Central Otago/Southland 6 day Safari 16-22 January 2010

[albundy]

Good to see Jim, looks like we should have a good crew. Jsy make sure you have your winch controller this time hey
Al

[DA RAM]

Good to see Jim, looks like we should have a good crew. Jsy make sure you have your winch controller this time hey
Al

yeah i will
may need it to winch someone out of a hole

[albundy]

Going thus far:

Me and family: whole trip
Juz: for part of trip
NJV6: for part of trip
Gards: whole trip
Tallsam66 (Trev):whole trip
Petefj40: ?part of trip
BigRedCruiser:?whole trip
Da RAM: whole trip
Engineer (Ryan): part trip

Those with question marks are yet to confrim. Good number. More welomce along should they wish.
Al

[Engineer]

Going thus far:

Me and family: whole trip
Juz: ? for part of trip
NJV6: for part of trip
Gards: whole trip
Tallsam66:whole trip
Petefj40: ?part of trip
BigRedCruiser:?whole trip
Da RAM: whole trip

Those with question marks are yet to confrim. Good number. More welomce along should they wish.
Al

i maybe able to tag along for day or two depending on my shift at the time,itll be through the week id say will find out in a day or 3

Ryan

[juz]

Definatly be there for the weekend part Al, possibly more if I get a better truck!

[albundy]

There's a swb safari with turbo for sale. There is a recent thread.

[juz]

yep, its gone.

[1rugger]

sounds like a great trip. wish i could make it but have no leave left .

[DaveM]

sounds like a great trip. wish i could make it but have no leave left .

Niether do I, but I think I'll just take a few days off unpaid

[DA RAM]

sounds like a great trip. wish i could make it but have no leave left .

ah ya pussy thought you was a starter

[1rugger]

sounds like a great trip. wish i could make it but have no leave left .

ah ya pussy thought you was a starter

would have been but working right through and have 4days off eather side of this trip. would have been keen to stay on and do the tiger trail in the back of skippers again. but heading down couple of times this year so will do a few trips then

[albundy]

Those that are doing only part of the trip, can you give me an indication of where and when you intend to meet up with the group. Getting close now.
Al

[juz]

Ranfurly on the Saturday, currently have no truck but a hole lota $$$$$ burning a hole in my pocket........

[Engineer]

Those that are doing only part of the trip, can you give me an indication of where and when you intend to meet up with the group. Getting close now.
Al

I'll stay in touch with glen, im not working the 18th - 21st so ill meet somewhere at some point in time...

[NJV6]

I have just been up into this area in the weekend with the club and across the old man range. The tracks are very dry and the water holes half full. With this in mind there is still just as much sediment around, it is just more concentrated and if your cooling system is not up to scratch then you will get your vehicle hot. I know some here can vouch for what this track can do.

Even in the dry this is a great trip with awesome views.

[tallsam66]

Grade 2-4, but hey I haven't been down there for three years.
Snorkel advised as some water holes can be deep, AT tyres with good tread minium. Rated tow hooks and your own recovery gear, ie ropes/strops. I've got winch and heavy duty hand winch. Camping trip, will need to carry extra fuel. Family orientated, taking wife, boys and dog. Take some warm clothing as it gets cold even in summer on Old Man Range, one year we got snow. Trucks need to be in good order, it can feel pretty isolated up there on those mountains. No pressure trip, just cruising, enjoying the views, the company and the bush. This would be a good trip for newbies who want to explore a little more.

Saturday 16th: Meet Ranfurly 2pm. Head to Old Dunstan Rd to spend night at Poolburn Reservior.

Sunday 17th: Head to Long Valley Ridge Rd, lunch at Serpentine Church. Possible side trip down to stamper. Continue out to Lake Onslow Rd to bridge Huts rd. Out towards Roxburgh and then onto Alexandra. Spend night in camp.

Monday 18th: head up Old Man Range via Fruitlands to Obliesk. Do circuit to start of Old Woman Range, do staircase. Turn round finish circuit head to Potters. Head down Whitcombe Rd to Piano Flat camp night.

Tuesday 19th: Rest day, stay Piano flat. Hopefully NJV6 will come on board and show us some local tracks as a day trip.

Wednesday 20th: Head to Mavora Lakes. Stay night.

Thursday 21st: day trip to Windburn and Boundary Hut. Stay night at Mavora Lakes.

Friday 22nd: go sepearte ways as I have a week booked in the Catlins for missus and boys and me.

Dudes could keep trip going by heading back towards Queenstown and doing Nevis Valley, Macetown and Skippers.
Any questions fire away.
Al

Questions
1 How much extra fuel do you think we should take...im planning on taking 20L of diesel (this will give me a range of about 600km)....will there be anywhere during the trip to fuel up?

2 Girl friend wants to know will there be toilet facilites at any of the overnight stay locations.

3 Drinking water....is it available at any of the over night locations.

4 Sat 17th....are you meaning we will be staying at the motor camp at Alexandra....if so will we need to book ahead ?

Cheers Trev

[albundy]

Questions
1 How much extra fuel do you think we should take...im planning on taking 20L of diesel (this will give me a range of about 600km)....will there be anywhere during the trip to fuel up?

