Old Man Range, old Kaiwarua rd, Macetown

[dangerous]

Next weekend its bit of a road trip for the family... part of the drive will be old man range starting at Mt Benger rd following the southern OMR to potters hut.
then continuing past Hyde rock and into Old man rock.
return back past Mitchells cottage poping out near fruitlands.

So any tips or tricks from anyone here? we will be alone but well set up.

[Smurf]

Camp at Conroys Dam just out of Alexander, we stayed there over Xmas/New Years before heading over Old man range

[Gardengnome]

G'day,

Smurf, myself and 2 other trucks were up there just after xmas.

This is the latest brochure on the DOC site.
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks- ... ochure.pdf

The link in the middle between Hyde rock and Waikaia Rd is now listed as a foot track only, no vehicles. The Map board at the top of Simes Rd does not reflect this and still has it shown as a vehicle track but there is signage at Hyde rock to say no vehicles.

We did see 1 vehicle drive down through, but in the interest of not providing fuel for the 4WD haters we did not drive it and left the same we we entered on Simes Rd,

We climbed over 1700m and had a snow ball fight on Dec 28th!

On a side note the climb up Simes is steep. We had one truck (no trans cooler) with a trans temp light come on.

Very cool spot.

Phil.

[dangerous]

Mate... that looks bloody high, will be up there tomorow

Now also over the next couple a days be going into Macetown and old Kaiwarua rdand out Hakataramea pass... any info there people?
If we have time today might follow the Tekapo river up to the Pukaki river to Twizel

[Smurf]

Mate... that looks bloody high, will be up there tomorow

Now also over the next couple a days be going into Macetown and old Kaiwarua rdand out Hakataramea pass... any info there people?
If we have time today might follow the Tekapo river up to the Pukaki river to Twizel

If you happen near St Bathans consider heading up the Manuherikia Valley up the west branch and then over the Omarama Saddle to Omarama. Awesome views, Cruisy trip, There are 2 huts and a camping area up there

[evolution02]

When we go through Old Kaiwarua Road as a club we ring the Station owner to let him know as it goes right past his main yards and sheds
Owner is Mark Westgarth 03 6892295
Its a nice drive and have found it impassable on one trip due to extreme rain fall
This pic is of where you cross the river twice. What is normally a crossing when you would hardly wet your wheels this was running at hundreds of cumecs

[dangerous]

Farking magic... old man range is bloody high up, droped down from old man rock to a hut in a valley and when I say droped hell, didnt relise it was so stepp till we climed out.
Macetown was magic, shit what miners did to get in there was just darft... bit of everyting getting in, pasangers were shitting themselves at the drop off from the track, me I was watching were the hell I was going.
Dident get to do Kaiwarua was to wet so went through haka and menzies passes