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TRIP REPORT: KAIKOURA WEEKEND
Date: 30th January 2010
Trip leader: Karl Townsend / Lurch
Trip report: Murray Martin
Photos: Tracey Horan
On Saturday morning 17 vehicles including 2 from Kaikoura assembled at the Peketa Beach Holiday Park Motor Camp, about 5mins south of Kaikoura Township, just on the south side of the airport. All the Nelson club members had arrived at camp on the Friday evening, after a safe trip from Nelson. Lurch had booked all the cabins except 1 for the weekend, only 2 had to stay in tents.
After a briefing on the Saturday morning we were led off by Karl from Kaikoura about 9.30am and we’re also joined by Doug who runs a photo shop at Kaikoura. We headed up the inland Kaikoura Road about 15kilometres to Kahutara River Bridge, where we turned up the northside of the bridge and started driving up the riverbed to where there was a locked gate, which Karl unlocked and we assembled in a grassy area until the gate was locked again.Karl led us up the road until we started climbing up the Seaward Kaikoura Range towards the Clarence Reserve Station, as we were just about to cross the top, we stopped and where we had some magnificent views looking out over Kaikoura. Karl gave us a talk and some history on the area; the road we were driving over was put in over the range in 1967/68 by a chap by the name of Sonny Rush into Quail Flat, the road took a year to put in, and was funded by the owner-at the time Earnie Thomas. After we had our little history lesson we all started driving inland until we had crossed the top where we had a morning tea break, with more lovely views looking towards Clarence Reserve Station. After our cuppa break we continued down the track where we came across a D.O.C. hut where we stopped and looked in and around the hut, called the Warden Hut, it was only completed in 2007, so it was not very old. From here we started the first of our 20 river crossings on our way towards Quail Flat, after the last crossing we came to the Clarence River, which was flowing high and muddy, after crossing a couple of side streams of the Clarence, followed it towards Quail Flat where they were Tb testing about 1000 head of cattle, and there were 2 planes parked in the paddock, they have their own airstrip.
We proceeded up the river until we could find a shady spot for lunch, as the day was very hot, we eventually found some trees that we could get some shade from and about 6 of us parked under the trees (me included) out of the sun. After lunch we followed the track until we came to the Clarence River at the boundary of the Muzzle Station, the river was that high and dirty that the only way across would have been in a very large 4wd tractor. After that stop we followed the track further on where we had views of the valley looking towards Bluff Station which would take you out at Kekerengu if you could get through. After a break there we turned around and headed back to Quail Flat and proceeded to have a look around the old bunkrooms, cookhouse and huts. By this time it was starting to get late in the day, so we decided we had better start heading back.
On our way out we had a slight detour into an old hut called Bluff Dump Hut which was an storage/dropoff point for the pack trains. After this stop we headed back out to the camp at Peketa Beach Camp and arrived about 6.30pm. Back at camp we cleaned up and gathered around the b.b.q., where we had a good sociable evening. For those that didn’t come down you missed a really enjoyable day out.
Cheers
TRIP REPORT: KAIKOURA WEEKEND
Date: 31st January 2010
Trip leader: Karl Townsend / Lurch
Trip report: Karen Russell
Photos: Kay & Graeme
After a good night’s sleep in our wee tent we joined the group gathered around Lurch’s cabin to get instructions for the day. These were brief - turn left out of the gate and find a Burgundy Hilux somewhere along the road. So at about 9.45am 14 trucks took off. We did find Karl, our intrepid and very knowledgeable guide, who soon turned off the main road up a track through rolling grassy hills. Today we were in sheep country as opposed to yesterday’s beautiful chocolate brown cows. The going was easy until we came to a steep incline – the little green Daihatsu in front of us made it look really difficult – Graeme jumped out ......funny how easy it looked once they put it into 4 wheel drive – makes all the difference! Once at the top of this steepish incline and in true 4x4 fashion we made our way down the hill again to rejoin the track some 15 metres or so further along. Karl took us through the paddocks around the hills and out onto Amuri Point which was a beautiful spot overlooking Kaikoura and the coastline. Here he gave us the choice to either clamber down the path (for those game enough) and view the seals at the bottom or stay and enjoy the views up high. Some did venture down but most stayed at the top and were given a spectacular show by a huge pod of dolphins. These intelligent beings were having a party of their own it seemed once the Dolphin Encounter boats had left to fetch more paying spectators.
