Treks.......
All of our horse treks are ridden in an easy style.... (we are not, and never will be a commercial operation )
Treks are planned rides from hut to hut (or tent camp) thru our mountain country of an easy daily distance between 15 to 25 odd kilometres, with days off to enjoy the camp life and cooking over the camp fire and take in the surroundings of the areas visited along the route..
On our treks, my pack and spare horses do run loose with us... some other riding folks have issue with this, if you wish to accompany us great, but this is how we travel......
We are in no rush, and planning each trek to include extra days if the weather turns wet we just stay put in the hut until it passes..
All of our treks are planned and organised carefully, using good quality equipment and our experience to ensure a smooth happy trail
There are many many individual trek reports of travel we have completed throughout the Mountain country in the "On the Trail" section by scrolling down..
Life is for living and enjoying out on the trails....
For those wishing to accompany us on our trek, I would ask that your horse be recently shod, be reasonably fit, and you being able to mount your horse from the ground as a minimum requirement.
I require all riders / persons accompanying us on any treks, to read, understand, and fill out our INDEMNITY RELEASE AGREEMENT form prior to any trek commencement .
Part One.....
Our Proposed treks....
Part Two....
Trail riding Destinations ... ( In conjunction with the "How, Where and Why" Section..)
This section lower down this page is dedicated to helping "new to the trail" riders find and ride trails here in Canterbury, from simple one day rides, thru to easy multi day adventures.....!
Part Three....
Pack tracks of the South Island....
Part One.....
Summer 2016/2017 proposed Trek
Next trek Planned
Ashburton Gorge..... Lake Clearwater, Doggs Range, Potts hut...
Distance... approx 60 kilometres..
Floating the horses up to the Potts river near the Rangitata river, confluence in the late Thursday afternoon, stay the nite in the float..
Next morning saddle the horses, and picking up the walking track from this car park that heads up out of the riverbed and up onto the terrace above this Potts river, we make our way climbing up and around to Mystery Lake, after which we turn up hill and climb to the top of this Doggs range, and out to pick up a hill top track...
Following this west with views out to the Boundary stream on the north side and the greater Rangitata river catchment to the south, we eventually drop down on this northern side to a small lake, passing this and further decent we eventually reach the ruggered Potts river gorge area, and the Potts hut itself...
Its been many many years since my last visit to this historic Musterers hut, so very much looking forward to it...
The next day we saddle up and re follow this track back along the Doggs range and down to the Boundary hut for a third overnight..
Next day down Paddle stream track and across country to Lake Clearwater and the ride then back up the road a short distance to the floats..
Next morning saddle the horses, and picking up the walking track from this car park that heads up out of the riverbed and up onto the terrace above this Potts river, we make our way climbing up and around to Mystery Lake, after which we turn up hill and climb to the top of this Doggs range, and out to pick up a hill top track...
Following this west with views out to the Boundary stream on the north side and the greater Rangitata river catchment to the south, we eventually drop down on this northern side to a small lake, passing this and further decent we eventually reach the ruggered Potts river gorge area, and the Potts hut itself...
Its been many many years since my last visit to this historic Musterers hut, so very much looking forward to it...
The next day we saddle up and re follow this track back along the Doggs range and down to the Boundary hut for a third overnight..
Next day down Paddle stream track and across country to Lake Clearwater and the ride then back up the road a short distance to the floats..
Lake Taylor / Kiwi / Boyle / St James / Glenhope / Round trek...(14 days. mid Nov..)
Distance....Approx 270 kilometres
Floating the horses up to Lake Taylor Station, and spending the first night in their shearers quarters, next morning saddling up the riding and pack horses with our two weeks of supplies, we head out for the short hop up to the actual lake Taylor, then turning left and starting up over the Woolshed range, and down the other side into the South branch of the Hurunui River, and riding up to the beautiful Lake Mason, picking up the horse pack track the skirts this lake then up and over the low saddle at the head of the lake and down the far side to the head of Lake Sumner, stopping at the Lakes Station hut overnight...
Next day, across the head of this lake and picking up the start of the Kiwi pack track that heads up into the bush for the 2.5 hour ride up and around to the head of the Kiwi river, then following this down to the confluence of it and the Hope river where we overnight at the Poplars Stations Museum hut....
Day three, sees up riding down the Hope river and around its little gorge behind the Engineers Camp on the Lewis Pass road for another tent camp at the confluence of the Hope and Doubtful rivers...
Next morning after saddling, we ride up this Hope river to the Boyle Base village, riding under the Lewis Pass road bridge, then continuing up the now Boyle river to just below its gorge, staying a further night at the Magdalen hut...
Day five, sees us riding the rugged little Boyle gorge pack track, then as it opens out into the beautiful upper Boyle river valley,riding to the top end, and picking up the track that assents the Anne saddle, then down into the Anne river and following it down to the old Anne hut site where we tent camp once again....
Day six is a rest day and an ideal place to climb up the terrace behind the camp and hopefully spend time overlooking the herd of wild St James horses that frequent this area...
Next day packing up the camp and loading everything back on the horses for the easy ride down the Anne river, and further down the Henry river, around past the historic Ada outpost, and further on around into the Ada river and up to the Christopher Hut overnight...
Day Eight sees us riding another easy day across and back down the otherside to the Waiau, then crossing it and riding on up and around to Lake Guyon for lunch and finally arriving up at Stanley Vale, for a couple of days off ......
Refreshed, we then load up and head down the Stanley river, around and past the stanley river gates....( a small cannon gorge area ) and picking up the pack track that heads back up hill onto the Racecourse... ( a high mountainside Plateau ), following this to the Southern end where we descend a steep ridge down to the Charlies saddle, and then following a further track up to Scotties Hut over night..
Next day returning up this short section of track and down a further pack track that allows access back into the upper Waiau Gorge, crossing this river and making our way down this very rough , large boulder y river, to pick up the pack track that heads on up to the Tin Jug hut.... after stopping for lunch here, we then rid on down the Waiau gorge track towards GlenHope Station stopping for a further night at their half way hut...
Again saddling the horses our next day sees us following a farm track right down to the Poplars Station where we again cross the Hope river and ride on back up to the Museum hut...
The following day returning over the Kiwi pack track and around past Lake Katrine, and back to the Lake Taylor start point...
So a lovely slice of our New Zealand Mountain country to trek thru, with days off every few days to enjoy some camp cooking and exploring on foot some of the various areas highlights....
This trek is pending upon access to various stations being granted..!
Next day, across the head of this lake and picking up the start of the Kiwi pack track that heads up into the bush for the 2.5 hour ride up and around to the head of the Kiwi river, then following this down to the confluence of it and the Hope river where we overnight at the Poplars Stations Museum hut....
Day three, sees up riding down the Hope river and around its little gorge behind the Engineers Camp on the Lewis Pass road for another tent camp at the confluence of the Hope and Doubtful rivers...
Next morning after saddling, we ride up this Hope river to the Boyle Base village, riding under the Lewis Pass road bridge, then continuing up the now Boyle river to just below its gorge, staying a further night at the Magdalen hut...
Day five, sees us riding the rugged little Boyle gorge pack track, then as it opens out into the beautiful upper Boyle river valley,riding to the top end, and picking up the track that assents the Anne saddle, then down into the Anne river and following it down to the old Anne hut site where we tent camp once again....
Day six is a rest day and an ideal place to climb up the terrace behind the camp and hopefully spend time overlooking the herd of wild St James horses that frequent this area...
Next day packing up the camp and loading everything back on the horses for the easy ride down the Anne river, and further down the Henry river, around past the historic Ada outpost, and further on around into the Ada river and up to the Christopher Hut overnight...
Day Eight sees us riding another easy day across and back down the otherside to the Waiau, then crossing it and riding on up and around to Lake Guyon for lunch and finally arriving up at Stanley Vale, for a couple of days off ......
