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IT WAS A CASE OF ‘GREAT SCOTT’ ON 4X4EXLORER RICHARD SOULT’S RETURN ‘HOME’ AS HIS TIMARU-BASED ‘ TRAILMATE’ PUT TOGETHER A FANTASTIC ‘WELCOME-HOME’ OVERLAND LOOP.
Barely two weeks back in New Zealand after our European trip logging routes for 4x4Explorer, the call came from my partner in crime, Mr Scott Gray. He was organising a trip down in South Canterbury, taking in some of my favourite routes. The plan was for the convoy to meet in Timaru, traverse Mount Studholme, head to Kurow, up to Omarama, over the saddle, descend the West Branch, lunch at Saint Bathans then head over the Cluden-Lauder to the Lindis Pass.
I thought that this was quite an ambitious plan for two days but I was as keen as mustard to get back out on the tracks and happy to go with the flow.
Truly outstanding
I have previously written about Mount Studholme and it is truly an outstanding route. Barely half an hour from Timaru, the route climbs quickly to the summit from where the views are breathtaking! Looking to the east, you can follow the Tasman coastline right up to Christchurch and to the west, the views out over the Southern Divide are endless.
We chose a reasonably challenging descent from the summit and with everyone in 4WD low and concentrating on the loose rocky track, the radio chatter reduced to nothing.
Once at Kurow, the convoy split up. Having a petrol vehicle, I detached myself and headed to Omarama to fill up. The others filled up with diesel at Otematata and we met up again at Omarama. A quick trip to the supermarket for last-minute items and then we were off again and up to the saddle.
I always enjoy the drive up to the Omarama Saddle and down the west branch of the Manuherikia River. On a clear day, the views from the Saddle are impressive out over the Southern Alps. The day we had chosen however was heavily overcast with low cloud and mist making the scene very moody and mysterious.
Overlanding at its best!
As we headed down the west branch there was a reasonable amount of water running. Not enough to cause any concern but enough for some good splashes. Despite being in a valley I love this route with its twists and turns and multiple small river crossings. Overlanding at its very best!
By the time we reached the Homestead campsite and started to drive out towards St Bathans, it was already 18.30pm. We had clearly missed lunch at the Vulcan and, having left Christchurch at 07.30am, I for one, was starting to think about a nice warm hut and a glass of something relaxing.
Luckily everyone else was feeling the same and so a decision was made to turn around and head back to the Boundary Creek Hut about six kilometres further back up the track.
Great night
I had never stayed in this hut before and was delighted to find it very similar to Top Hut with bunks, large dining table and clean cooking area. Someone had been kind enough to leave behind a large bag of coal and quickly the stove and candles were lit, creating a warm and cosy environment for the evening meal and banter.
I had been planning on sleeping in the truck but couldn’t resist the warmth and shelter that the hut had to offer, so brought my sleeping bag inside and had a very confortable night listening to the corrugated iron creaking in the wind that was blowing outside.
The following morning we awoke refreshed and ready for another excellent day of Overlanding. The cloud appeared to have lifted a bit and we were looking forward to some good high altitude views on the Cluden Lauder track.
We headed back down and into St Bathans and were pleasantly surprised that the Vulcan was open and that the landlady was happy to sell us takeaway refreshments at “special Christmas prices”. (Note to self, bring more than enough for you and your friends to avoid bankruptcy!)
Photo Op
After a few photos by the Blue Lake and outside the pub, we headed off to the start of the track at the Lauder Station. While the start is marked, it’s a little deceiving, as it is a grassy slope that didn’t look like it had seen a 4WD for a long time. A quick hello to the farmer who called out “Enjoy the mud!” and we were on our way...
We knew that there were going to be a few boggy sections but thought that they were before the Lauder Basin Hut and with safety in numbers, we weren’t overly concerned. We climbed quickly and continued through rocky terrain filled with strange and intriguing rock structures which are a feature of the landscape down there. And after an hour or so, we started to descend to the Lauder Basin Hut.
This very basic hut is set in a valley next to a delightful stream, which, on a hot summer day would have offered great refreshment. Whilst it looked very enticing, the day that we were there was too cold to get any of us into the water.
Sitting there enjoying a “4x4Explorer burger”, we reflected on the fact that this hut had been our objective for the previous day and we were all happy that we hadn’t had to spend a windy wet night there. We were also intrigued that we hadn’t found any mud…
Stuck fast!
Leaving the hut, we climbed back up and rejoined the main track out to the Cluden Station. Not far in and the call came out “I’ve found some mud”. The first couple of bogs were reasonably deep but with solid bases. We were actually slightly disappointed that they weren’t more challenging and then, full of confidence, the inevitable happened. The lead vehicle was bogged with mud up over the wheels. There was a “chicken track” skirting the obstacle which maybe should have given us a clue, but no worries, there were four of us.
A first attempt at a snatch recovery saw the recovery vehicle also bogged, we knew that we had to exercise some caution. A daisy chain was created and we managed to get all vehicles free. If there had only been two of us, we would have been far more careful...
Towards the end of the track, the views over the Lindis Valley are awesome and seeing the end of the track approaching on the GPS, it was one of those days that I didn’t want to end.
I was happy though to be back in New Zealand and reunited with old friends. The Cluden Lauder track has been logged and will shortly be available on https://www.4x4explorer.co.nz/?aff+2818