Visiting the Forests Ohau—tramping and hunting

Press, 10 January 1987, Page 24

Visiting the Forests Ohau—tramping and hunting

There are six forests in the Ohau area — Dobson, Hopkins, Huxley, Temple, Ohau and Ahuriri. They cover a total of 15,516 hectares and are all administered by the New Zealand Forest Service. TEMPLE STATE FOREST Access: Via Lake Ohau Road to the Temple Forest picnic area. There is ample space for cars, caravans and tents.

A large area of freehold land on the true right of the south branch of the Temple is owned by Lake Ohau Station. Visitors entering other than recreational forest areas should make a courtesy call to the landowner.

Hunting: Chamois, thar and red deer can be found in the alpine basins and high bluffs within each branch of the Temple Stream. Fishing: Rainbow and brown trout frequent the lower reaches of the Temple. Good-sized fish may be taken on a thread-line and dry-fly during the early part of the season.

Track Times: Temple picnic area — Sth Temple Hut hours. Temple picnic area — Nth Temple Hut 2>/ 2 hours.

Additional Routes: From

South Temple it is possible to cross the ranges into the Maitland, Ahuriri, Huxley (south branch) and North Temple valleys. Routes are not well-defined and should be thoroughly researched before departure.

OHAU STATE FOREST Access: Via Lake Ohau Road to Lake Ohau Station homestead. A four-wheel drive track starts approximately 300 metres north of the homestead. After about 40 minutes walking the track end is reached. Access along the vehicle track and into the forest is by foot only. The area surrounding the forest is freehold property owned by Lake Ohau Station. Permission for access to the forest must be sought from the landowner.

Hunting: Red deer and chamois are present in the Maitland Stream catchment.

Fishing: A swift-flowing stream with a rocky bottom, the Maitland carries a limited stock of good-sized rainbow and brown trout for the fly fisherman. Track Times: Lake Ohau Station — Maitland Hut 4 hours.

Maitland Hut — Snowy Gorge Hut 3 hours. Additional Routes: Many easily reached saddles and

ridges link the Maitland with neighbouring valleys — the south branch of the Temple, and the Watson Stream and Snowy Gorge tributaries of the Ahuriri. A full day should be allowed for all of these crossings. . Please note: Tramping in Ohau State Forest and adjacent areas is suggested for fitter parties. DOBSON STATE FOREST Access: Via a road skirting the eastern side of Lake Ohau to Glen Lyon Station. Four-wheel drive access only from Irishman Stream. Depending on river conditions it is possible to walk across to the Dobson Valley from the Hopkins above the river junction. Permission should be obtained from the runholder, Glen Lyon Station, to cross private property before entering the valley. Hunting: There are low to moderate numbers of thar, chamois and deer.

Fishing: The lower reaches of the valley hold good numbers of rainbow and brown trout as far up as Camp Stream. Track Times: — Huxley Lodge — Le Crens Hut 3 hours.

Le Crens Hut — Watson Hut — 2>/ 2 hours.

Watson Hut — Kennedy Hut 2 ! / 2 hours. Kennedy Hut — Waterfall Hut 2 hours. Waterfull Hut — Reardon Hut iy 2 hours.

Additional Routes: There are a number of high, alpine routes at the head of the valley. These are suitable for experienced parties only. HUXLEY AND HOPKINS STATE FORESTS

Access: Via Lake Ohau Road, 18 kilometres up the Hopkins Valley from the Lake Ohau Lodge to.the Monument road end and picnic area. It is advised to leave vehicles at the parking point before the Hopkins River bed, as heavy rain may cause the river to rise preventing a return to the access road.

Hunting: Deer, chamois and thar are present in low numbers in both forests.

Fishing: Large brown and rainbow trout can be caught as far upstream as the confluence of the Hopkins and Huxley Rivers.

Track Times: Monument Hut — Huxley Forks Huts 3 hours.

Lookout Track 1 hour. Huxley Forks Huts — Brodrick Hut 2>/ 2 hours. Huxley Forks Huts — Sth Huxley Biv. hours.

Monument Hut — Elcho Hut 4 hours.

Elcho Hut — Apricot Hut hour. Apricot Hut to Dodger Hut —2 hours.

. Dodger Hut — Erceg Hut .3 hours. Monument Hut — Red Hut 2 hours.

Hopkins Valley Floor — Cullers Biv. 2 liours.

Erceg and Brodrick Huts have gas bottles for cooking fuel. Please inform the Forest Service, Omarama, when, supplies are low.

AHURIRI STATE FOREST Access: There is twowheel drive access into the forest as far as Canyon Creek. Sections of the track are subject to washing out after storms. Up to date information on the condition of the track can be sought from Birchwood Station or the N.Z. Forest Service office in Omarama.

Permission to travel past the Birchwood Station stockyards must be gained from the runholder.

Hunting: Low numbers of chamois can be found above the bushline and on run j country to the south and east of the forest. Permission to shoot on run country must be obtained from the land-, owner. Thar frequent, in low; numbers, both the upper Canyon Creek area and the area from Mt Huxley south, on the true right of the Ahuriri River, to Canyon Stream. Deer are present in the forested or partly forested area of the Ahuriri Forest. Fishing: There is limited 'fishing for rainbow and brown trout as far as the Canyon Creek confluence,and in some of the Ahuriri tarns. Track Times: Ahuriri Base Hut — Shamrock Hut 2 hours.

Shamrock Hut — Hagens Hut l*/ 2 hours. Hagens Hut — Ahuriri Top Hut 1 hour. Additional Routes: Canyon Creek can be used as an approach to Mt Barth or other peaks between the Ahuriri and Hunter Valleys; alternatively, a route exists* over the range on the true left, dropping back into the Ahuriri. A stock track leads from the Ahuriri Base Hut to the Dingle Burn, in the Hawea catchment. Contact N.Z. Forest Service, Lake Hawea, for more details.

Travelling times are approximate and one way. They may vary with party size and levels of fitness.

. Beware of avalanches, even on the valley floor, during September, October and November.

Permission to cross private land should be obtained from runholders. Details available from the N.Z. Forest Service office in Onjarama.