HOLIDAY ON HORSEBACK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 June 1935, Page 8

HOLIDAY ON HORSEBACK

HANMER SPRINGS VISITED TARNDALE ROUTE TAKEN During the last, school term holidays Mr and Mrs J. Tomlinson and Ali’ss Betty Marshall schoolmistress of Kikina made a horse-back trip to .Hanmer Springs and back via the Rainbow, Tarndale and Clarence. Although late in tho year and held up by flooded rivers and’snow the trip was thoroughly enjoyed. This is a trip well worth taking in summer months by horse-back riders who enjoy a ride away from the main roads, and get a view of the rough country. The accommodation being all that is desired and the tracks although rougher than twenty years ago are still quite passable. The first stage on Tuesday 14th AJay was made to the Rainbow a little over thirty miles. The track leaves the main road on Red Hills flat and is an old dray road running up the right bank of the Wairau river through miles of hush avenues, emerging omo liver flats every few miles, with occasional rough creeks to cross. The Wairau river has to be crossed twice at the slips, and then about four miles to the Rainbow, where we arrived about dusk. Air McKenzie having been advised of our coming by wireless, had a good hot meal and fire ready for us, and we were afterwards entertained by wireless from different stations.

The track to Tarndale crosses the Wairau river about a mile above the Rainbow. The hush country now being left behind about three miles of tussock flat is crossed, which leads to the mouth of the Wairau Gorge. The track is hewn out of solid rock for over a mile.) but lias been blocked for several years so it is now necessary fo climb up a narrow zig zag way several hundred feet above, the gorge, and back to the river bed at Cold Water Creek. Several photographs were taken around what is known as Hell’s Gale.

Then up the river bed for about four miles to the Fingerpost, where the Wairau river is left, and across a flat for about five miles to Tarndale which is an out station of Alolesworth 3,300 ft high, where we stayed the second night. Next morning we left about half past seven, ancl decided to go by the Five ‘Mile pass which is about forty miles to Hanmer, and shorter than the dray road down the Acheron. The track is about seven miles up the Alma river which has been blocked by recent slips due to thunderstorms, and a small lake being formed so it is now necessary to go over the fence and continue up on the St. Helen’s side to the Yarra Saddle, then down the Yarra for about- five miles, and turn up a small crock and over tho Five Alile pass and down to the Acheron river where the dray road is reached, which is followed for about five miles to the Clarence Accommodation House, where we procured a good lunch, and horse feedsWe left there about 3 pan. and forded tho Clarence River and then along a good metalled road to Hanmer this being the last fourteen miles of the journey. A splendid view is obtained from the top of Jolly’s Pass of Hanmer, and the State forests, before descending down on to the Hanmer plain. We were exceptionally well treated by Mr and Airs Glass of Hanmer House and spent a day looking around the sights, and enjoying the sulphur baths, also met several old friends. An early start was made next morning oil the return journey and although the weather looked bad, we reached Tarndale about 5 o’clock, only having one heavy shower on the Jolly’s Pass. Towards midnight it commenced to rain heavily and continued until midday next day. With melting snow On the hills, the rivers were in high flood. It was necessary to stay tho day, Air McCormick the station cook, looked after us well with a good fire, hot meals and cups of tea, which was much appreciated. Towards evening it snowed about five inches, and then a heavy frost which put the rivers down. Next morning it was bright sunshine with a cold wind, but before the Wairau River was reached it had turned into a head-on snow storm, and continued all day. The horses refused to face it on the ridges. We reached the Rainbow about 2 p.m., having safely negotiated the rivers, and the gorge, several inches of snow falling during the day. There was about three inches of snow on our hats and oilskins when wo got to the Rainbow, but a good cup of tea, change of clothing and fire put us right. It cleared up at night, out again commenced to snow heavily next morning. So we decided to stay by Air AlcKenzie’s fireside. A radiogram was sent to our people to inform them of our liold-up. Snow fell most of the day. It was fine next morning so we started for home, there being a foot, of snow at the Rainbow when we left. This decreased as we got along, the ground being quite clear at the Woolshed Flat. We arrived home about 3 p.m. none the worse for our nine days’ trip. The horses also stood the journey well, the distance being about 170 miles.