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Thread: The Maungatapu Diaries

  1. #1
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    The Maungatapu Diaries

    It's as good a name as any I suppose.
    A place for Maungatapu related trivia, ride reports and info.

    The track in it's present layout dates to 1860 and was used as a stagecoach and gold route between Nelson and Pelorus.
    In 1866 the Burgess/Kelly gang murdered 5 people on June 12 and 13.
    "Murderers Rock" is still there.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maungatapu_murders

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Quote Originally Posted by NCC
    Maungatapu Track closed to assess damage

    Posted by Nelson City Council on 27 October 2009

    Following the weekend tragedy along the Maungatapu Track, Council is temporarily closing the through road (Nelson-Pelorous) to all traffic to assess damage caused to the road in the rescue and recent wet weather.

    Large rescue vehicles were involved in a fatal 4WD accident on the track on Saturday night and heavy rain fell both before and after the incident.

    Senior Executive Technical Services, Alec Louverdis, says it's unclear how long the temporary closure will be for, but with the current wet conditions, it could be some time.

    Council is erecting temporary closure signage at the entrance to the road and will advise the public when it is reopened. The Marlborough District Council has also been contacted to introduce a closure to the road from its end.

    The public is asked to be patient during this temporary closure
    It's a special place.
    These are just views from the summit at different times.





    It's still closed...

  2. #2
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    Some topics to start it off
    1. The original route Dusty Butt 1000km in 24 hour adventure ride goes over it
    2. To the best of my knowedge it is the one of the key routes, if not the original route for Maori and settlers into Nelson.
    3. My inlaws have been going over it in cars, 4x4, riding motorbikes and walking over it for almost 40 years.
    "The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools." - Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher (1820-1903)

  3. #3
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    First piece of trivia:
    Where is it?


  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Squiggles View Post
    First piece of trivia:
    Where is it?
    http://www.zoomin.co.nz/map/nz/nelso...ngatapu+track/

    Nordie will have Google Earth bits I'm sure but this will give you an idea.

    edit: but on closer inspection, maybe not - from Nelson City go to the Maitai Valley, goes over to Pelorous.

  5. #5
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    Next piece of trivia: There is a point near the Maungatapu Saddle called Surveyor's Flat. It's less skody than most surveyor's flats, I'll wager! Pity the surveyor in question didn't create a legal road while he was up there... selah.
    Quote Originally Posted by NordieBoy View Post
    It's still closed...
    Boo!
    Nobody knows what human life is, why we come, why we go,
    so why then do I know, I will see you in far off places?
    Stephen Patrick Morrissey

  6. #6
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    Surveyor's Flat has just enough room to swing a possum.

    There's also a house on the other side up in the bush. Wired for power, 2 fireplaces, outhouse, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and sunroom.

    Abandoned...

  7. #7
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    Got a lead today.
    Need to go trawling through some 35 year old court records...

    Watch this space...

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by NordieBoy View Post
    Got a lead today.
    Need to go trawling through some 35 year old court records...

    Watch this space...

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by NordieBoy View Post
    Surveyor's Flat has just enough room to swing a possum.

    There's also a house on the other side up in the bush. Wired for power, 2 fireplaces, outhouse, kitchen, 2 bedrooms and sunroom.

    Abandoned...
    just waiting for me to shift
    'Good things come to those who wait'
    Bollocks, get of your arse and go get it

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by dino3310 View Post
    just waiting for me to shift
    Not since the idiot trying to clean the area up felled a tree on it...
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  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by NordieBoy View Post
    Not since the idiot trying to clean the area up felled a tree on it...
    Handymans dream then or if you prefer..... a renovators delight

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by JATZ View Post
    Handymans dream then or if you prefer..... a renovators delight
    and free firewood all ready felled waiting to be ringed
    'Good things come to those who wait'
    Bollocks, get of your arse and go get it

  13. #13
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    Access update

    Today I had a meeting with a Nelson City Council staffer. Very positive. At present road reconstruction and repairs are still in progress, and they would prefer not to have anyone on it as it is not stable; they have not stopped the water damage in a couple of key places so will need to do further work and/or re-route the road.

    In the past, none of the four corporates with assets in there nor the council have done any preventive maintenance, playing a game of musical chairs: if the road is fcuked when you need to get in there, then you'll have to cough up for the repairs! Going forward they are building a maintenance programme, because if they can keep the water draining properly, the road surface won't get rooted!

    It is likely to be stable by summer, at which time access on a notified basis would be allowed; that is, contact them to arrange a key or for the gate/s to be unlocked. They do not see motorcycles as a threat to the road, once it is fixed.

    And further, he suggested a couple of other areas within NCC control that we could use, and will set up meetings with the caretakers in those areas.

    One of the areas is Linton Hill: it's an NCC reserve, not part of the forest. They deliberately built the gate at the bottom with a motorcycle-sized gap on one side, quote, "in order not to piss everybody off", unquote. Apparently the road across the top is in the reserve, and then some. I shall try to get the boundary defined. Sometimes there is stock in that paddock which need the usual care, otherwise it's pretty much open to use.

    So, in return for having to ask to get access, we may end up with some more riding areas!
    Cheers,
    Colin

    Quote Originally Posted by Steve McQueen
    All racers I know aren't in it for the money. They race because it's something inside of them... They're not courting death. They're courting being alive.

  14. #14
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    Good work Colin.
    This is a great example of how to liase with authorities on access issues.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by XF650 View Post
    Good work Colin.
    This is a great example of how to liase with authorities on access issues.
    Agreed. Thanks.

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