Refreshed, we then load up and head down the Stanley river, around and past the stanley river gates....( a small cannon gorge area ) and picking up the pack track that heads back up hill onto the Racecourse... ( a high mountainside Plateau ), following this to the Southern end where we descend a steep ridge down to the Charlies saddle, and then following a further track up to Scotties Hut over night..
Next day returning up this short section of track and down a further pack track that allows access back into the upper Waiau Gorge, crossing this river and making our way down this very rough , large boulder y river, to pick up the pack track that heads on up to the Tin Jug hut.... after stopping for lunch here, we then rid on down the Waiau gorge track towards GlenHope Station stopping for a further night at their half way hut...
Again saddling the horses our next day sees us following a farm track right down to the Poplars Station where we again cross the Hope river and ride on back up to the Museum hut...
The following day returning over the Kiwi pack track and around past Lake Katrine, and back to the Lake Taylor start point...
So a lovely slice of our New Zealand Mountain country to trek thru, with days off every few days to enjoy some camp cooking and exploring on foot some of the various areas highlights....
This trek is pending upon access to various stations being granted..!
The beautiful Magdalen Valley
Lake Sumner, looking over towards the Kiwi Pack track area...
Other treks planned
Rakaia round Trek....Turtons Stream, Comyns Hut, Hakatere river / Client saddle / Swin river / Double Hut / Lake Heron Station / Lake Stream / Rakaia River round trek... ( 4 or 5 day trek thru some ruggered mountain country in parts ..An experienced horse and rider trek..)
Harwarden / Eskhead / Dampier Range / Mt White / Puketeraki Ranges / LeesValley / Harwarden ( approx 7 or 8 days with a couple rest days.... An experienced rider / horse trek..)
St James / Steyning Hut / Magdalen Valley ( approx 5 days ..a medium experienced rider trek)
Lake Coleridge / Harper River / Avoca River / Hamilton Creek / return ( Approx 5 or 6 days.. an easy
trek )
Mesopotamia Station / Bush Stream zig zag / Stag saddle / LakeTekapo / Bullock Bow saddle / Mesopotamia..
( 9 days with a couple rest days....(Hill fit calm horses required ) A challenging ride over the 6200ft Stag saddle....)
Molesworth Trek... Inland Kaikoura / Blind saddle / Clarence reserve / Lake McRae / Acheron Acc house / Cloudy Range / Kaikoura.. ( An 11 day trek with a couple rest days... A remote country trek, experienced rider / horse trek..)
Lake Ohau... Hopkins / Huxleys rivers / back to GlenLyon Station Aprox 10 days with a couple days off..
An easy camping trek for a look up into these two beautiful rivers....
Tarndale Trek... St James / Leaderdale / Five Mile saddle / Yarra Saddle / Yarra Hut / Alma Saddle / Tarndale / Acheron River / Guide Hut / Bush Gully camp / return... an approx 10 day trek over some remote Molesworth farmed country... An experienced rider / horse trek involving a number of nights tent shelter camping in the hills..
Once in a life time treks...
Okuku Gorge / Eskhead trek....
I have quietly been thinking about and doing a lot of map research and study into the possibility of a longish trek starting from our home horse paddock, heading up the Okuku river gorge, over hills to Okuku Hill Station in Lees Valley..
Then continuing up the Okuku river right thru to Mt Whitnow Station, with permission following their hill track out the back to possibly their Seldom Inn Hut, then when the weather is clear and calm, climbing a long ridge onto a mountain range in behind the Puketeraki Ranges and following this mountain top ridge north east and sidling down to Eskhead Station in the Lake Sumner region then return down the Lake Sumner road, branching off up Maori gully to Mt Noble farm and back down the Okuku river again to Okuku hills Station, followed by riding down Lees Valley to Wharfedale Stn and back over the Blowhard Track and back home ...do able..?????? I think so, but need a large amount of logistical work gaining permissions and route sourcing ..!
Stay tuned..lol
We welcome experienced horse men and women who possess a sense of humour and a happy disposition to accompany us on treks providing, your horses are sound, hill fit, freshly shod and calm ,and you are able to produce a first class meal from a camp oven..hehehe..!
Its up to you how you contain your horses at camp.
I always carry on the pack horse, spare horseshoes and shoeing gear, first aid, (both human and horse), GPS, Personal Locator Beacon,( just in case..!)
A small chainsaw if travelling thru forest pack trails ( ever tried to saw thru a large "downed" beech tree across the trail..with a hand saw..?) ,
On the longer week or more treks I will generally take a spare horse, to share the load and give each horse a day off being loaded once every third day.
Our spare riding and pack horses travel loose with us on treks..
Life...... is for living....!
Day ride series.....
( Multi day ride series further down this page..)
***The Blowhard track... ( a medium level of riding and walking ability trek..)
The Blowhard track is a great day ride starting from the carpark at the end of Maori Reserve Rd in Glentui and riding up a rough vehicle track for the first kilometre thru native bush mixed with a little gorse and broom to add colour..
The track then becomes a little rougher and a lot steeper with horses at times scrambling up a rocky steep track for the next kilometre or so but soon this passes into a single width track lined either side in dense young beech tree regrowth, and then finally up onto the top of the ridge line and out into open going with great views out over the Canterbury Plains one side and the Mt Thomas bush on the other...
Eventually the trail comes a sign indicating the Glentui Loop track off to the left but just ride on straight ahead here and then bit further to a cross road on the track one direction turning right and across further hill top tall tussock country and eventually down the steep decent track into Lees Valley, or the other track leading a further short distance up onto the summit of Mt Richardson, with further views out over the Canterbury Plains one side and the other stunning views out over Lees Valley and further over to the Puketeraki Ranges and Mt White country.. a great spot to sit and share your lunch with your horse..lol
The track then becomes a little rougher and a lot steeper with horses at times scrambling up a rocky steep track for the next kilometre or so but soon this passes into a single width track lined either side in dense young beech tree regrowth, and then finally up onto the top of the ridge line and out into open going with great views out over the Canterbury Plains one side and the Mt Thomas bush on the other...
Eventually the trail comes a sign indicating the Glentui Loop track off to the left but just ride on straight ahead here and then bit further to a cross road on the track one direction turning right and across further hill top tall tussock country and eventually down the steep decent track into Lees Valley, or the other track leading a further short distance up onto the summit of Mt Richardson, with further views out over the Canterbury Plains one side and the other stunning views out over Lees Valley and further over to the Puketeraki Ranges and Mt White country.. a great spot to sit and share your lunch with your horse..lol
The early stage up thru native bush ...
The track a little steep in parts but a good ride overall..
Further up to ridge ride is thru this young regenerated Beech forest area...
Eventually out into clear easy riding along the ridge line for several kilometres..
Stunning views on a clear day out both sides.....
A second option.......
For riding folks wanting to ride further on the day ride, or even as Kay and I did, was to travel down the Lees Valley side and stay over night at Wharfedale Station shearers quarter and ride back next day,
The Lees Valley side....
The track on this Lees Valley side is less defined and for first time users it is advisable to take someone who has been over this side before as its easy to miss the track in parts especially from the hill top junction, and down thru the steep bush track. to where the first above photo was taken as the track emerges out of the bush and down this steep ridge line to Lees Valley..
Off the horses and walking down the old stock track...
Crossing the Ashley river over onto DeBourbles Station...
From Lees Valley looking back up the ridge line track....
In the above photo, shows us about to ford the Ashley river over to the De Bourbles Station, (which is now a part of Wharfedale Station) riding thru the homestead and farm building area, and up and out to the hill track which initially runs thru farmed paddocks to the start of the uphill track which in the above photo follows straight up the centre right ridge with the bush to the right and clear to the centre and left, with the final stretch up thru the top bush to the skyline ridge..
