The best week’s holiday in my life. How else could I describe a trip through country of breathtaking beauty?
And to think that it all began with an email. Would we be interested in a week-long mid-winter 4x4 trip through the Canterbury high country? Our confirmation was registered within minutes. John McDonald, the Southern Zone PRO had organised a trip the previous year and it was full within days and we missed out, so no mucking around this time.
A total of 24 trucks registered, ranging from Tim’s old Landy to Kevin’s new Jeep. Our Nissan had the big tyres fitted and balanced, the snorkel, which had been a work in progress for some time, finally finished and fitted, and a good check-up of wheel bearings, suspension etc.
Saturday morning June 28 we were packed and on the road at 1000hrs, in convoy with the other Dunedinites with our first night spent at the Methven Motor Camp so we could be at the trip meeting point at the Rakaia Gorge Camping Ground at 0900hrs.
John was last to arrive towing a trailer with a barbeque on board and masses of food. A drivers’ briefing and we were on the road, heading up to Lake Coleridge. Our accommodation here was in three different places. We stayed in the Lower Glenthorne Lodge so called in there and unpacked before continuing up the valley.
The next group were at the Upper Glenthorne Lodge, so they diverted off to unpack and we continued up the Harper River valley to the Retreat where the hardiest souls were staying without the benefit of electricity!!
That said, they did have gas cooking, water heating and lighting, plus a flush toilet, and a log burner so it was not as bad as a DOC hut.
We had out lunch there, then it was straight into a gnarly first river crossing over the Harper River, our snorkel proving its worth as the water flooded over the bonnet, obscuring the windscreen.
Once all through we divided into two groups with one going up the Avoca River and the other continuing up the Harper River. The Pinnacles, a bizarre rock formation, were a surprise in the otherwise rugged landscape.
We reached the end of the valley and returned to the Retreat with no major problems, though I was feeling quite nervous about the river crossings as they were often deep and swift, with boulders ready to catch the unwary. That said, the leaders’ good navigating ensured safety first.
Day’s end and a roast dinner at the Retreat finished off an wonderful, clear, sunny day and we drove the 30 minutes back to our accommodation reflecting on the day we had had.
Marion Claver
