My Westcoast trip

[Elmo]

It began on friday 2 fed 07

I headed from Chch to Westport, met Nuts at his place to dicuss the next days plans

10am Sat, met with Nuts and Bev for a day of playing in the near by hills.

Headed up the Goat track, which is rock and shail, many technical areas which made it slow going. Bev in her stock standard Terrano was game enough to give it a go, even with road tyres. Good on her I say!!

About 12 we made it to the top of the approx 1km section. Headed to a gravel pit for a bit of a play.



Everyone had a play with banks, and even a small water hole.

After lunch which was had at the old coal bucket area, we headed for the Makley River.

Up hill, down dale, few fords, and a mud hole.

What a view!!

We had a bit of a problem now, as Nuts had packed his alternator full of mud, so it wasnt charging any more. Fortunatly his engine was a non cumpter controlled one, so just simply kept running.

We headed for home.

Got back to Nuts place where we sat down for a few drinks, a few photos, and shit load of talking bullshit!!

All in all, a fantastic weekend!

Thats to Nuts, Bev and friends for the awesome weekend.

I am totally thrilled that I made the effort to go over.

I'll see you again soon!

Ken

More pics here:

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... php&page=1

[DaveM]

Hmm, nuts having alternator problems, would never have seen that coming

Rather annoyed the old hippo wasn't ready, but plan to be there next time.

[Elmo]

After being over the once, Im planning on going at any convienient time. ie once a month hopefully.

Easter will be the next long weekend I think, so plan for a big weekend over there then!

[nuts]

aternater all fixd ..... stongly sugest that if u do have alternater probs with water and mud look @ using E.R 44 spray varnish on the internals of your alernater

[Smurf]

Hey guys where does this 'goat track' start? I've been up through Denniston a few times but not seen this spot.
Directions would be great

[nuts]

from waimang up the hill to abt 3/4,s the way up on the seal ... on your right is the track .... it winds arround and up @ the start ... cant miss it
or if u come from mount rochford u will see the playground on the right coming down just b4 u get to the turnoff u will c a pilon with a track to the left .... thats it and if that doesnt help give me a txt or call and ill come show ya if im here

[Smurf]

cheers Nuts, We won't be back over for a while but I'll keep you in mind. Its always a good place for a play

[nuts]

hey im sure u wld do the same if i was in your area as i am on a regular basis

[DieselBoy]

Hey Nuts, is all that area still open up denniston??

When I head down at Easter, i was planning on doing the drill rig tracks.

You know the ones, were you turn of the to the right, just before the Goat Track, and it takes you into the old underground workings where the concrete pads are for the old hoppers. If you carry straight on up, past the mine tunnel, it brings you out on the road up to the repeater station.

You know where i'm talkin bout??

Well, if youleave the main track and cross the stream, it takes you out accross the mountain onto some pretty tricky stuff,but with some seriously awesome views. You been out there before?? Are the tracks still open??

I had heard that they were lookin at being closed

[Baldrick]

The Coast is such a cool playground

Keep an eye out for the Reefton Challenge this year - hosted by the dudes from the Nelson 4 wheel Drive Club. This comp/drive is awesome

[nuts]

the tracks r still open as far as i know ... but they have been up all over denniston with test drilling rigs ... sounds like eventually they r going to mine it all for coal .... sounds like it will b within the nxt 2 yrs .... they have got gates up on some tracks but open most of the time .... will go up nxt wknd & have a closer look and let u know if they r all open and witch gates r where there r a few looking at coming over for easter wknd to do the tracks round wstprt so will do some travelling to check them out he he just an excuse to go play lmao

[DieselBoy]

Yeah, i,m meeting up with the guys that are comin over, and was thiniking of takin em on some of thos tracks if they were keen, as its pretty different country to drive in on that sand stone, think it would go down well

[nuts]

hey diesel we got a big bak yard and motel accross da road so plenty of [places to stay he he
elmo coming to stay here .. who ever can fit lol

[wjw]

That sandstones fun

[privitepiles]

If trucks ready i will be heading over at easter

[Baldrick]

More pics here:

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/modules ... php&page=1

Excellent pics. Certainly looks like fun for the day! (Nice weather too )

[nuts]

hey piles is that a hint to get my ass into gear to get ya truck sorted :pooh :

[fliplip]

Thanks to nuts and Elmo (didn't think guys had so much patience lol ) , this newbie to 4wd's, had a brilliant trip , day full of oops, knocks (poor Duck) and laughter ( son payback will be sweet ), roll on Easter

[privitepiles]

yep faster faster nucking futs

[nuts]

dieselboy was talkin to flag that track has the guts chewed out of it cant get thru now apparently was too dangerous and so they dug trenches thru it

[DieselBoy]

Oh. Do you have emails for those guys?? I used to have their emails on my other laptop untill i spilt rum and coke on it

[fisho]

dieselboy,the track off the airstrip below the goat track was closed by solid energy as part of the rehab conditions on there mining permit. this was the one that went thru the old osullivan west mine . The one across the creek that you mentioned is accesable by permit and has a locked gate. permits are available thru either the doc office or the buller 4wd club. the reason this one was closed was because people were not sticking to the track and driving thru some of the wet tussock areas. TRACKS LIKE THE MT FREDERICK TRACK AND MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE STILL OPEN AND HOPEFULLY WILL STAY THIS WAY. I will seeif i can get amap to nts before u come over . cheers.

[Smurf]

dieselboy,the track off the airstrip below the goat track was closed by solid energy as part of the rehab conditions on there mining permit. this was the one that went thru the old osullivan west mine . The one across the creek that you mentioned is accesable by permit and has a locked gate. permits are available thru either the doc office or the buller 4wd club. the reason this one was closed was because people were not sticking to the track and driving thru some of the wet tussock areas. TRACKS LIKE THE MT FREDERICK TRACK AND MOST OF THE OTHERS ARE STILL OPEN AND HOPEFULLY WILL STAY THIS WAY. I will see if i can get amap to nts before u come over . cheers.

Now there is a challenge for someone. post up a map showing all the tracks through/around Denniston. I have been through there a half dozen times in the last few years and it is always after I get home that I hear about another track over there, so I have to keep going back to find them....

[nuts]

Now there is a challenge for someone. post up a map showing all the tracks through/around Denniston. I have been through there a half dozen times in the last few years and it is always after I get home that I hear about another track over there, so I have to keep going back to find them....
u cant spend enuf time up there even living here there is always another track to do

[DieselBoy]

I'll vouch for that, i spent many a four days off following my nose around up there. each time a new track discovered, or at the very least somethin interesting to play on

I progressed onto spending my days off behind greymouth after a year or so, and there's even more stuff out there. Just drop into a creek or river and follow it

Miss that up here

[nuts]

looking 4d 2 easter he he [/quote]