The Wharfedale Station Shearers quarters.....
The ride up the Blowhard to the top of Mt Richardson is a reasonably easy ride, and is suitable for riders learning about day trekking..
Riding from the carpark up to the summit of Mt Richardson is all open to the public and is all Doc held land, however permission is required to ride down the Lees Valley side to Wharfedale Station... Permission may be declined from August to end of September during Lambing time...
It is a hill ride, with one or two sections steepish and rocky to negotiate, but taking your time it is quite safe...
Occassionally after strong winds there are trees down over the trail, but most times one can navigate around these and be able to carry on..
It is preferable to have your horse a little fit as its an hour and a half climb up onto the ridge, and also preferable to have your horse shod..
From the carpark allow around 2.5 hours to reach the Mt Richardson summit and allow around 2 hours return... it is a distance of around 10 kilometres each way..
Hop off your horse and walk him down the steeper decents and rocky areas...
If riding from the car park and over to Wharfedale the distance is around 19 kilometres and allow some 4 hours each way....
Contact Mt Pembler Station in Lees Valley for permission to ride down the Lees Valley side and the stay at Wharfedale Station Shearers quarters..
This station has been sold recently so am not up to speed with the overnight charge for your stay however when Kay and i rode and stayed it was $25 plus $5 per horse pp..
Riding from the carpark up to the summit of Mt Richardson is all open to the public and is all Doc held land, however permission is required to ride down the Lees Valley side to Wharfedale Station... Permission may be declined from August to end of September during Lambing time...
It is a hill ride, with one or two sections steepish and rocky to negotiate, but taking your time it is quite safe...
Occassionally after strong winds there are trees down over the trail, but most times one can navigate around these and be able to carry on..
It is preferable to have your horse a little fit as its an hour and a half climb up onto the ridge, and also preferable to have your horse shod..
From the carpark allow around 2.5 hours to reach the Mt Richardson summit and allow around 2 hours return... it is a distance of around 10 kilometres each way..
Hop off your horse and walk him down the steeper decents and rocky areas...
If riding from the car park and over to Wharfedale the distance is around 19 kilometres and allow some 4 hours each way....
Contact Mt Pembler Station in Lees Valley for permission to ride down the Lees Valley side and the stay at Wharfedale Station Shearers quarters..
This station has been sold recently so am not up to speed with the overnight charge for your stay however when Kay and i rode and stayed it was $25 plus $5 per horse pp..
Day ride series.....
***Onepunga Hills Loop Ride ( An easy level of riding ability trail)
This Onepunga hills loop ride is around 23 kilometres long, all with wide grass verges for folks with unshod horses..
Its a quiet country roadside ride the entire length up into the hills with stunning country scenery..
We often start this ride as the above photo shows, outside the side entrance to the Broomfield School on Onepunga road up from Amberley..
Heading towards the hills on Onepunga Road for around 4 kilometres, take the first road to the left as it turns into a shingle road and starts to climp up into the hills..
Weaving in and out thru the hills for a further 6 kilometres you come to a cattlestop, where the Onepunga road turns hard right and heads down hill.. At this point open the white gate beside this cattlestop on the shingle track heading straight ahead and follow it as it zig zags down the hill to a little stream and bridge..
This is approx half way around and a great spot to stop and have lunch beside this little stream with beautiful scenery in this area..
Remounting, follow this shingle track south cutting across this Berriedale farm to a further cattlestop, and again open the gate beside it to access onto Brodies Road..
Dont forget to take 50 cents with you for a ring at the telephone box someone has planted under the trees at this spot..lol
Heading down country now, following Brodies road, it crosses a couple of bridges, to the intersection of it and Douglas Road, turn left here, and follow Douglas road right down and back to civilisation once again turning left at Mt Brown Road, then along a couple further Kilometres, and left back into Onepunga Road to your finish point ...
Its a quiet country roadside ride the entire length up into the hills with stunning country scenery..
We often start this ride as the above photo shows, outside the side entrance to the Broomfield School on Onepunga road up from Amberley..
Heading towards the hills on Onepunga Road for around 4 kilometres, take the first road to the left as it turns into a shingle road and starts to climp up into the hills..
Weaving in and out thru the hills for a further 6 kilometres you come to a cattlestop, where the Onepunga road turns hard right and heads down hill.. At this point open the white gate beside this cattlestop on the shingle track heading straight ahead and follow it as it zig zags down the hill to a little stream and bridge..
This is approx half way around and a great spot to stop and have lunch beside this little stream with beautiful scenery in this area..
Remounting, follow this shingle track south cutting across this Berriedale farm to a further cattlestop, and again open the gate beside it to access onto Brodies Road..
Dont forget to take 50 cents with you for a ring at the telephone box someone has planted under the trees at this spot..lol
Heading down country now, following Brodies road, it crosses a couple of bridges, to the intersection of it and Douglas Road, turn left here, and follow Douglas road right down and back to civilisation once again turning left at Mt Brown Road, then along a couple further Kilometres, and left back into Onepunga Road to your finish point ...
Below, some photos of our ride over this same loop trail..
Here turning first left on Onepunga Rd
Views out towards Mt Grey on Onepunga Road..
Overlooking the picturesque views of Onepunga Farm..
The first cattlestop before heading down the zig zag track to the stream...
Lunch time...
This and below photo on Berridale farm...
Riding up to the second cattlestop then turn left once again onto Brodies Road...
A contrasting piece of scenery.. the red telephone box someone as planted here...
Brodies Road country scenery....
Directions to the start of this ride.....
Have a look on a road map as you view the below directions..
Heading into the country township of Amberley from the south, turn left just before the Amberley pub and follow this road a short distance thru this town to a "T" intersection...
At this intersection turn right onto Douglas Road and follow it as it heads out of town a further 6 odd kilometres where this road turns hard right and continues on as Mt Brown Road,, follow this Mt Brown road taking the next left, this being Onepunga Road, and just park anywhere along the start of this road for your ride...
All roads on this loop are public roads...
The section down the zig zag to the stream and along to Brodies road are thru a working farm so stay near this access track thru here..
This Loop ride is very easy to ride and will take some 3 to 4 hours at a walk to complete...
At this intersection turn right onto Douglas Road and follow it as it heads out of town a further 6 odd kilometres where this road turns hard right and continues on as Mt Brown Road,, follow this Mt Brown road taking the next left, this being Onepunga Road, and just park anywhere along the start of this road for your ride...
All roads on this loop are public roads...
The section down the zig zag to the stream and along to Brodies road are thru a working farm so stay near this access track thru here..
This Loop ride is very easy to ride and will take some 3 to 4 hours at a walk to complete...
Day ride series.....
***Waipara Gorge area...Loop ride...( An easy level of riding ability trail)
This is a great easy day ride for folks who dont mind a little trotting along on their horse..
There are a couple of start points... this one is the longer ride of 33 kilometres.. we parked our floats just on the South side of the Waipara Gorge bridge at the end of Ram Paddock Road as in the above photo..
Packing our lunch and riding over this bridge and following the road north thru the hills on MacDonalds Road up to Heathstock Station, where this road turns hard right and continues as Heathstock Road for a further 8 kilometres, then taking the first road to the right... Greys road follow this thru further hills to a cross road, where you then turn right once again and now heading South back towards the float park on Broxton Road until you reach the intersection of MacDonalds Road once again, turning left and following your out course back to the float..
A shorter route is to start from the junction of Broxton and MacDonalds Rds and ride either way around with a distance of around 21 kilometres..
There are a couple of start points... this one is the longer ride of 33 kilometres.. we parked our floats just on the South side of the Waipara Gorge bridge at the end of Ram Paddock Road as in the above photo..