2 Girl friend wants to know will there be toilet facilites at any of the overnight stay locations.

3 Drinking water....is it available at any of the over night locations.

4 Sat 17th....are you meaning we will be staying at the motor camp at Alexandra....if so will we need to book ahead ?

Cheers Trev

!. That's all I'm doing as well. Feul up in Ranfurly, Alex, Lumsden/Mossburn. You'll have heaps of fuel with the 20l.
2. At Poolburn:no, Alex: yes, Piano Flat: can't remember, but I think yes, mavora Lakes:yes. That's why you carry a shovel, isn't it.
3. Carry 20l of Water. Fill up when you fill up with fuel as well. Mavora Lakes will have water. Poolburn and Pianao flta no. But there is river water for washing dishes etc, just not drinking.
4.Yes, my youngest boy's birthday so family night out for tea, hence why we are staying in civilisation.

[albundy]

Can people coming on this trip ensure they have spark arrestors fitted, including petrol vehicles. I spoke with a mate down that way last night and he says it is really dry up on the ranges. Don't want to be liable for a fire now do we.
Also wife and I are having lunch at danseys Pass Hotel before we meet the group at Ranfurly. Welcome to join us if you are heading down via Dansey's Pass. Should be there about 11ish.
AL

[tallsam66]

Im sure you only need them for petrol & non turbo diesels

[kiwipete]

Im sure you only need them for petrol & non turbo diesels

Doc requirements are for all vehicles.

[albundy]

How's everyones plans for the trip going??? Any extras coming along? Going to be tricky to fit all I need for two adults and two kids in the SWB safari . Figure places for supply top ups will be: Alexander and Lumsden.
Al

[tallsam66]

All going to schedule so far....just got a few small things to sort

Oil change
Clean Pre-cleaner
Replace blown bulb in dash
Try again to water proof myheadlights.
Grease drive shaft
Make some draws to store my stuff.
Figure out how im going to mount my waeco cooler.
buy a new tool box after i ran it over
Buy a metal kitchen strainer ( for spark arrestor)
Make a jerrycan holder to store in on my receiver hitch

So a little to keep me busy over the next week or so

[gards]

oil change done
new deck in truck
ready to rock
cant wait.

[albundy]

buy a new tool box after i ran it over

trying to ramp angles are ya
You won't need to waterproof your headlights, there wion't be anything deep enough by the looks of it.
If I haven't already said, bring a radiator shroud (hessian sack or similar) for going through the mudholes down Whitcombe Rd, they will clog your radiator up real fast and we will have to take it out to clean, shit job in the bush.
Al

[tallsam66]

buy a new tool box after i ran it over

trying to ramp angles are ya
You won't need to waterproof your headlights, there wion't be anything deep enough by the looks of it.
If I haven't already said, bring a radiator shroud (hessian sack or similar) for going through the mudholes down Whitcombe Rd, they will clog your radiator up real fast and we will have to take it out to clean, shit job in the bush.
Al

Only trying to waterproof headlights as im sick of taking them to bits to get the water out there are 2 vent holes in the back of the light so ill be sealing them with silicone then also siliconing around the rubber bulb flange.....always seems to happen after a trip to ashley and water coming over the bonnet.

didnt know about the shroud....ill sort something ASAP.

[albundy]

Only trying to waterproof headlights as im sick of taking them to bits to get the water out there are 2 vent holes in the back of the light so ill be sealing them with silicone then also siliconing around the rubber bulb flange..

Know what ya mean. Terrano had the same problem. I gave up and just drilled in holes in the glass top and bottom, filled and drained.
For the shroud, all you need is something to cover the grill at the front.
Al

[albundy]

For day three (Old man range to piano flat) I have been going through some old trip notes, maps and using google maps to re-find old tracks.
We are going to head up Fruitlands track, some old historic buildings to see on way up, and head to the obliesk and transmitter tower.
Then we are going to do a big circuit north to the staircase up to the old woman range. We will do the staircase because its fun and head back down. Do the back of the loop back south. Along the way there are heaps of old gold mining relics around for us to explore and kids too.
Potters is a must and from there down the Whitcombe Rd.
I am going to google map the top of the Manitoto plain today to look for old tracks across the serpentine.
Looking back at these tracks and maps reminds me that I need to organise an exploring trip probably at gr 5 level as there are heaps of tracks I have stuck my nose into only to turn around as the other vehicles weren't set up, or we never had the gear or other drivers never had the balls. There is a track from Old woman range through to Nevis that is steep, not very wide ( edge of tyres hang over edge of cliff) and you have to reverse up some inclines as you can't turn.
Al

[DA RAM]

gee grade5 now im getting xcited will make sure winch remotes in the truck not sure about the BALLS !but will see if i can find some

[albundy]

We won't be doing those tracks this time Jim. Save them for another trip later in the year.
Al

[Pico42]

For day three (Old man range to piano flat) I have been going through some old trip notes, maps and using google maps to re-find old tracks.
We are going to head up Fruitlands track, some old historic buildings to see on way up, and head to the obliesk and transmitter tower.
Then we are going to do a big circuit north to the staircase up to the old woman range. We will do the staircase because its fun and head back down. Do the back of the loop back south. Along the way there are heaps of old gold mining relics around for us to explore and kids too.
Potters is a must and from there down the Whitcombe Rd.
I am going to google map the top of the Manitoto plain today to look for old tracks across the serpentine.
Looking back at these tracks and maps reminds me that I need to organise an exploring trip probably at gr 5 level as there are heaps of tracks I have stuck my nose into only to turn around as the other vehicles weren't set up, or we never had the gear or other drivers never had the balls. There is a track from Old woman range through to Nevis that is steep, not very wide ( edge of tyres hang over edge of cliff) and you have to reverse up some inclines as you can't turn.
Al

If you haven't done so already, you may need to confirm access permission for some of the Old Woman stuff. I know that when we go up there as a club, we get permission from at least one landowner and also travel south from Duffers Saddle at the behest of DoC, ie they don't like us travelling north up the hill.