Late february South Island

[Moriarty]

Hi, South Islanders.

Me and the Siwsan are planning our Southern Escape about now.
The plan is. Head to Hanmer for a wallow and make clean water dirty......
then to CHCH and have free drinks at KP's. Leithfeild's Carl Sanderson's and anybody else silly enough to answer the doorbell.

We want to explore the South Canty to Invercragill with (I hope) a trip to Stewart Island.
Somebody mentioned the Nevis Gorge to me as a nice run?

We did Thompsons Gorge Road a while back. Lovely. We are camping out of the back of the wee ugly truck and staying in motels occasionally for the "facilities" .


any more suggestions?

[rangimotors]

keep us updated, I'm sure we can plan some trips. Could be a good time to organize an ore or kiwi4x4 BBQ for a few beers and a catch up.

[albundy]

Keep us pthe dates posted of the dates cobber, we can do some easy day trips.
Al

[Sadam_Husain]

Take the scenic route to Hamner over the Maungatapu track to Nelson and through Rainbow Station Bob

[skid]

Take the scenic route to Hamner over the Maungatapu track to Nelson and through Rainbow Station Bob

i was reading an old 4wd mag from 2000 that had that track in it

it looked nice and scenic etc etc etc

[Moriarty]

Take the scenic route to Hamner over the Maungatapu track to Nelson and through Rainbow Station Bob

Last trip we did rainbow/St James to St Arnauds, was the highlight of THAT trip.

Marty, can you give specifics of THAT track? like google earth links for start and end points?

[Moriarty]

keep us updated, I'm sure we can plan some trips. Could be a good time to organize an ore or kiwi4x4 BBQ for a few beers and a catch up.

We can make a mess of KP's new shed......... is THAT a plan?

[Sadam_Husain]

Marty, can you give specifics of THAT track? like google earth links for start and end points?

Um... not on dialup I cant, Maungatapu track goes inland from the pelorus river bridge and heads up over the ranges and comes back down up the back of Nelson in the Maitai valley or something like that, when I went over there there was some joker in an old valient just in front of me that got over, its a nice easy trip thats managable in any shiny type 4x4 and no I didnt put you in the shiny 4x4 catagory before you start thinking up some sort of rude reply

The Nelson guys can probably give you better details of the route

[kiwipete]

Could be a good excuse to dust off the BBQ, filter the pool , get the Darts sharpend, level the pool table and heat the Spa.

Did I miss anything Bob?

[Sadam_Husain]

Did I miss anything Bob?

Yep..... fill the beer fridge Pete

[kiwipete]

Did I miss anything Bob?

Yep..... fill the beer fridge Pete

Of all the toys I got, thats the only one I aint allowed. humph!

[Smurf]

Pelorus start on left over pelorus bridge heading from blenheim 41 17'51.90" S 173 34'17.68" E
Nelson End at maitai dam 41 17'25.69" S 173 21'56.15" E

Sadam is pretty much on the mark. Nice easy cruise through from Pelorus. On the Nelson side it has a few steeper descents and can be a bit rutted and muddy but nothing your mighty Ss can't handle. once you get to the maitai dam it is a winding gravel road into town

[skid]

typical google earth

it would have to be in one of those places that google earth has all fuzzy at the moment

aaaaargh

[rangimotors]

keep us updated, I'm sure we can plan some trips. Could be a good time to organize an ore or kiwi4x4 BBQ for a few beers and a catch up.

We can make a mess of KP's new shed......... is THAT a plan?

That is a plan, by the time you do the rounds of all of our places for a few beers and a catch up you'll need a dial a driver
look forward to meeting ya mate, we'll organise something a bit firmer closer to the time.

[Sadam_Husain]

Pelorus start on left over pelorus bridge heading from blenheim 41 17'51.90" S 173 34'17.68" E
Nelson End at maitai dam 41 17'25.69" S 173 21'56.15" E

On the Nelson side it has a few steeper descents and can be a bit rutted and muddy but nothing your mighty Ss can't handle.