Packing our lunch and riding over this bridge and following the road north thru the hills on MacDonalds Road up to Heathstock Station, where this road turns hard right and continues as Heathstock Road for a further 8 kilometres, then taking the first road to the right... Greys road follow this thru further hills to a cross road, where you then turn right once again and now heading South back towards the float park on Broxton Road until you reach the intersection of MacDonalds Road once again, turning left and following your out course back to the float..
A shorter route is to start from the junction of Broxton and MacDonalds Rds and ride either way around with a distance of around 21 kilometres..
The Waipara River..
Broxton Road scenery....
Heathstock Road area....
Pyramid Valley.....
This shot was achieved by focusing the camera initially on the post then holding the shutter halfway down to retain the focal length desired, shift the camera slightly to the left and click...
Masons Flat....
South End of Broxton Road...
Nice wide roadsides to canter along here and there... with stunning country scenery in every direction..!!
Directions to the start of this ride..
Have a look on a road map while viewing the below directions to familiarise yourself with the route..
Driving into the North Canterbury town of Amberley from the south, turn left in the middle of town just before the Amberley Pub, and follow this a little way until you arrive at a "T" intersection..
Turn right onto Douglas Rd and follow this road out of the town and stay on this for around 5 kilometres, where the road takes a sharp right and continues on north as Mt Brown Road..
Continue north on Mt Brown road either the end T intersection and turn left into Georges Road, or.. just back one kilometre from this T intersection is a short cut called Ram Paddock Road
Either way you will end up following this Ram Paddock Road up into the hills and thru the Waipara Gorge area..
This road after a while continues on as a shingle road thru to the Waipara Gorge bridge..
Its not too far tho...Dont forget your camera, grab a couple of rider friends and make a day of it...
Multi day ride Series.....
*** Mt Sandford Farm Stay.....( an easy level of riding ability required)
Mt Sandford farm stay is an ideal venue to gather a group of friends, load your horses on the float and head a way for the weekend.....
To me, a farm stay accommodation needs to be adequate but not five star.... here at Mt Sandford, up to ten guests are accommodated in a rustic self contained house, with a spill over of folks staying in the adjacent Woolshed, which has its own hot shower and ablution block within ....
Individual small horse paddocks are available right next to the house, each with their own water supply, and free access to on farm hay is included in the price...
A map of the farm is given out at the start of your stay and you are basically free to ride anywhere within the farms perimeter...
Riding out and onto the tops of the surrounding hills gives a fantastic panorama view, anyway your head turns.. its stunning...!
Hosts Emmy and Daniel Maxwell, are the "hosts with the most.".. so to speak.... the most friendly couple you could ever want.. nothing but nothing is a bother, and any questions.. you just need to ask...
The Host asks just two things...... NO DOGS... and NO HAY bought onto the property.......
Costs.....
$60 per night, gives you the house all self contained, along with basically free rein riding over the hill country farm, altho Daniel may ask you perhaps not to ride thru the odd paddock with young stock grazing which to my mind is very fair and reasonable..
Also included, is hay for your horse... as much as your horse needs...
To me, a farm stay accommodation needs to be adequate but not five star.... here at Mt Sandford, up to ten guests are accommodated in a rustic self contained house, with a spill over of folks staying in the adjacent Woolshed, which has its own hot shower and ablution block within ....
Individual small horse paddocks are available right next to the house, each with their own water supply, and free access to on farm hay is included in the price...
A map of the farm is given out at the start of your stay and you are basically free to ride anywhere within the farms perimeter...
Riding out and onto the tops of the surrounding hills gives a fantastic panorama view, anyway your head turns.. its stunning...!
Hosts Emmy and Daniel Maxwell, are the "hosts with the most.".. so to speak.... the most friendly couple you could ever want.. nothing but nothing is a bother, and any questions.. you just need to ask...
The Host asks just two things...... NO DOGS... and NO HAY bought onto the property.......
Costs.....
$60 per night, gives you the house all self contained, along with basically free rein riding over the hill country farm, altho Daniel may ask you perhaps not to ride thru the odd paddock with young stock grazing which to my mind is very fair and reasonable..
Also included, is hay for your horse... as much as your horse needs...
Mt Sandford Accommodation setup.... both for human and our equine friends..!
Photo shows the guest house in the middle of the pic, with the horse paddocks in the foreground, over the top of the truck float in the photo, the woolshed for extra guests....
This and below photos showing some of the riding country...
Directions....
Heading north from Christchurch on State highway One, turn left onto Ethelton Road directly after crossing the Hurunui River road bridge, and follow this sealed country road up about 3 or 4 kilometres to an intersection, stay on the road that heads to the right and now up a valley called Kaiwara road a further 7 odd kilometre. and just after crossing a small stream road bridge Mt Sandford is on your right a couple of hundred metres further on...
Rating..
I personally rate this stay as a very very good and relaxing venue to wind down coupled with excellent riding....
Heading north from Christchurch on State highway One, turn left onto Ethelton Road directly after crossing the Hurunui River road bridge, and follow this sealed country road up about 3 or 4 kilometres to an intersection, stay on the road that heads to the right and now up a valley called Kaiwara road a further 7 odd kilometre. and just after crossing a small stream road bridge Mt Sandford is on your right a couple of hundred metres further on...
Rating..
I personally rate this stay as a very very good and relaxing venue to wind down coupled with excellent riding....
***Lake Taylor Trail..........,( A medium level of riding ability and walking fitness required)
Lake Mason, Lake Sumner , Lake Katrine round trek...
Lake Taylor Shearers Quarters....
Lake Taylor.........One of 6 lakes in this area..!
In the above photo, you can see on the right, the rough vehicle track that skirts around the left side of this lake , then up behind it and up thru the little low saddle behind this lake up to Lakes Katrine and Sumner in the distance.... an easy scenic ride, however its a reasonable distance up to L Sumner requiring some trotting in places to ride there and back comfortably in one day....
Lake Mason.....
Permission is required from Lake Taylor Station to ride over there access track from Lake Taylor to Lake Mason..
From the actual Lake Taylor, the track to Lake Mason heads up over the Woolshed Range and down into the South Branch of the Hurunui River , then follows up this river to L Mason.... a beautiful lake nestled into the mountain countryside .. allow 3.5 to 4 hours each way if riding to and from this destination...
This lake is in two parts,with a narrow strip of land in between which is located the Lake Mason Hut...
Looking at the above photo, the pack track heads around to the right and skirts this lake,, no real formed trail above the lake as it climbs up the low saddle as seen up to the left behind the forested ridge above the lake..
Above the lake you will see a boundary fence that runs up the middle of the area behind the lake to a point at the top of the saddle..
Here you will see three gates all together at the saddle.. you need to take the one most to the left as if you are heading due west... thru this gate, there is no track but just head west down hill a couple hundred metres and you will pick up a rough old vehicle track that heads down hill.. follow this right down to the cattle yards at the head of Lake Sumner...
Below these yards you will pick up another vehicle track that now heads east around the south side of Lake Sumner and back around to Lake Katrine a further couple of Kilometres.. stay on this track past both lakes and it will lead you back to lake Taylor once again..
The Lakes Station who owns the land around L Katrine, Sumner and down towards L Taylor have a locked vehicle gate between L Sumner and Katrine, however it is easy to skirt around the bottom side on a horse access area to negotiate this gate... you dont need permission to ride on this road from Sumner to Taylor, however it is common courtesy to telephone the Lakes Station and ask permission for the area above Lake Mason to the head of the Lake Sumner as this is farmed land...if you intend to ride the round trip....
Tip.....
When riding in areas such as above Lake Mason, some swampy areas need to crossed... always follow cattle tracks thru these areas.. if cattle can cross them.. so can horses....!
