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Lake Coleridge Base Camp – 9-11 May 2025
Sunday, May 11th, 2025
Trip Report: Lake Coleridge Base Camp, May 9-11 2025
The first group of four drove through rain and surface flooding for 3.5 hours on Friday afternoon, arriving before dark to start a fire and warm the bach for the next group arriving after work.
With brilliant weather on Saturday morning, we set off at 8am to climb Peak Hill at 1240m. It is an unrelenting climb to the top, taking 1.5 hours, with magnificent views east down the Rakaia to the coast, and west up the Wilberforce, Mathias and Rakaia Rivers to the snow covered Southern Alps. Vast and breathtaking.
Rather than descending the same way, we took the circuit back to the car park. This route takes much longer, following the west ridge down to a fence line. We found orange poles to follow on the route around the hill but had to push through bracken and matagouri.
Then, to make the most of a perfect day, the advance party of five drove around the Lake to the Ryton Track. We followed around the base of Little Mt Ida to Lake Ida, an easy, achievable track in under an hour. Deeply shaded in autumn and winter, Lake Ida used to be popular for skating.
Another clear crisp day on Sunday saw Tizzy taking us on a walking tour of the Village and hydro scheme. Lake Coleridge power station was built in 1910 and powered all of Christchurch in the early days. One group of four then headed home, stopping to walk the 45 minute track to the lookout on the Rakaia Gorge track. (We now want to walk the entire trail!)
The other group stayed on at the bach, taking time to explore further along the Ryton Track to Lake Catherine, an hour on from Lake Ida with wide open views of the Ryton river and the valley leading to the Harper River. Then back to the car for another Tizzy tour, this time to the head of Lake Coleridge and the Harper diversion, then down to the foot of the Lake to finish the day with walking the Lake Hill track, joining up to the Intake Rd just as the sun set over a gleaming, shimmering silvery Lake Coleridge. Absolutely beautiful!
Thank you Tizzy for making Base Camp possible. We look forward to more adventures exploring the hidden rivers, hills and lakes of the Rakaia.
Jenny Kitchin
April 2025 Clubnight
Monday, April 14th, 2025
March 2025 clubnight
Monday, March 10th, 2025
Jenny chaired our meeting.
Mt Titiroa Traverse – 5-9 February 2025
Sunday, February 9th, 2025
Mt Titiroa Trasverse, Hope Arm to North Borland 5th– 9th February 2025
Two cars headed for Borland Lodge on Wednesday, with the group of six staying at Ryan’s Cottage. Next morning, we left one car at Borland Lodge and Julian managed to cram all six of us and our packs into his Everest, heading for Pearl Harbour at Lake Manapouri.
Clint from River Taxis was waiting for us at
8.30 am, ferrying us through the mist to Hope Arm in 30 minutes, pointing out islands and landmarks on the way. Chartering a boat for six was a reasonably cheap option.
After checking out Hope Arm hut, we set off at 9.20 am directly behind the hut, following the Snow White Clearing Track which climbs steadily through a ‘goblin forest’, before dropping steeply to Garnock Burn. In the bush, just before Garnock Burn, we were entertained by a sole kea sitting on the log preening himself, showing off his wing feathers.
We arrived at Pt1017 about 2.30 pm, tired from hauling ourselves up the ridge and surrounded by thick mist, so decided to camp close to the nearest stream. We found a perfect sandy flat campsite, just where the stream springs from the mountain below Pt 1017.
Next morning, still shrouded in mist, we packed up and set off at 7.30 am towards the summit and within 5 minutes we emerged from the mist into bright sunshine. As we quickly climbed, following footprints up the sandy slope, we had clear views over a vast sea of fog covering Lake Manapouri of Mt Tutuko, the Murchison and Kepler Mountains.
As we climbed the main rocky North Ridge of Titiroa, we were fascinated by the amazing shaped quartz-rich granite tors, weathered by wind, frost, and rain. We climbed our way around them, marvelling at the tiny mountain gentians, edelweiss and hebes growing in the sand, and reached the summit at 11.15 am.
From the summit of Mt Titiroa (1715m), we continued along the ridge southwards, scrambling around the steeper sections on the lower eastern side, with fine views across to the Hunter mountains. At Pt1581 we dropped down towards the North Borland Valley, following a broad ridge to a group of tarns near the bushline. It is just like running down a vast sandhill and progress was quick until we reached the bushline at 2.45pm. There is no obvious track through the dense bush, and although two bits of coloured tape marked a route on the true right of the creek draining the tarns, we think it would be better to follow a spur on the true left.
After pushing our way through the bush, we finally arrived at the North Borland hut and set up camp, at about 4pm. Next morning we followed a well-marked track that leads through beautiful beech forest, passed under the massive rock biv at 10.30, and lunched by the swing bridge that spans the South Borland branch. 5 hours after leaving the hut, we reached Borland Lodge, and Julian ferried everyone back to Manapouri and Te Anau in the waiting car. Thanks to Robbie, Julian, Lynette, Lorenna, and Colin for an epic trip. Jenny Kitchin.
‘Love Our Huts’ Campaign December 5-7th 2024
Friday, December 13th, 2024
With a fine weather window on Thursday 5th, 3 of us left Oamaru at 1pm. The road to Monument hut has been undercut by the river in places and with other wash outs driving was slow. We finally parked 2 km away from Monument hut. This meant a late start at 5pm, but with 5 hours of light left on a clear evening we hoped to reach Elcho before dark.
However, with the Hopkins River running high and swift, we needed to take all the high-water tracks through the bush. Making slow progress, by 10pm we faced an impenetrable wall of tree fall and dense undergrowth of beech saplings. With no sign of orange markers and no way through in the dark, we decided it best to sleep out in the bush under the stars. The beech leaves made a soft and spongy bed, so we pulled on hats and jackets and snuggled into sleeping bags. At first light we pushed, climbed and bashed our way through the bush before heading on to Elcho hut for breakfast.
Elcho hut is well maintained by NZ Alpine Club, but it was still satisfying to scrub benches and clean windows of sandflies (using the blue bucket that Karyl carried in), sweep under bunks, and weed around the hut. It is a unique hut with a great sense of history and retains a traditional feel.
Meanwhile, Mark and Nicky were following us up the valley on Friday, with Mark driving all the way to Monument hut in his Toyota Hilux. After walking part way up to Elcho and back, they settled into Monument Hut for the night, then next day cleared the track, stacked dry firewood, and polished up the hut.
Early Saturday the three of us at Elcho, being advised by a friendly hunter that it would be safe to take the lower river route now, set off back down the valley. Passing beech forest ablaze with flowering mistletoe is a highlight in December, and we marvelled at the abundance of crimson flowers billowing above us.
The Huxley River was still running high, so after checking for possible crossings, we opted on the side of caution and detoured into the bush to cross the swing bridge. As we headed briskly to Monument Hut over the river flats, Mark suddenly appeared to announce that hot sausages were sizzling in the pan for us at the hut. And, even more welcome, a ride back to Colin’s car was waiting for us!
We can report that Monument and Elcho huts are looking clean, tidy and well loved. Our hunter friend also reported that Cullers hut has been painted and is in good condition. Thanks to a great team of Colin, Karyl, Mark and Nicky for joining in and supporting ‘Love our Huts.’
Jenny Kitchin