[hillfilly]

Pelorus start on left over pelorus bridge heading from blenheim 41 17'51.90" S 173 34'17.68" E
Nelson End at maitai dam 41 17'25.69" S 173 21'56.15" E

On the Nelson side it has a few steeper descents and can be a bit rutted and muddy but nothing your mighty Ss can't handle.

Just like a Sunday drive
Only a couple of steps to view the dam too

[Moriarty]

Thanks, Marty, as IF I would make rude comments, Maaaaate!! you do me a mis-juctice.

Dial-up hehehehehe yeah I HADN'T forgotten THAT, why do you think I asked for Google Earth stuff???

Spoke to my beloved and it seems as if we are booked in for three glorious weeks starting the fifteenth Feb.
Siwsan is a "lists" person, and in the interests of domestic peace and harmony, I pay lip service to her fetish.
Therefore, I am instructed to build some sort of itinerant itinerary.....

Without dates, so far
This track/Road of previous discussion and wend our way back to...
St Arnauds, to Visit a fancy tourist hut at mate sez its got deer heads that are the stuff of legend from the early years of NZ hunting, them ones we saw in books and that fired our youthful blood and made us go hunting for the next 40 fkn years!!!
THEN, St James Station / Rainbow Road AGAIN, to Hanmer because we HAVE to have another hot wallow...
thence to KP's shed and the BBQ.



Ohhh mentioned our plans to the aforementioned mate of all them years and he was asaying of his desire to come too..... so there MAY be four of us. Hope so...

[skid]

righto uncle bobby

I found the december 04 issue of nz4wd mag

from pelorus over the Maungatapu track, then they went on to the Porika track to Lake Rotoroa, then they went on to the Braeburn track, then over the Maruia Saddle, thru to Frog Flat Junction.

thats what the article said and they did it all in a brand new in 04 prado, so your silly ssangyong thingy should be fine

[Bulletproof]

righto uncle bobby

I found the december 04 issue of nz4wd mag

from pelorus over the Maungatapu track, then they went on to the Porika track to Lake Rotoroa, then they went on to the Braeburn track, then over the Maruia Saddle, thru to Frog Flat Junction.

thats what the article said and they did it all in a brand new in 04 prado, so your silly ssangyong thingy should be fine

All of these tracks are the original roads in and out of Nelson. At times they get rutted but are easy 4 wheeel drive routes.

On the sides of these there are pylon tracks that are more challenging but not too tough.

The nelson club has put up a plaque at the site of the Maungatapu murders thats worth looking at on the way through.

I may be able to arrange a couple of side tracks with good views depending on the fire risk at the time

Cheers Richard

[Moriarty]

Thanks for the kind offer, Richard. I will not risk damage or major stuckedness!! We ARE on holiday, and its more for my darling, as I am showing her our wonderful country a bit at a time!! Getting stuck or broken would ruin HER holiday, I am sure you understand.

We want to get right down south this trip as well. I am taking maybe the 44 and 222 in case we actually get to Stewart Island. May even take the t-bolt to protect us from them rabbits..... I suppose the main idea is to find places we can come back to, and explore more thoroughly as you do.....

I like the look or Pelorous to nelson via the damn, I can see the Transmission towers on Google Earth... so the roads purpose is obvious.

We shall see.

Regards.....
B

[wgtnnewbie]

Thanks for the kind offer, Richard. I will not risk damage or major stuckedness!! We ARE on holiday, and its more for my darling, as I am showing her our wonderful country a bit at a time!! Getting stuck or broken would ruin HER holiday, I am sure you understand.

We want to get right down south this trip as well. I am taking maybe the 44 and 222 in case we actually get to Stewart Island. May even take the t-bolt to protect us from them rabbits..... I suppose the main idea is to find places we can come back to, and explore more thoroughly as you do.....

I like the look or Pelorous to nelson via the damn, I can see the Transmission towers on Google Earth... so the roads purpose is obvious.

We shall see.

Regards.....
B

if you manage to add stewie to the trip let me know and i'll ask my mate where the free shooting blocks are (i think there are only a couple but he'll know better being afrom the island). Plus i recommend the pub for pretty good food and generally great atmosphere.

plus if your heading that way why not do the old dunstan trail.