From the actual Lake Taylor, the track to Lake Mason heads up over the Woolshed Range and down into the South Branch of the Hurunui River , then follows up this river to L Mason.... a beautiful lake nestled into the mountain countryside .. allow 3.5 to 4 hours each way if riding to and from this destination...
This lake is in two parts,with a narrow strip of land in between which is located the Lake Mason Hut...
Looking at the above photo, the pack track heads around to the right and skirts this lake,, no real formed trail above the lake as it climbs up the low saddle as seen up to the left behind the forested ridge above the lake..
Above the lake you will see a boundary fence that runs up the middle of the area behind the lake to a point at the top of the saddle..
Here you will see three gates all together at the saddle.. you need to take the one most to the left as if you are heading due west... thru this gate, there is no track but just head west down hill a couple hundred metres and you will pick up a rough old vehicle track that heads down hill.. follow this right down to the cattle yards at the head of Lake Sumner...
Below these yards you will pick up another vehicle track that now heads east around the south side of Lake Sumner and back around to Lake Katrine a further couple of Kilometres.. stay on this track past both lakes and it will lead you back to lake Taylor once again..
The Lakes Station who owns the land around L Katrine, Sumner and down towards L Taylor have a locked vehicle gate between L Sumner and Katrine, however it is easy to skirt around the bottom side on a horse access area to negotiate this gate... you dont need permission to ride on this road from Sumner to Taylor, however it is common courtesy to telephone the Lakes Station and ask permission for the area above Lake Mason to the head of the Lake Sumner as this is farmed land...if you intend to ride the round trip....
Tip.....
When riding in areas such as above Lake Mason, some swampy areas need to crossed... always follow cattle tracks thru these areas.. if cattle can cross them.. so can horses....!
Lake Mason Pack Track.........
This historic Pack Track is slightly overgrown in parts requiring a little diversification from the route here and there, but easily ridden...
Lake Taylor Station..... offers a wide range of horse trekking destinations, wheather you just want to do some day rides out from the station itself, to a little more serious rides over a couple of days around several of this countries beautiful lakes in the area..
Dave and Rosemary welcome horse riding folks to their Station, and provide for a small cost, good shearers quarter accommodation with bunk style sleeping quarters with a capacity of around 20 people, hot showers and a self contained Kitchen / Lounge area..
There is a good secure horse paddock that surrounds the shearers quarters
Cost... pp,Shearers quarters and one horse grazing per night....$20.00
pp, Access and use of the Lake Mason Hut per night......$20.00
no charge to ride to Lake Taylor thru to Lake Sumner area...
The shearers quarters are within reason, reasonably easy to book, however it would certainly pay to book with Rosemary early if you wish to stay in their Lake Mason Hut as it is very popular .... often more available mid week...
Lake Taylor Station, almost at the end of the Lake Sumner road offers a wide variety of day ride destinations that cater for all levels of horse and rider abilities with some stunning scenery..
You may wish to just ride out and up to the actual lake Taylor only a couple of kilometres away, or perhaps take a lunch and ride on up around this lake and on up to Lake Katrine a further 6 or 7 kilometres following a rough vehicle track, of for folks who are happy to trot along in parts further on again up past Lake Katrine for a view of the beautiful Lake Sumner area some 20 kilometres distance each way....
Trekking Distances...
Lake Taylor to Lake Mason return .Approx 34 kilometres....
Lake Taylor to Lake Sumner via Lake Katrine return.....Approx 40 kilometres
Lake Taylor to Lake Mason, then up over the saddle, around past lakes, Sumner,Katrine and Taylor back to the Station Approx 42 kilometres...
NB...You will need either a four wheel towing a float, or a horse truck to safely travel up the Lake Sumner road to the Lake Taylor Station, as one area not too far from the station is quite a steep uphill on the shingle road which normal two wheel drive cars towing floats could have trouble negotiating ( this from first hand experience in the past.)
Footnote
No cell phone coverage anywhere in this area...
Please be aware of weather conditions, this is a mountain environment, with conditions able to change rapidly..
On all rides take a raincoat and warm clothes, even in summer with hot conditions always do this..
Tell someone or leave a note, where you intend to ride and intended return time ..
Directions to Lake Taylor Station...
Travelling north on state Highway 1 to Waipara, turn left just north of the Waipara river bridge as if heading towards Hamner Springs, then following up thru the Weka Pass to the small town of Waikari, where you need to turn left just as you come off the hill into this town and on the road now to Harwarden..
Continue straight thru this small town of Harwarden, heading north,on the Horsley Downs Road now, which continues on as the Lake Sumner road...
Some 12 kilometres further on the road turns down and over the small Waitohi River bridge and for the next 30 odd kilometres is a narrow shingle road up to Lake Taylor...nearly all the streams crossed are bridged or concrete fords in place and I think only two or three small natural streams need to be forded on this road, all easy and safe to do so..
Lake Taylor Station is on the left with Dave and Rosemarys homestead set back off the road behind a pine hedgerow..
Another two hundred metres up the Lake Sumner road and again turning left when you see the red woolshed is where the shearers quarters are located...
Take the farm track that runs up past this woolshed and also past the tractors shed, thru a gate and around to the right, climbing gently to the actual shearers quarters and horse paddock,, just shut the gate into this area behind you and turn your horses loose in here... it would pay to walk to the top of the hill up behind the quarters to make sure the top gate is shut, as horses can go into the paddock around the otherside otherwise..
Lake Taylor Station is in the telephone book....
For further information and photos look up .... The Lake Sumner Summer camp trek in the "On the Trail" section...
Multi day ride Series.....
***The St James trail.....( A medium level of riding ability and walking fitness required.. both yourselves and your horses should have had some pack track riding experience before undertaking this trek)
Trekking Distance.. Approx 12 kilometres each way (hut to hut)
The St James trail Map
Map doesnt name Stanleyvale <^>....... its the hut directly above here.
Fowlers Hut / Fowlers Pass / StanleyVale hut and return
NB>>> You will need either a four wheel drive towing a float, or truck float... the Jacks Pass Rd is too steep for normal two wheel drive cars towing floats loaded with horses......
The road is a little rough in places but taking it quietly its about an hours drive from Hanmer to Fowlers Hut..
All side streams and rivers are bridged
Directions.....
Drive to Hanmer springs, and in the north west corner of the town, locate the Jacks Pass Rd (some call this road the Clarence Valley Rd )
Follow this road up hill, initially for the first kilometre its sealed, but soon becomes a gravel rd all the way to the summit of Jacks Pass and down the other side until you come to a T intersection (near the Clarence river) turn left at the sign post indicating the St James Homestead
Follow this shingle road which runs alongside the beautiful Clarence river to the Homestead site, drive past, and over a second little bridge and continue up what is now the Tophouse Road a further 17 kilometres to the Fowlers Hut site on your left..( its the only hut on the left from St James Homestead )
The Fowlers Hut... the start / finish point for this trek
General notes
It is reasonably safe to leave your vehicle near the hut here, and if you are staying the night here, there is a good well fenced horse paddock with a stream running thru it all yr round to the left of this photo..
This hut is now deemed a shelter, Doc have taken the bunks and fireplace out, but just take some camp stretchers etc.. its a comfortable hut for overnight stays..There is a Doc Loo just inside the horse paddock over a fence stile...
Clean drinkable water for camping is at the same stream as in the horse paddock..
Please kick out your horse poo around the hut area before leaving the area.We want horse riding folks to have a low profile as this area is also used by walkers and mountain bikers..
The Trail..(.Allow 4 hours from hut to hut....)
Once everyone saddled, and all ready... looking at the above photo, the gap in the green tree row behind the hut on the left side is the start / exit point for the Fowler Pass trail
Follow out on a gentle up hill formed pack track for the 4 kilometres to the top of the Fowlers Pass, allowing your horse to take the odd drink in any of the small side streams crossed..
