We met up with the rest of the group on Mt Buster Road, aired down and had a briefing. The plan was to travel along Long Ridge Track, having lunch at a musterer’s hut before dropping down to Tailings hut and finally stopping in at the Mt Buster Gold Diggings, New Zealand's highest altitude gold field.

We took the steep climb up Mt Buster and stopped to take in the excellent views towards Central Otago and the Maniototo Plains. On a fine day you are able to see both Mts Cook and Aspiring.

From the golden tussock-lined spur we dropped down a very steep track to Guffies Creek, a tributary of the Otematata River. We then had a short break at Tailings Hut.

The Mt Buster diggings were our next goal so we left Tailings Hut behind and wound our way through many creek crossings before climbing steeply up out of the valley.

Between Labour weekend and 30 April all the tracks are open and this would be the best time to travel.

I'll certainly be packing my swag and spending some more time here, maybe I'll see you there!

To check out where Bonnie went go to http://www.doc.govt.nz/oteake
 
To read the full story in the February 2016 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (on sale January 25) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.