South Island back roads?

[BMWST?]

Tell them to take warm clothing ... That road goes over the highest bit of ground from there to Antarctica.

Unstuck was NOT kidding about the bog holes swallowing trucks ... you need thigh high waders to walk through the puddles.

Will do,appreciated

[unstuck]

If they are coming this far, they may as well do the Borland and percy saddles in Fiordland, just out of Manapouri. They would need extra underwear though.

A winch and all the recovery gear in the south island wont help you if you hit one of the swamps wrong on the whitcombe rd(shingle creek). I once spent a long day walking a 20 ton digger up there to rescue a stuck truck, and the only way I found it was they were clever enough to leave a marker with a bit of rag tied around it in the bit of swamp they last saw the truck. The roof of the truck was a good meter and a half under the surface.

[BMWST?]

If they are coming this far, they may as well do the Borland and percy saddles in Fiordland, just out of Manapouri. They would need extra underwear though.

Noted!!!!!

[unstuck]

Noted!!!!!

If they do decide to do the percy and borland, when the sign at the end of the road says road ends, thats exactly what it means. Even though it still looks completely doable, there is nowhere to turn around and it is a long way in reverse with only inches between you and space.

[BMWST?]

If they do decide to do the percy and borland, when the sign at the end of the road says road ends, thats exactly what it means. Even though it still looks completely doable, there is nowhere to turn around and it is a long way in reverse with only inches between you and space.

Also noted!

[FJRider]

A few (goat) tracks go up to the old Shelite mines near Glenochy ... a head for heights essential.

[BMWST?]

[QUOTE=unstuck;1130685601]

Probably my old man. Bust his water tank too, the silly old goat.

Shingle creek is definitely a 2+ vehicle track, even though it is public road, it is not maintained between postmans creek and the top of Waikaia bush road on the shingle creek side. Lots of 4x4 swallowing holes up there, and a nightmare to recover stuck trucks.

Tell them to take warm clothing ... That road goes over the highest bit of ground from there to Antarctica.

Unstuck was NOT kidding about the bog holes swallowing trucks ... you need thigh high waders to walk through the puddles.

is this road also known as Whitecoombe Road?

[FJRider]

is this road also known as Whitecoombe Road?

Not the name I have ever heard it called.

And I've heard it called a few funny things ..

[BMWST?]

Not the name I have ever heard it called.

And I've heard it called a few funny things ..

Is this the one then

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/trac...d-oldman-range

[FJRider]

Is this the one then

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/trac...d-oldman-range

On close inspection of Google maps ... It seems it IS ... Whitecoombe Road is on the Waikaia side from the Piano flat end ... then changes to Canton road ... then changes to Waikaia Bush road.

There is a track (for want of a better word) from the Wakaia Bush road (Shingle creek side near the top)along the TOP of the old Man Range that comes down onto Symes road in Fruitlands. This is a very high route .. for adventurous and well equipped groups ONLY. On a good day up there it's fucking cold. Add a swamp or two ... the odd bog hole .. and many rocks of diff smashing abilities ... Other off road tracks in the Provence just do not compare.

[T.W.R]

On close inspection of Google maps ... It seems it IS ... Whitecoombe Road is on the Waikaia side from the Piano flat end ... then changes to Canton road ... then changes to Waikaia Bush road.

There is a track (for want of a better word) from the Wakaia Bush road (Shingle creek side near the top)along the TOP of the old Man Range that comes down onto Symes road in Fruitlands. This is a very high route .. for adventurous and well equipped groups ONLY. On a good day up there it's fucking cold. Add a swamp or two ... the odd bog hole .. and many rocks of diff smashing abilities ... Other off road tracks in the Provence just do not compare.

Whitecoomb rd is a 5 heavy 4wd rated track and the track you're talking about has a 5 heavy rating aswell..... passes by Mitchells Cottage

[Winston001]

[QUOTE=BMWST?;1130696082]

is this road also known as Whitecoombe Road?

Almost.

It's the Whitcomb Road also known as the Snowpole Road and there is a monument to a group of miners who died trying to cross in winter 140 years ago. The snow poles are long gone but existed to guide miners walking in the snow.

Its a serious piece of road. The Snowpole road is closed from May until September because of people getting trapped up there. So is the Nevis.

Its the sort of road I'd probably not do on my own but a light trail bike would be safe enough.

I went through a few years ago in a 4wd with a group (thank goodness) and got properly stuck in a bog hole. By the time we'd finished my truck had 6 inches of peat swamp swirling around the floor and the radiator choka with dirt. It was a slow trip home.

[Winston001]

However this road is one of New Zealands best kept secrets and is certainly worth doing. Two vehicles in summer/autumn is safe but not if its snowing. From the Shingle Creek end there is a steep climb up to expansive views about 4800ft over Otago, and you can go right higher into the Old Man Range. Not for the fainthearted though.

From there down to Potters an early gold field which is isolated and just damn impressive to think of people living there summer and winter. 'Course some of them died too...

Then on to the peat bogs on top, nice views over northern Southland, then a steep drop on clay where some accidents have happened ( think a guy either died or was badly injured recently) and finally into the bush and out to Piano Flat.

This is remote back country Otago/Southland. I love it. Most people will never get there but if you take your time and carry recovery gear no real problem.

[FJRider]

Whitecoomb rd is a 5 heavy 4wd rated track and the track you're talking about has a 5 heavy rating aswell..... passes by Mitchells Cottage

Symes road goes from the Alexandra/Roxburgh highway up to (what was) the TV repeater / Cell phone tower tower ... near the summit of the Old Man range. The track that joins to Waikaia Bush road is off/from that.

Little more than necessary is done to the upper portions of both tracks ... in the way of road maintenance. Snow on the tops is normal even in summer. The grading means little if "Inclement" weather has been through prior ... and it gets plenty of that. I would not even go as far as calling it a Dry weather road.

[unstuck]

The road you are talking about will be closed to public traffic next month and will re open in october. Not the worst road around here, but defiantly 2 or more trucks. Been a few seriously injured and even killed up there, mainly motorcycles or winch/tow ropes snapping and chopping people up. I used to take people up there in the snowcats in winter, thats a blast. May have some running this year too(similar to the one in this pic) if all goes well.