[skid]

If LARDBE recommends a pub for good food

then you would be best to eat there as he looks like he knows a good feed or two

[Bulletproof]

A friend of mine knows the owners of Totara peak station on the shores of lake Benmore. fabulous camp site and scenery around the shore of lake benmore to the Waitaki valley and Omarama is second to none. On totara Peak you can drive around one paddock all night and blast rabbits until the cows come home. Last time I was there a think they shoot 300 over 3 hours

But it does mean tenting

Cheers Richard

[Moriarty]

A friend of mine knows the owners of Totara peak station on the shores of lake Benmore. fabulous camp site and scenery around the shore of lake benmore to the Waitaki valley and Omarama is second to none. On totara Peak you can drive around one paddock all night and blast rabbits until the cows come home. Last time I was there a think they shoot 300 over 3 hours

But it does mean tenting

Cheers Richard

Last time we drove up the old river bed, we had got there by driving the road past the Mackenzie monument...
great fun..... all the way up to the base of the dam, and then back a bit to find a way out'

Stayed at Omarama and on the night of Feb 28th it SNOWED!!! Was as funny as fk, watching the touristas walk around shivering.
Well, they could SEE snow, therfore they must be cold...!! fark.......

for scenery, the drive across Thompson's Gorge road takes a power of beating.

A few years ago, I stayed at Mt Pisa Station and lost count of the dead rabbits very quickly.. shot off 500 rnds in the afternoon, its not often you can get a .22 barrel hot!!

[rangimotors]

Thanks for the kind offer, Richard. I will not risk damage or major stuckedness!! We ARE on holiday, and its more for my darling, as I am showing her our wonderful country a bit at a time!! Getting stuck or broken would ruin HER holiday, I am sure you understand.

We want to get right down south this trip as well. I am taking maybe the 44 and 222 in case we actually get to Stewart Island. May even take the t-bolt to protect us from them rabbits..... I suppose the main idea is to find places we can come back to, and explore more thoroughly as you do.....

I like the look or Pelorous to nelson via the damn, I can see the Transmission towers on Google Earth... so the roads purpose is obvious.

We shall see.

Regards.....
B

About that time each year a few family members and friends get two blocks on stewart island for a few weeks, none of them are doing much hunting these days its really just an excuse to get away do some fishing and diving and chase some small game stuff with the kids. They all stay in one hut and there is usually a spare one on the other block, i'll find out dates if you are interested.

[Moriarty]

Thanks, RangiM, I most certainly am. IF me mate is not totally serious, I am sure this will push him over the edge!!

[rangimotors]

Thanks, RangiM, I most certainly am. IF me mate is not totally serious, I am sure this will push him over the edge!!

I wouldn't promise to much until I get the dates sorted etc I wouldn't like to be the big let down of yuor trip. I'll keep you posted.

[Moriarty]

Thanks, RangiM, I most certainly am. IF me mate is not totally serious, I am sure this will push him over the edge!!

I wouldn't promise to much until I get the dates sorted etc I wouldn't like to be the big let down of yuor trip. I'll keep you posted.

Too late!! Promises have be4en made and accepted. we are now all keen and looking forward to it. Guns are packed, truck is getting new feet, Siwsan has a new Swazi so it's all go.

[ActyonMan]

If you're after a scenic trip not a hard core 4WD trip consider including the road through Molesworth Station.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/features-archive ... h-station/

The Acheron Road through Molesworth Station is generally open to the public from 28 December to 1 April, from 7.00am to 7.00pm but the road may be closed without warning due to weather conditions or fire danger. You should check the road status before setting out; it can be checked 24 hours a day by contacting the DOC South Marlborough Area Office: phone +64 3 572 9100.

It's an easy, shine, drive between Hanmer and Blenheim.

ActyonMan

[Taz]

I think Bob's already dipped his wick in some of the Molesworth. I think he may of even suggested the drive to you a while back! It is a nice drive though. I want to tie it in with a trip up to Kaiteriteri for some tramping next year.