Offroad-Express

Any of you south Island boys know how/who to see to get to Lochnagar, which is near the Shotover?

Over the Skippers Saddle then the Skippers/Branches Road through to Branches Station. You'd have to talk to James and Georgina Murray at Branches about permission to continue further up towards Lochnagar. Try either 03 441 8421 or 03 442 7835

Now there is a name from the past - back in 1981 I spent 3 months working for the MoW, their hydrology team based in Alexandra. We spent a couple of days doing some survey work up the Shotover and its tributaries, staying the night in the Shearers quarters on Branches Station. One lunch-time we were looking over the helicopter pilots map and spotted LochNagar so we went and had a look, beautiful day, lovely lake hidden in the mountains.

Some great boulders from what I remember.......

i went up there on a school trip 2 years back it awsome up there
the 4wd track is pretty good aswell
rember one of the teachers getting a land cruiser stuck going up there

Couldn't tell you more about how to get there other than you turn off at Branches station on the way to Skippers..

But it is an pretty magical place, coldest/clearest water I've ever been in.

Scanned a few photos of my only visit to Loch Nagar all those years back.

Helicopter at Branches Station


Branches Station from the air


Upper Shotover River above 16 mile Gorge


Loch Nagar






Our Land based transport




Had to scan these photos so quality not as good, but a few memories there. Amazing scenery.

Thanks for the information guys, XJ, great pics

Lochnagar a couple of weeks ago