Story & photos by Richard Soult, 4x4Explorer
On a recent route logging trip around Otago with my father, I was keen to have a fresh look at the Waikaia Bush Road to check it’s condition. I hadn’t been there for several years and not since 38 4WD drivers got stuck in a snow storm in May 2016 and needed rescuing, leaving their vehicles behind.
This is not a track to be taken lightly as the weather can change extremely quickly and rain can make the mud holes deep and an easy trap for the inexperienced or solo Explorer. In May 2016, over one metre of snow fell in a few hours leading to an overnight and significant rescue.
I had heard that the track had been recently bulldozed and was currently in good condition. Being a solo explorer in my unmodified Toyota Prado, we waited for a good weather window and gave it a go, quite prepared to turn around if we met anything that could involve us getting bogged in.
To the Obelisk
We left the main road and headed up to the Obelisk on the Old Man Range. The weather was great and the views were stunning. From here we headed south to gain the Waikaia Bush Rd. I’ve no idea why its called a bush road as at nearly 1400m, there is no bush at all…….
The reports had been correct and the going was good. The few mud holes that we encountered were reasonably shallow and the base was solid. We started our descent towards Piano Flat and came across the famous Stone Steps. From here, the going was an easy gravel road with some steep drop-offs, but nothing technically difficult.
Piano Flat
We stopped while passing through the lower forested area and gathered some firewood for the evening. On arriving at the Piano Flat campsite, we were amazed. This campsite, whilst being easily accessible by car is remote! The grass was cut to cricket pitch standard and is right next to the Waikaia River. If it had been warmer and we had arrived earlier in the day, the swimming opportunities would have been awesome. On a fine day in March, we had the campsite to ourselves and had a very enjoyable evening around a campfire in one of the many fireplaces provided.
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To read the full story in the November 2018 issue of NZ4WD go to Zinio.com (October 19) or purchase your own hard copy at the Adrenalin store.
