17/18 June    Day 1

Lesson :  how not to commence a Club trip :

Loaded up at the motel and with four occupants on board, discovered that one tyre had more air at the top than the bottom !  Limped to garage, replaced faulty valve and re-inflated tyre.  Then realised that we had left Club Bulletin in Nelson and couldn’t recall the ‘Meeting Place’, - hence our late arrival.  Thankfully, no-one complained, but we did get deservedly lumbered with the trip report.

Del provided a detailed summary of the day’s schedule and stressed that after much rain, and snow in the last 12 hours, conditions would be damp, slippery and cold. As it happened, it didn’t rain all day and for the most part, we were favoured with a weak sun.

12 vehicles drove southwards along SH5 to turn inland just short of Ahaura to initially follow Carters Rd through furtile farmland and later, via Kopara Rd through native forest to eventually arrive at spectacular Kopara Falls.  After a late morning cuppa, made a U turn and paused on the return leg to overlook Ahaura River with extensive views in direction of Lake Hochstetter.  Then it was a detour through more beech forest to visit Jim’s Hut on the banks of the Ahaura River, an area now popular with fishermen and hunters. (Jim is thought to have been an early gold prospector).  With light snow on the ground, picnic chairs and tables were dispensed with in favour of a standing lunch anywhere that the sun could filter through the trees.

Back out on SH5 we returned northwards through Ikamatua and Mawheraiti to turn right just south of Reefton Saddle into a narrow bush track, only to find a fallen tree obstructing the track. Whilst the crews of 4 vehicles attacked the fallen tree, the remaining 8 vehicles continued over the saddle to re-join the original 4 at a junction with Old Saddle Rd. 

From there, via Devils Creek and along to a junction with Soldiers Rd (road to Big River) to then link with Look-Out Rd.  Once again, progress was halted with a tape across the route indicating a likely slip ahead. 

By then it was late afternoon and with temperature rapidly declining everyone was quite happy to call it a day and return to Reefton to enjoy a meal wherever appealed, watch the rugby and stack up some Z ‘s in readiness for Day 2.

Thank you Del for a very interesting and informative commentary throughout the day.  Del and Marie are obviously enjoying life at Reefton and have taken an intense interest in the outback and history of the region.

Eric Sullivan