At the summit of the pass you will need to dismount and lead all horses down the next stage, called the zig zag. just take your time in here on the first time down, there is a formed pack track the whole distance down into the creek below, keep an eye on your gear loaded on your horse on the way down as the side to side movement of your horse can dislodge gear..
Walk on the track in front of your horse, dont allow him to try and pass or walk beside you...if for any reason you slip while decending hang onto your reins,, your horse will hold you...Trust in your horse..!
Once you hit the creek, you can remount for around half a kilometre down this creek until you again rise up onto a little ridge, then will need to walk your horses down this further zig zag area into the creek again..
It is reasonably safe to leave your vehicle near the hut here, and if you are staying the night here, there is a good well fenced horse paddock with a stream running thru it all yr round to the left of this photo..
This hut is now deemed a shelter, Doc have taken the bunks and fireplace out, but just take some camp stretchers etc.. its a comfortable hut for overnight stays..There is a Doc Loo just inside the horse paddock over a fence stile...
Clean drinkable water for camping is at the same stream as in the horse paddock..
Please kick out your horse poo around the hut area before leaving the area.We want horse riding folks to have a low profile as this area is also used by walkers and mountain bikers..
The Trail..(.Allow 4 hours from hut to hut....)
Once everyone saddled, and all ready... looking at the above photo, the gap in the green tree row behind the hut on the left side is the start / exit point for the Fowler Pass trail
Follow out on a gentle up hill formed pack track for the 4 kilometres to the top of the Fowlers Pass, allowing your horse to take the odd drink in any of the small side streams crossed..
At the summit of the pass you will need to dismount and lead all horses down the next stage, called the zig zag. just take your time in here on the first time down, there is a formed pack track the whole distance down into the creek below, keep an eye on your gear loaded on your horse on the way down as the side to side movement of your horse can dislodge gear..
Walk on the track in front of your horse, dont allow him to try and pass or walk beside you...if for any reason you slip while decending hang onto your reins,, your horse will hold you...Trust in your horse..!
Once you hit the creek, you can remount for around half a kilometre down this creek until you again rise up onto a little ridge, then will need to walk your horses down this further zig zag area into the creek again..
Top of the lower zig zag..
Its not far from here down the steeper zig zag into the trees on the left, then into a little gorge followed by flattening out as the photo shows further down the stream
The whole trail is pole marked as well as a fairly well formed horse pack track so you wont get lost..
Once you ride out onto the stream side trail its a relatively straight forward trail ride down this Smyth Stream, then down the Stanley river, crossing it a few times, its only a shallow easy stream to cross and follow the poled route out into a wider valley looking ahead you will be able to eventually see the poplar trees out on the flat marking the StanleyVale hut area.
The whole trail is pole marked as well as a fairly well formed horse pack track so you wont get lost..
Once you ride out onto the stream side trail its a relatively straight forward trail ride down this Smyth Stream, then down the Stanley river, crossing it a few times, its only a shallow easy stream to cross and follow the poled route out into a wider valley looking ahead you will be able to eventually see the poplar trees out on the flat marking the StanleyVale hut area.
Looking up towards the StanleyVale Hut ...
As you can see in the above photo that the pack track is obvious and well used so you wont get lost....
Looking at the above Photo you can pick out the hut in the upper centre below the clump of trees..
About half way between here and the hut is a little sort of swampy stream to cross, there is a reasonable crossing by following the poled route, dont deviate away from this route until you have past this stream, the rest is easy up to the hut..
Looking at the above Photo you can pick out the hut in the upper centre below the clump of trees..
About half way between here and the hut is a little sort of swampy stream to cross, there is a reasonable crossing by following the poled route, dont deviate away from this route until you have past this stream, the rest is easy up to the hut..
Your Home away from Home...
There is a convenient hitching rail courtesy of "yours truely" to tie your horses up to unload your gear, then wash your horse down, and around the far side of the hut,and up a little trail into the trees is a new horse paddock again courtesy of yours truely along with a bunch of other helpers... It has a small stream and shelter for your horses
General notes..
This hut only has two bunks but does have half a dozen good matresses to lay out on the floor to sleep on..Its a two room hut so plenty of floor space...
The hut loo is up behind the hut on the small trail to the horse paddock..
If you are taking any Dogs, please keep them out of the hut.. up behind the hut is a multi dog kennel...NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE WAIAU RIVER>>
There is a reasonable amount of personal gear in and around this hut that is owned by a winter possum trapper by the name of Sean. Please respect this gear...!.
Sean may well be at the hut, and you will find him a welcoming and friendly sort of person, full of interesting backcountry experiences and knowledge.. personally I love spending time with Sean up there...
Looking at the hut door from the outside, to your left the otherside of the large dead tree is a small stream for drinking / cooking water...
Not sure but hopefully by now the new hut fireplace should have been installed, if not its not far away from being replaced.. there is plenty of firewood in the trees behind the hut to keep you all warm..
Take some insect repellant with you as the area has a reputation for the odd sandfly..
I have two horse covers stored in the loft at the hut.. If you use them for your horse please make sure they are dried , folded and returned to the loft...
Enjoy your stay at this historic beautiful place....
Day rides....
There are a number of rides out from this hut depending on how far you wish to ride...
One is a ride north following an old vehicle track along the bottom left side of this valley down to the beautiful Lake Guyon area.... once you get to the lake, turn right and follow the shore around to the right side and pick up the vehicle track following the lake edge thru the forest around to the Lake Guyon hut... to this point its only around 4 kilometres from StanleyVale..
If you wish you can continue on past the hut on the track to the bottom area, and this track crosses the Lake outlet stream, then up a gentle hill to the top for an amazing view both up and down the beautiful Waiau River...
General notes..
This hut only has two bunks but does have half a dozen good matresses to lay out on the floor to sleep on..Its a two room hut so plenty of floor space...
The hut loo is up behind the hut on the small trail to the horse paddock..
If you are taking any Dogs, please keep them out of the hut.. up behind the hut is a multi dog kennel...NO DOGS ALLOWED ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE WAIAU RIVER>>
There is a reasonable amount of personal gear in and around this hut that is owned by a winter possum trapper by the name of Sean. Please respect this gear...!.
Sean may well be at the hut, and you will find him a welcoming and friendly sort of person, full of interesting backcountry experiences and knowledge.. personally I love spending time with Sean up there...
Looking at the hut door from the outside, to your left the otherside of the large dead tree is a small stream for drinking / cooking water...
Not sure but hopefully by now the new hut fireplace should have been installed, if not its not far away from being replaced.. there is plenty of firewood in the trees behind the hut to keep you all warm..
Take some insect repellant with you as the area has a reputation for the odd sandfly..
I have two horse covers stored in the loft at the hut.. If you use them for your horse please make sure they are dried , folded and returned to the loft...
Enjoy your stay at this historic beautiful place....
Day rides....
There are a number of rides out from this hut depending on how far you wish to ride...
One is a ride north following an old vehicle track along the bottom left side of this valley down to the beautiful Lake Guyon area.... once you get to the lake, turn right and follow the shore around to the right side and pick up the vehicle track following the lake edge thru the forest around to the Lake Guyon hut... to this point its only around 4 kilometres from StanleyVale..
If you wish you can continue on past the hut on the track to the bottom area, and this track crosses the Lake outlet stream, then up a gentle hill to the top for an amazing view both up and down the beautiful Waiau River...
Beautiful Lake Guyon..
You can follow on down the track and out and over the Waiau river to the other side, then choices wheather to ride up stream, or down stream towards the historic Ada homestead..
Upstream, if you are lucky you may spot one of the four mobs of wild horses that live up in this area..
Downstream, and down past the Ada outpost and into the Henry River lives a second mob, this mob is the main lot of mares and foals of which there is around 40 to 50..
