High country afternoon

[countryguy]

Had the day off so went for a blat out the back of Hanmer 5hrs, 130k's sore arse!

Check out the pics

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34778980@N06/sets/72157623223340219/

A tad nervous being out there as no repair kit/pump and had to cross the Waiau River 4 times getting to and from the lake with water half way up the wheels...but all good!

Really impressed with the new gearing on my DR
over some reasonable rough country, great to have engine braking comming down some moderatly steep faces.

[cooneyr]

Hi there. You need to let us know when you are going to go and look at places like this. I'm sure I'm not the only one that wants to get in there! I'll be digging out the topo's to have a better look at where you went tomorrow.

Cheers R

[monchopper]

Did you go over Maling Pass near Lake Tennyson then down the river to Laky Guyon?
I had been looking at that as the Maling Pass looks to be a public road on the Cadastral Map?

[Skinny_Birdman]

Did you go over Maling Pass near Lake Tennyson then down the river to Laky Guyon?
I had been looking at that as the Maling Pass looks to be a public road on the Cadastral Map?

Seems to be, it is shown as legal road on SO 681, and there is no obvious sign that it has been stopped. Unfortunately our aerial photography doesn't cover it, so I can't tell you how closely the track appears to follow the legal road, although overlaying the topo on the cadastral layout shows it wandering around a fair bit, especially at the Waiau River end. Usual story I guess, checking with adjoining landowner..... DOC.

[countryguy]

Did you go over Maling Pass near Lake Tennyson then down the river to Laky Guyon?
I had been looking at that as the Maling Pass looks to be a public road on the Cadastral Map?

Your on to it! Up until now the area has been in private ownership (St James Station) and part of the legal road was from Lake Tennyson across a swamp to the formed 4x4 track on the station and impassable. There has always been access to those in the know.

It is now our latest National Park and DOC are already stuffing it up. At the moment there is a roading contractor out there ruining what was a good farm track by trying to form a 'road' of sorts. In so doing they have exposed kilometres of clay that will make the 'road' impassable in wet conditions unless they metal it. If they do it will get washed away and washed out in many places....just idiotic!

It looks like they are pushing a road through to Lake Guyon to avoid crossing the River even though the previous owners managed for generations.

It is a magic piece of country ideal for bikes with terraces, creek crossings, some quite big faces you can ride up and of course magic scenery. There is a DOC hut at lake guyon and another old ex farm hut not far from the lake.

Its a great day or overnight trip ex Hanmer. From Lake Tennyson to Lake Guyon is about 25k's all off road but at the moment you can only get there when the Waiau River is low. Its also possible to ride down to beyond 'The Ada' furthur down the river via the river terraces.

[countryguy]

Seems to be, it is shown as legal road on SO 681, and there is no obvious sign that it has been stopped. Unfortunately our aerial photography doesn't cover it, so I can't tell you how closely the track appears to follow the legal road, although overlaying the topo on the cadastral layout shows it wandering around a fair bit, especially at the Waiau River end. Usual story I guess, checking with adjoining landowner..... DOC.

Remember the onus is on the landowner to prove your NOT on the legal road not the other way around. A lot of the legal roads in this area are just lines on a map.

In due course there will be legal access by vehicle into this area courtesy of DOC. There are still cattle out there and vehicle access is restricted until the property is destocked.

Check out Lake Guyon on 'Google Earth' and you can pretty much follow the route.

You can also get a dirt bike to the top of Fowlers Pass from the Clarence Valley.

[cooneyr]

Remember the onus is on the landowner to prove your NOT on the legal road not the other way around. A lot of the legal roads in this area are just lines on a map....

Interesting position but I'm not convinced of this. It is up to you not to tresspass I though? What is the law cause the position you stated opens a huge can of worms for landowners.

It is still a cool area that I'm itiching to get into. I'd seen the "destocking" signs and am hanging out for the day this happens!

Cheers R

[The Baron]

Very nice post and great photo's. Thanks.

[countryguy]

Interesting position but I'm not convinced of this. It is up to you not to tresspass I though? What is the law cause the position you stated opens a huge can of worms for landowners.

It is still a cool area that I'm itiching to get into. I'd seen the "destocking" signs and am hanging out for the day this happens!

Cheers R
I looked at doing tours through the area over 10 years ago and was advised by the then Lands and Survey dept that the onus was on the landowner to prove you weren't on the legal road. By law you were able to access the road by foot, horse,or vehicle but were prohibited to carry a firearm or take a take a dog on it. As far as I am aware this is still the case. Most landowners resort to 'bluff' as they are unaware of the law and seek to deny access under the misguided assumption that you have to prove you are on the legal road or they are just ignorant enough to be staunch and stand firm.

[monchopper]

Remember the onus is on the landowner to prove your NOT on the legal road not the other way around. A lot of the legal roads in this area are just lines on a map.

It's worth remembering there is a big difference between trespassing and being prosecuted for trespassing.
If you believe you're on a public road and have no intention of trespassing then you won't be prosecuted for trespassing.

[buggsubique]

After the other weekend when my 4x4 flatted and my front bike tyre flatted you wouldn't catch me in there without a spare tube & pump!

Awesome pics. Always a solid adventure riding solo aye! Love your work.

[Skinny_Birdman]

I looked at doing tours through the area over 10 years ago and was advised by the then Lands and Survey dept that the onus was on the landowner to prove you weren't on the legal road.
Lands and Survey Dept? They ceased to exist in 1986!! But seriously, as a professional in the field I would take legal advice on that matter, and I wouldn't necessarily take it from LINZ (unless you spoke to someone fairly high up the chain). As Monchopper says, there is a big difference between trespassing and being prosecuted for trespassing, but there is also a difference between any other crime, and being prosecuted for same. If you trespass, you are in violation of someone's property rights. IMHO it is better to contact adjoining landowners and seek permission, rather than start from a confrontational point of view. Of course, I am not suggesting that this applies to this particular route.....

[monchopper]

IMHO it is better to contact adjoining landowners and seek permission, rather than start from a confrontational point of view

Totally agree (unless it's DOC land) If I can see a road on the cadastral map AND it relates to track on the ground in google earth AND it's DOC land then I'm in no questions....BUT if its private land, a polite phone call goes along way.

Just my 2c worth

[countryguy]

From what I've heard locally DOC are issuing keys for fisherman to drive in. Contact is DOC Rangiora.

[Skinny_Birdman]

If I can see a road on the cadastral map AND it relates to track on the ground in google earth AND it's DOC land then I'm in no questions.

Fair enough, unless it just looks like a road!

196383
This graphic shows the area at the north of Sec I Blk II Maungatapu SD, which the Maungatapu track traverses for a good portion of its length. The parcel highlighted orange used to be road, but was stopped by the Council in 1988 and a freehold title issued (severing all legal road access to the north of this parcel :weep: - mind you, it was miles from the actual track). The only way I can tell the difference in cadastral mapping software is that I am able to turn on owner's names and title refs, because I have access to Terraview which costs megabucks.
I know I bang on about this a lot, but there are heaps of these former road parcels around, and most of them look even more indistinguishable from actual road than this one.

[Skinny_Birdman]

From what I've heard locally DOC are issuing keys for fisherman to drive in. Contact is DOC Rangiora.

So did you get a key when you went in, or can bikes get around the gates? I'm not trying to wind you up, it looks like a place I'd like to have a nosy at too.