a thread closer to the time

[furnace]

WouLd anyone be keen for a trip in nov-dec to show me round? That and in jan-feb is about only time i get off when its open? Might start a thread closer to the time

If its on my days off i'd been keen for a couple of days [ i work 4 on 4 off ]

[KIWI_TERRANO]

I work a 8n 2 but can make it 4 day weekend or weekdayend haha

[furnace]

I work a 8n 2 but can make it 4 day weekend or weekdayend haha

Just keep in touch on here..work days off closer to the time..lol..