They may allow you within 100 odd metres and are majestic..In this area also is a lone Stallion that can at times be spotted... generally they wont bother horse riders but just be wary... at times some may gallop up towards you if they feel threatened.... if this occurs, dismount and hold your horse...Generally they will stop, look and gallop away once again..
If heading down to the Henry River, its a bit of a ride there and back so just be aware of time...
Day ride......
From the StanleyVale hut take the poled route across the flats in front of the hut down stream and into the Stanley river, the poled route mostly remains on the true right but there is the odd river crossing here and there..
Follow this trail down for around an hour and half to a main obvious bend to the right in the river and along a little way further and with another couple river crossings you will come to the beautiful Stanley Gates gorge area... this is a beaut spot to stop for lunch..
Upstream, if you are lucky you may spot one of the four mobs of wild horses that live up in this area..
Downstream, and down past the Ada outpost and into the Henry River lives a second mob, this mob is the main lot of mares and foals of which there is around 40 to 50..
They may allow you within 100 odd metres and are majestic..In this area also is a lone Stallion that can at times be spotted... generally they wont bother horse riders but just be wary... at times some may gallop up towards you if they feel threatened.... if this occurs, dismount and hold your horse...Generally they will stop, look and gallop away once again..
If heading down to the Henry River, its a bit of a ride there and back so just be aware of time...
Day ride......
From the StanleyVale hut take the poled route across the flats in front of the hut down stream and into the Stanley river, the poled route mostly remains on the true right but there is the odd river crossing here and there..
Follow this trail down for around an hour and half to a main obvious bend to the right in the river and along a little way further and with another couple river crossings you will come to the beautiful Stanley Gates gorge area... this is a beaut spot to stop for lunch..
The Stanley Gates Gorge.....
If you wish, you can continue on down the river trail climbing and decending as it has some stunning scenery along this lower gorge area..
So there you have it...an introduction to the fantastic St James Conservation park...
Foot note...
This is a remote place, please take care with weather and river conditions... no cell phone coverage anywhere in the park so good idea to hire or borrow a personal locator beckon and keep this on your person while riding...
If you , or your horse riding party are new to multi day trail riding, please do not ride into these mountain areas on your own..
Always take at least one "experienced" rider with you and at least have one person familiar with administering first aid to human and horse...!
Even though it may be a warm balmy day, always take enough clothing in case the weather turns while out riding...
In other future Trail destinations we will guide you to other parts and places within St James, as well as other majestic areas of our Canterbury High Country so stay tuned..
Happy trails and all that..!
Part Three...
South Island Pack tracks....
So there you have it...an introduction to the fantastic St James Conservation park...
Foot note...
This is a remote place, please take care with weather and river conditions... no cell phone coverage anywhere in the park so good idea to hire or borrow a personal locator beckon and keep this on your person while riding...
If you , or your horse riding party are new to multi day trail riding, please do not ride into these mountain areas on your own..
Always take at least one "experienced" rider with you and at least have one person familiar with administering first aid to human and horse...!
Even though it may be a warm balmy day, always take enough clothing in case the weather turns while out riding...
In other future Trail destinations we will guide you to other parts and places within St James, as well as other majestic areas of our Canterbury High Country so stay tuned..
Happy trails and all that..!
Part Three...
South Island Pack tracks....
In this section we will list as many know horse pack tracks as we can...sectioning areas off including Marlborough, Canterbury ,Otago and Southland.
With each track description, we will give its start and finish points where applicable, a difficulty rating, along with the last know track condition status...
With each track description, we will give its start and finish points where applicable, a difficulty rating, along with the last know track condition status...
Marlborough region....
The Elliot river to Lake McRae track...
Start / Finish.....
From the Eastern end, leaving the Seymour Hut in the Clarence Reserve, we follow the Clarence river up stream approx two kilometres, then crossing the river over onto Molesworth Station side. keep a look out for a red triangle on a pole... this marks the start of the uphill track that winds its way up thru thick Briar to the first of two low saddles that need to be crossed...
The original pack track used to traverse up the actual Elliot stream, however in recent years this has become totally overgrown, so this new track has been cut thru the adjacent eastern valley to access the Elliot hut area...
Once ascended the second saddle you will overlook a huge valley which needs to be traversed to the northern end, however there is not much of a track in this valley, requiring one to work back and forth around the encroaching Briar... there are a couple of Gullies that need to be crossed requiring some hand saw work to cut a path thru..... the climb to the far end saddle is easy, and then the track descends to the rear of the Elliot Bivy....
The Elliot Bivy is tucked away behind some dense poplars and is a two man bivy, with a good size horse paddock..
Leaving the Bivy and entering the Elliot Stream there is a lot of tall scrub in this area and easy to become disorientated but poking around you will pick up the pack track that weaves in and out of said scrub.. Once on this track its fairly well definded and will take you in a large semi circle around to the foot of the last hill to clmb and then descend to the lake..
From the Eastern end, leaving the Seymour Hut in the Clarence Reserve, we follow the Clarence river up stream approx two kilometres, then crossing the river over onto Molesworth Station side. keep a look out for a red triangle on a pole... this marks the start of the uphill track that winds its way up thru thick Briar to the first of two low saddles that need to be crossed...
The original pack track used to traverse up the actual Elliot stream, however in recent years this has become totally overgrown, so this new track has been cut thru the adjacent eastern valley to access the Elliot hut area...
Once ascended the second saddle you will overlook a huge valley which needs to be traversed to the northern end, however there is not much of a track in this valley, requiring one to work back and forth around the encroaching Briar... there are a couple of Gullies that need to be crossed requiring some hand saw work to cut a path thru..... the climb to the far end saddle is easy, and then the track descends to the rear of the Elliot Bivy....
The Elliot Bivy is tucked away behind some dense poplars and is a two man bivy, with a good size horse paddock..
Leaving the Bivy and entering the Elliot Stream there is a lot of tall scrub in this area and easy to become disorientated but poking around you will pick up the pack track that weaves in and out of said scrub.. Once on this track its fairly well definded and will take you in a large semi circle around to the foot of the last hill to clmb and then descend to the lake..
There are a couple of places where tracks have been cut to access the lake shore line on this northern side, and its a matter of walking around the lake edge all the way to the other end... at time needing to ride in the lake to skirt around some willows..
Around 50 metres before the far end you will need to leave the lake edge and bush bash up onto the side of the hill as Briar is a dense problem in this area...
You will pick up an old Bulldozer track that then heads around the hill and down to the Lake McRae huts...
Around 50 metres before the far end you will need to leave the lake edge and bush bash up onto the side of the hill as Briar is a dense problem in this area...
You will pick up an old Bulldozer track that then heads around the hill and down to the Lake McRae huts...
Difficulty level.......Reasonably straight forward pack track... the Clarence River and the lake level, and southerly weather will often bring snow at this altitude, are some of the important issues to be aware of.. you will need a hand saw...
Track Condition....Much of this pack track is fairly well defined... Briar is encroaching along much of it.....
Conclusion... this pack track is for experienced horse folks only.... it is in extremely remote country, be aware of Southerly weather changes as this will bring snow at any time of year,,, this location is surrounded in mountain passes to leave the area and with snow present you wont be going anywhere...
The Lake McRae huts are well appointed with 6 bunks and a wood Stove... there is also a good sized well fenced horse paddock with shelter and an all year round stream running thru it..
Track Condition....Much of this pack track is fairly well defined... Briar is encroaching along much of it.....
Conclusion... this pack track is for experienced horse folks only.... it is in extremely remote country, be aware of Southerly weather changes as this will bring snow at any time of year,,, this location is surrounded in mountain passes to leave the area and with snow present you wont be going anywhere...
The Lake McRae huts are well appointed with 6 bunks and a wood Stove... there is also a good sized well fenced horse paddock with shelter and an all year round stream running thru it..
