TRIP REPORT: REEFTON SHINEY

Date: 13th March 2010
Trip leaders: Del & Marie Morgan
Trip report: Hartley Patience

I am doing this trip report as only two club members turned up for Del and Marie’s shiney trip Saturday 13th of March. The other member was Harald, our editor.

Meeting place was at the shops over the road from the Polytechnic at 8:30 am. Yes, I was first there followed by Del then Harald. Another gentleman came along as a day member. We decided to wait until 9:00 am to see if anyone else turned up.
Moved off towards Ikamatua and turned right at the rail crossing on to Atarau road. Travelled along this road until we reached the turnoff to Craigieburn road. Travelled along this road through native bush to our first difficult part of the day. Pass some very large rocks. (Some one had a little bit more difficulty getting through; vehicle wider then the others. Wonder who that was?) Once past our rockhopping we came to a clearing looking down on the Pike river mine coal sorting area. The coal is trucked from there to Ikamatua to be loaded on the rail wagons. Had a good look round.
Turned round headed back along the track; yes rockhopped again. Continued down the track to a T intersection where we turned down to another track that came out on to the Pike River mine road that had been specially built for Pike River mining to truck out the coal.
Followed this road back towards Ataraua road till we came to a track on our right that leads down to the river. This was our lunch stop on the river bed. Name of this river was Big river.

Came out of the river bed headed down the road past the Sub station built for Pike river mining. Turned right on Ataraua road to Shellback road turn off. Continued up this road to the new Friendly Forest Kiwi Creche which was featured on TV recently. Specially designed fence has been built right round the area to keep predators out. Continued further up this road and turn into the next road on our left, this took us through some tall pine trees. Crossed some small creeks. Came out on Moonlight road to the picnic area where we turned off on to Ataraua road road then headed on towards Blackball. We turned off onto a side road that took us to where the gold dredge is working. Managed to drive quite close. Watched the dredge working for a while.
Next stop was the old mine site at the back of Blackball. Had a good look round.

Left Blackball and headed south to the bridge over the Gray River to Stillwater turned right on to the main road and headed north to the turn off to Notown. Follow the road for a few Ks to the Notown cemetery. This were we got a warning from Del and Marie not to venture too far into the bush as there were some hidden mine shafts. Had a good look at the head stones. Del informed us there were over 250 people living there. Had a school, shops, 7 hotels and a full time doctor. Had a cuppa, then headed back to Reefton.

As usual Del and Marie turned a great day out with lots of history of the area.

Date: 14th March 2010

Trip leaders: Del & Marie Morgan
Trip report: Dave Haycock

After overnighting at Mokihinui we motored to Reefton for Del’s "Different day". Arriving early we refueled with diesel and coffee, collected the gold trip refund from the tour operator and were waiting with three other vehicles at the assembly point for our leader and the 9am start.
A few brief words from Del & Marie (hope I pronounced it right) and we were off.

First stop "Bev’s Doll House" (especially arranged for our lady trippers, alas only two this time). Imagine nearly 2,000 dolls of all ages and colours along with prams, pushchairs, clothes etc. displayed in a building the size of 2 double garages. The prize for finding the blow-up doll was not won (she’d flown), with 4 winners finding the Gollywogs.
Next stop, the Information Centre, to catch up on some of Reefton’s history and view maps, photos, topo models, and walk thru the replica "Quartzopolis Gold Mine" etc. etc.

Crossing the river to Rosstown (residents claim Reefton as a suburb because Rosstown was there first), past the collection of classic British vehicles, including Bedford CF vans, a 6 cyl. Ford Trader truck which preceded the D series, BMC 1800’s, and is that a Freeway over there. The oddball of course was the VeeDub Kombi.

Onto the power station, brainchild of one Walter Prince, who convinced the town they needed electricity and also convinced 65 shareholders to subscribe the 7,000 pound required. Generation commenced in 1888, making Reefton the first town in N.Z. and the southern hemisphere to have power. The station was upgraded/rebuilt three times before closing and connecting to the national grid in 1949.
Next stop, Lankey Creer, Crushington and the John Edward (Jack) Lovelock memorial. Jack was born at Crushington in 1910, raised at Timaru, graduated as a medical practitioner, won the gold medal in the mile, at the British Empire Games (now the Commonwealth Games) in London in 1934, and the gold medal in the 1,500m (metric mile) at the Berlin olympics in 1936 with a time of 3min 47.8 secs. He died in New York, then an orthopedic surgeon in 1949, after falling in front of a train.

Now back to Blacks Point Museum for a look around the huge collection of exhibits and good commentary from the knowledgable custodian.
Scones and tea with the Bearded Miners was to follow, slotting in after a tour coach of Americans, but due to their late arrival, we all skipped this and headed quietly for home.

Many thanks, Del and Marie, for a very interesting and different day out.

Mountain Man (again) - so much for trying to keep a low profile!