Offroad-Express

Hey guys, im after a bit of Info...

Im thinking of running a trip for a few of my mates in rovers(the scouting kind, not the british version) that have some trucks and want to get them muddy

Looking at taking them into Pinnacles track as it looks like its suitable for Shinneys. Who do i need to contact for the key and which hut do you end up at? and any other info about the track/area would be awesome because i havent done the track myself...

Cheers guys

Shrek

I am sure all the detail is in one of those 4wd track books by Ken Sibley. Will look tonight for you.
Al

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/track/pinnacles

yes contact details are in Sibley's book I think

The Pinnacles are worth while seeing. You can get access through Bob Brown at Glenthorne Station. This gives you access to the Avoca and Harper valley's. There is accomadation over the hill at the Avoca on Glenthorne or you can drive up the valley and stay at the DOC hut.

He also has accomadation at the shearing quarters down from the homestead.

If you want to do harder trips , a trip up the Wilberforce is well worth while and also a trip down the Wilberforce to Mt Aligidus and the back along the south Rd to The Rakaia Gorge is a good trip criss crossing the river a few times.

Cheers Richard

Thanks Guys

yea i have heard about that book, must get my hand on a copy....

and thanks Bulletproof, they havent really done any 4wding most of them and pretty Shinney trucks, so ill start with pinnacles but might try that a bit later on....

found the website and looks good, ill give em a call tommorow to book in

Cheers Guys

Shrek

Just after you go out of the wee settlement and cross the river, you can leave most of the vehicles at the locked gate and take one on up the road to the house to get the key and pay (think its about $20ish per vehicle) then come back to that point and proceed through the gate

From there its easy as up to The Retreat (I think that's what they call the accommodation there) We had a Honda CRV in that far. Then the river crossing is rocky but not too bad and then turn right and further along from there there are a few mud holes, choose carefully, best option is the ones with the easiest exit, not necessarily the shortest ones, we had a 100 series and a SR5 hilux had to be pulled back out and then a 90 series Prado went straight through a longer one, the rest is easy. You can cut back straight down the river rather than through the bogs.

If you turn left after river crossing from Retreat you can head a long way up there (nothing too hard, few rocky bits so need reasonable clearance and a slow pace for shineys) and there is a nice and an old hut up there, well worth heading up that way if you have the time.

Good trip for shineys but enjoyable for anyone - great scenery.

fweddy wrote:Just after you go out of the wee settlement and cross the river, you can leave most of the vehicles at the locked gate and take one on up the road to the house to get the key and pay (think its about $20ish per vehicle) then come back to that point and proceed through the gate

From there its easy as up to The Retreat (I think that's what they call the accommodation there) We had a Honda CRV in that far. Then the river crossing is rocky but not too bad and then turn right and further along from there there are a few mud holes, choose carefully, best option is the ones with the easiest exit, not necessarily the shortest ones, we had a 100 series and a SR5 hilux had to be pulled back out and then a 90 series Prado went straight through a longer one, the rest is easy. You can cut back straight down the river rather than through the bogs.

If you turn left after river crossing from Retreat you can head a long way up there (nothing too hard, few rocky bits so need reasonable clearance and a slow pace for shineys) and there is a nice and an old hut up there, well worth heading up that way if you have the time.

Good trip for shineys but enjoyable for anyone - great scenery.

Thanks for the info, how long do you think it would take the shinneys up to the old hut? probably looking at staying the night somewhere and having a cook up.

Is there a track map somewhere or do the land owners have something like that so i dont get too lost?

Cheers

Shrek

Chchshrek wrote:Thanks for the info, how long do you think it would take the shinneys up to the old hut? probably looking at staying the night somewhere and having a cook up.

Is there a track map somewhere or do the land owners have something like that so i dont get too lost?

Cheers

Shrek

if you go to a doc office and get map k34(i think) it has all the main tracks and hut locations on it.

last time i went in there it was about 4hr from chc to basins hut.

Chchshrek wrote:Thanks for the info, how long do you think it would take the shinneys up to the old hut? probably looking at staying the night somewhere and having a cook up.

Is there a track map somewhere or do the land owners have something like that so i dont get too lost?

Cheers

Shrek

Each time we did it was with at least a couple of shineys

We left Rangiora went to the pinnacles and the huts and home in a day, so if you are planning on staying up there it will be no problem.

You can't get too lost, its just a valley so can't take too many wrong turns.

Once you go past the Retreat there are only 2 valley's . Past the camp you work your way across to the Avoca river.

The pinnacles are in the Harper valley to the Right.

To get to Basin Hut cross the Avoca and turn left . There is a 4 Wheel drive track that takes you to a point where you cross the Avoca again and continue up the same side to Basin Hut.

If any one wants a challenge . See how far you can drive up the scree Riverbed to the left.

The drive up the Avoca is easy as long as the river is not up

Cheers Richard

Bob Brown has sold Glenthorne to the English owner of Ryton station, however you still get the key from the same homestead. Check out the amazing main door carved with a Merino on it.

About 1/2 way up the Harper from the pinnacles to where the track ends, you enter what was Craigieburn Forest Park. Now Doc land governed by Arthur's Pass National Park doc guys who are mostly based at the Rangiora Doc office. My bro in law works in all this area for DoC.
In theory you are not sposed to go beyond this 1/2 way point. (there used to be a sign there)
Please do not drive up the river beyond the end of the track to Hamilton Hut. This does not do the 4wd fraternity any favours.

Shineys will love this track as shortly after the Pinnacles their paint will gain a lovely patina from the huge ancient Matagari bushes. They are 4 to 500 years old

Hey there,

Bob Brown has sold Glenthorne to the English owner of Ryton station, however you still get the key from the same homestead.

Yep i have the name of someone else im trying to get hold of at the moment for the key

About 1/2 way up the Harper from the pinnacles to where the track ends, you enter what was Craigieburn Forest Park. Now Doc land governed by Arthur's Pass National Park doc guys who are mostly based at the Rangiora Doc office. My bro in law works in all this area for DoC.
In theory you are not sposed to go beyond this 1/2 way point. (there used to be a sign there)
Please do not drive up the river beyond the end of the track to Hamilton Hut. This does not do the 4wd fraternity any favours.

Thanks for that, looked like the track only goes up half way on the topo map anyway, but good to know before with go up there by mistake.

Was planning on staying up at basins hut anyway, but deffintally want to have a look up at the pinnacles

Cheers

Shrek