MaCaulay and Godly Valley's McKenzie country

[nicinnz]

Here are some pics of our trip over the weekend, The video is my truck breaking the ice in a creek crossing, mate was driving so was taking it easy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fU0BnL_2QOg

[haydgq]

Its such a magic place in there and i couldnt beleve that Hut the first time i walked into it, Its nicer than some homes eh and the running water is a bonus also.

[red-devil]

i should really pull finger and go and drive in to there,

whats the track like to find in the snow, and how long did it take to drive in

any one have the GPS position for the hut

[DieselBoy]

I went in there about this time last year, by my self

The sky started to look a bit ominous, so we turned back a km or so from the hut as we weren't planning to stay in there due to the up coming weather forcast

I reckon we should organise a ORE mid winter Sth island trip for next year and see what happens. Its magical down there, I bet we would have big turn out!!!!

[nicinnz]

We had 14 vehicles on our trip the weather forecast for the Sunday was great but it turned out to be ok in the end, had to move the vehicles before we went to bed as the brakes were freezing up even with the handbrakes off. Had two vehicles break down on the way out on Sunday, Lada collapsed a wheel bearing, managed to get it back out to Tekapo and a Terrano trans went into limp mode. I stuffed a front rim and munched my gear box cross member due to hitting some rocks under the snow at a great rate of knots. Was a fantastic weekend and in the Godley valley on the Sunday was even more spectacular as there were no other vehicle tracks and we were just pushing through the snow making our own track.

[rangimotors]

how many does the hut sleep? looks like a great trip

[BrentC]

how many does the hut sleep? looks like a great trip

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-stay/backcountry-huts-by-region/canterbury/te-manahuna-twizel-area/macaulay-hut/

Macauley Hut (14 bunks, matresses, stove, firewood provided, water, bath, mountain radio, gas cookers, lighting) is a luxury option for those wanting to stay in the Macauley Valley. It's owned by the McKenzie Alpine Trust and open to the public. Payment is by cash donation (box provided). The bath is outside, and is heated by lighting a fire in the fireplace underneath! The hut is stone-built, with a huge verandah and is by far the most nicest modern hut I've seen. http://tramper.co.nz/?2070

Plus you can sleep about 6 around the seating in the kitchen dinning area - just remember to dampen the fire down - it sounds like a 737 when in full flow


B marks the hut

Google Map
http://maps.google.co.nz/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=&daddr=-43.580437,170.603138&geocode=&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=17&sll=-43.580228,170.603181&sspn=0.005736,0.013937&ie=UTF8&t=h&z=17


couldn't find the AARTs to load the map using gmap

[Jezza]

Did a trip there at Easter, was a little bit of snow but not that much
Its great in there

[pressy]

hi there bro gps -43.580437,170.603138 hurry up and put that hole hand out and i will come down and pull you out with the trusty safari when you get stuck lol

pressy

i should really pull finger and go and drive in to there,

whats the track like to find in the snow, and how long did it take to drive in

any one have the GPS position for the hut

[meece4x4]

*blink blink* are my eyes deceiving me or is there a white VW Baja in the mix??

I know they are good in sand, how well do they go in the snow??

[red-devil]

hi there bro gps -43.580437,170.603138 hurry up and put that hole hand out and i will come down and pull you out with the trusty safari when you get stuck lol

pressy

i should really pull finger and go and drive in to there,

whats the track like to find in the snow, and how long did it take to drive in

any one have the GPS position for the hut

smart ass the vx wont get stuck when lilis in it. so when i have here in the truck we been good,

thinkin about it thou

[nicinnz]

Yes there were two VW Baja's on our trip, they are very capable and only had had a bit of difficulty on the uphill bits, one of the Baja's put chains on on the Sunday to go up the Godly as his rear tyres weren't all that great but the other one did fine without chains.
I was very impressed with them but wouldn't swap my Pajero for one