Canterbury Region....
The Lake Tennyson Pack track.....
Start / Finish.....
This pack track is only a short distance trail to enable access from the lake outlet stream area up to the head of the lake...
Originally a stock track to drive cattle up to the flats above the lake, however today it is a largely disused route...
From the Lake outlet area, its a pleasant short ride around to the western side and into the view of the above photo... arriving into the first patch of Beech Forest where a good sheltered camp site could be set up...
This pack track is only a short distance trail to enable access from the lake outlet stream area up to the head of the lake...
Originally a stock track to drive cattle up to the flats above the lake, however today it is a largely disused route...
From the Lake outlet area, its a pleasant short ride around to the western side and into the view of the above photo... arriving into the first patch of Beech Forest where a good sheltered camp site could be set up...
The start of this pack track is somewhat obscure .....
its a little difficult to locate the start up into the beech trees, but poking around a formed track soon appears,,
Out of that first section of forest, the track is a little overgrown as in the above photo however at this stage is still evident
Out of that first section of forest, the track is a little overgrown as in the above photo however at this stage is still evident
The pack track is in good overall condition...
Some stunning scenery.....
The Northern end exit point....!
Difficulty Level.....
Over all, as long as riders and horses have had some pack track experience, the majority of this short trail is of a medium / easy riding level..... a couple of places a hand saw would be needed to allow a pack horse thru....
Track Condition...
A little difficult to find the southern end start to the track up thru the Beech forest area, and also keep an eye on the northern end as you descend off the hill as to where this end starts again for your return journey, as this can be a little obscure as well ...
A little overgrown at either ends but the rest is very clean and clear and likely to remain so for many years...
Conclusion......
In the right weather conditions as per the day we rode this track some stunning scenery is for the viewing right from the start to its conclusion...
Across the far.(eastern ) side up under the little patch of beech forest is a good camp site, with good horse feed, water , firewood and shelter....
Over all, as long as riders and horses have had some pack track experience, the majority of this short trail is of a medium / easy riding level..... a couple of places a hand saw would be needed to allow a pack horse thru....
Track Condition...
A little difficult to find the southern end start to the track up thru the Beech forest area, and also keep an eye on the northern end as you descend off the hill as to where this end starts again for your return journey, as this can be a little obscure as well ...
A little overgrown at either ends but the rest is very clean and clear and likely to remain so for many years...
Conclusion......
In the right weather conditions as per the day we rode this track some stunning scenery is for the viewing right from the start to its conclusion...
Across the far.(eastern ) side up under the little patch of beech forest is a good camp site, with good horse feed, water , firewood and shelter....
The Kiwi Pack track.......
Start / Finish ......
The Southern end of this pack track starts in the top western corner of the Lake Sumner.. the original track used to commence further west away from the lake however severe tree fall has shortened the track, which now is accessed across a bit of swampy ground adjacent to the lake .. at this swampy area you will pick up the track about 5 metres up in the beech forest, and its a bit of a scramble just up onto it from the below swampy lake edge, but as the above photo shows once up onto it, it is straight forward...
This historic track will take around 2.5 hours to traverse provided no hold ups with tree fall across you path to contend with...
Around two kilometres on you will start to descend down into the first stream crossing , that being the Three Mile Stream... in this area would make a good sheltered tent camp site with a reasonably large flat camping area above the stream along with good grazing for horses....
The Southern end of this pack track starts in the top western corner of the Lake Sumner.. the original track used to commence further west away from the lake however severe tree fall has shortened the track, which now is accessed across a bit of swampy ground adjacent to the lake .. at this swampy area you will pick up the track about 5 metres up in the beech forest, and its a bit of a scramble just up onto it from the below swampy lake edge, but as the above photo shows once up onto it, it is straight forward...
This historic track will take around 2.5 hours to traverse provided no hold ups with tree fall across you path to contend with...
Around two kilometres on you will start to descend down into the first stream crossing , that being the Three Mile Stream... in this area would make a good sheltered tent camp site with a reasonably large flat camping area above the stream along with good grazing for horses....
Around 30 metres down stream from the swing bridge there is access to get horses down off this above terrace and into the river, then once on the otherside almost opposite this is the resumption of the pack track, that will now climb steadily up hill for the next hour or so towards the Kiwi Saddle...
In this section there are a number of obstacles, including a couple of narrows for pack horse use and further up a lot of tree fall activity.. also another couple of small stream crossings that are a bit rough...
In this section there are a number of obstacles, including a couple of narrows for pack horse use and further up a lot of tree fall activity.. also another couple of small stream crossings that are a bit rough...
Approaching the crest of the saddle there is a sign post indicating another pack track off to the right which will take you steeply down hill past the outlet stream to lake Marion and further down to the northern side of Lake Sumner, where with care one can ride along the shore right around to the bottom of the lake...
The above photo showing the top of the Kiwi Saddle... from here there is a sharp descent for a further 30 minutes to the edge of the beech forest where it meets to upper tussock flats of the Kiwi river area and the end of this section of the pack track...
Leaving the pack track at the upper Kiwi Stream flats, heading for the Kiwi Hut...
Difficulty Level......
Accessing across the head of lake Sumner can be a little swampy in parts, my advise, where possible ride in the lake at the edge as its firmer footing for horses, and also ride up in the little tributary streams as the bottoms have good footings as well.. Once you reach the main Hurunui river the rest of the distance over to the start of the track is easy going, with the last bit of swampy ground right next to the hill where the track start off....
The majority of the actual pack track is reasonably easy going, with beautiful views here and there out over the Lake Sumner itself... along this bush track the sound of endless bird life is amazing to listen to..
Track Condition......
It is advisable to contact the Rangiora DoC office before venturing out to ride this track to find out when the last time the track was cleared of tree fall as this is a major problem after wind in parts..
I would strongly recommend taking a chain saw with you both ways.... a hand saw may be ok but after wind some of the trees downed can be huge....
Parts of the uphill section have narrow areas making pack horse travel difficult for wider packs, and at one or two places these may..... be needed to be removed to allow access...
Conclusion...
This is one of my all time favourite pack tracks to ride out on.... a little challenging at times, conbined with the share beauty of this mountain countryside is breathtaking.... out the Kiwi stream area, gives access to the Lewis pass Road at the far end, or perhaps up thru a further small gorge and up into the Hope river for more scenic countryside to ride thru....
This track is almost a century old and is still in great overall shape.....
It is a must see and ride area.....
Accessing across the head of lake Sumner can be a little swampy in parts, my advise, where possible ride in the lake at the edge as its firmer footing for horses, and also ride up in the little tributary streams as the bottoms have good footings as well.. Once you reach the main Hurunui river the rest of the distance over to the start of the track is easy going, with the last bit of swampy ground right next to the hill where the track start off....
The majority of the actual pack track is reasonably easy going, with beautiful views here and there out over the Lake Sumner itself... along this bush track the sound of endless bird life is amazing to listen to..
Track Condition......
It is advisable to contact the Rangiora DoC office before venturing out to ride this track to find out when the last time the track was cleared of tree fall as this is a major problem after wind in parts..
I would strongly recommend taking a chain saw with you both ways.... a hand saw may be ok but after wind some of the trees downed can be huge....
Parts of the uphill section have narrow areas making pack horse travel difficult for wider packs, and at one or two places these may..... be needed to be removed to allow access...
Conclusion...
This is one of my all time favourite pack tracks to ride out on.... a little challenging at times, conbined with the share beauty of this mountain countryside is breathtaking.... out the Kiwi stream area, gives access to the Lewis pass Road at the far end, or perhaps up thru a further small gorge and up into the Hope river for more scenic countryside to ride thru....
This track is almost a century old and is still in great overall shape.....
It is a must see and ride area.....