Karl then led us to an unknown location for lunch. We did ask the name but he wouldn’t disclose it. A very beautiful spot was found after a short walk down the hill. This quickly divided the group into hunter/gatherers and grazers! Some of us were happy to just sit and eat lunch while others (Lex) were far too excited to eat a thing. A good Paua feast was had by all later that night thanks to these hunter/gatherers.
After lunch we followed Karl to a secluded family hut tucked away in the middle of nowhere. Chris was so happy and comfortable sitting on that couch he could have stayed – he’d found his ideal hideaway. There was some confusion ahead as Karl our intrepid guide lost his way for a bit but then he found the hill he wanted us to climb up. He gave the choice that we could go around the road (it did look pretty steep) but we all decided to have a go. Well we thought everyone had but then 3 trucks turned up from the other direction.
We then had a bit of a play in the Hapuku River, crossing it a few times and then following Karl "in my tracks please" around a crop of freshly planted something that someone said was kale, through a Manuka stand where Karl said it was not a good idea to take the shiny blue truck – it did get pretty thick so good advice. Stopped in a clearing for some executive decision making (whether to have chocolate or not?) – or whether to go up river. We proceeded along an easy track, well for most of us, Broughie being the exception, getting hung up in a ditch and having to have a tow out – on a "Family Shiny"!
After that excitement we parked in a clearing and walked through some beautiful ancient native forest to a huge 2000 year old protected Totara tree. We found another native in this forest squatting and digging for worms with a stick in mud in what looked like his shoe! Nearing the end of the day now and Karl led the trucks along a drier river bed into the valley – advising again that the shiny blue truck to be left behind – everyone had fun here with the boulders getting bigger the further into the valley we went. A few were checking the underneath of trucks after. It was now time to go back to the campsite. Everyone had a great day and we were very privileged to have had Karl showing us some of the best spots of his spectacular backyard.
TRIP REPORT: KAIKOURA WEEKEND
Date: 1st February 2010
Trip leader: Karl Townsend / Lurch
Trip report: Kay Gordon
Photos: Kay & Graeme
The third and final day of a totally awesome weekend.
We met up at the Caves Cafe around 10am, a later start, which was good for those feeling a ‘little’ unwell after the night before!!! Lex and Co., and Vince were unable to come today due to commitments back in Nelson, so they headed away home.
Once again Karl met us and was our trip leader for the day. We headed towards the beach, driving through a bit of rough scrub before breaking through onto the sand. A challenging sandbank provided a bit of entertainment and a couple of recoveries. Sav on a tow rope!!!! and not doing the recovery but being recovered!!! (A sight to see). Back out to the main road before turning off again but this time towards the Kowhai River, following its banks along a gravel road. Karl’s commentary was extremely interesting, as this river is very prone to flooding, the last big one being in 1993 which also flooded the main street of Kaikoura!! Apparently Kaikoura has been built in the catchment zone of this river. The length of the river is 25 kms, and when in full flood is known to carry more volume than the mighty Clutha. With the catchment being so short and the fall more than 1100 meters you can imagine the speed that the flood waters would rise.
Driving through a short piece of bush with many Kowhai trees reminded us as to where the river gained its name. It would be really beautiful when in full flower.
We came to a clearing with farm houses and regrouped at the locked gate. A bit of bantering was going on, as one red Hilux had a very nervous passenger, so the group were taking advantage of the opportunity to wind her up. We headed up the steep incline of Mount Fyffe with the promise of rutted steep gradients and a very tight zigzag!! Experienced driving was going to be necessary as we would need to back up some sections as turning would be impossible. Poor Marilyn!!! Karl did indeed back up one section, followed by the ‘red Hilux’, but fortunately the rest of the convoy realized what going on and carried on as usual!!
We continued on in beautiful sunshine with awesome views back down the valley and out over Kaikoura and the coast. We were able to pick out the peninsula where we had spent such a lovely time exploring the day before. Unfortunately when we actually got to the top, 1100metres, there was a cloud layer so we were unable to appreciate the view. A quick lunch stop and a bit of a chat, then back on the road for the downward ride. Once back at the locked gate, we took the opportunity to thank Karl again for a wonderful weekend and headed back to Kaikoura to pump up tyres and gas up, before heading home.
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Past club trips 
