We decided to continue onto the Ashburton Gorge as time was on our side, I drive “Jimmy” and Shane follows in Moho, fuel up in Mt Somers and off up the gorge very hot late afternoon warm foehn wind and 27degrees, 35 km later we come to Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater we choose to stay at Lake Clearwater, a lovely campsite down by the lake and thank goodness a huge shelter belt protecting us from the howling nor west. On the hillside a small village of cribs) and holiday homes overlook the lake.
We have plenty of exploring to do from here, after a windy night and after breakfast, pack a picnic, dust billowing out behind us we zoom up the valley to Mt Sunday. It’s a wide tussock covered valley surrounded by mountain ranges and peaks at the head waters of the Rangitata River. Pass by Mt Potts backcountry ski field, only accessed by helicopter and snow cat! We stop at Mt Sunday, a quick sharp hike up this hill we get expansive views of the Rangitata River and the surrounding mountains, carved by glaciers this hill got its name because boundary riders from the high- country stations would meet here on Sundays! Another claim to fame is it was a film site Lord Of the Rings. We soak in the beauty and then make our way back to Jimmy. We continue up the valley to road end at Erewhon Station where they have a Clydesdale stud and they endeavour to use horses instead of vehicles.
Being mid morning we turn around and head back down the valley bypass Lake Clearwater and head up to Lake Heron, at the turn off and stop at the historic Hakatere station buildings which have been restored and with offer an insight into the history of the station.
On up to Lake Heron and once again a wide valley with well managed stations, once again framed by mountain ranges both sides of the valley. Lake Heron is bigger than later Lake Clearwater and a popular anglers destination, rainbow brown trout and quinnat salmon inhabit the lake. We picnic in a sheltered spot overlooking the lake enjoying the tranquility of of the place.
We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the Ashburton Lakes and its a place I will return to as there a plenty of tracks that we can mountain bike.
The following morning before we leave we decide to mountain bike around lake Clearwater, just as luck would have it a screaming Nor West oh this will be fun! Off we go a very narrow track between matagouri and it was my bad luck the wind gusts were quite strong and off I tumble into the matagouri, blood streaming down my leg and thorns in my hands dust myself off and back on the bike. Grinding into the wind pedaling like hell to stay upright, we navigate the 4 km to the top of the Lake across the boardwalks over the wetlands then we have an almighty tail wind! Up and down the bumpy track winds its way across the terrain, creek crossings, but thank goodness the wind is assisting us immeasurably! We come across a big group of horse trekkers, now these horses have never seen mountain bikes before and they were not impressed! We were asked to take a wide berth away from them. We scoot cross country at a rate of knots then back into the howling head wind, yep a bit of a mission but most enjoyable.
