The painting, mowing, tidying and general prep for, and then the, first open home done; I had to get away for a night. With a favourable forecast, what better opportunity to pop into the Silver Peaks Park for the first time. Only half an hour’s drive from both current-home and Dunedin this is a great area for small hiking or running trips. Mid-afternoon before I could depart, I thought I’d easily make it into Jubilee Hut before dark – online booking indicated I’d probably have it all to myself.
Leaving the car, the track slowly ascending to Green Hill was easy walking sheltered from the cool sea breeze by manuka. Apparently it would take me four hours for the nine kilometres to the hut, I was not convinced that would be so carrying only a light overnight pack.
Occasional glimpses of surrounding forest – both native and exotic.
Light clouds continued to blow through, keeping the afternoon temperatures quite bearable.
Just as I was thinking that the track looked quite rideable, it did get steeper – and stepped in places. I enjoyed picking out the trail ahead as it climbed to Silver Peak, and identifying various landmarks in the distance that I had a fair idea of what they might be.
Unsure what it was I was expecting but it wasn’t so many outcrops.
At the summit in little over an hour, I enjoyed having plenty of time and daylight to appreciate the views. It was odd to be easily able to see Mosgiel, a suburb of Dunedin, but the rest of the views were more expected.
North over the Bendoran Station – there’s good gravel riding in the hills just beyond that; Rock and Pillar Range coming in from the left background.
I could just spot the private Christmas Creek Hut, but of more relevance to my walk was the track to the Devil’s Staircase which would drop me four hundred metres in less than a couple of kilometres – that might slow progress a bit.
Looking back along the trail towards Pulpit Rock.
Starting down the staircase; Jubilee Hut just visible in a clearing in the trees above the true left of creek.
The descent wasn’t nearly as tough as I was told – but due mostly to it being completely dry, I suspect.
Down a the valley floor for the last section alongside and crossing the creek.
A beautiful stretch of beech forest delighted for the ten minutes I was down by the creek, before the climb up to the hut.
Looking back to the ridge and Devil’s Staircase – not too bad at all.
Well, that only took two hours of walking to find I did indeed have the hut to myself. Far more daylight and time to enjoy the peaceful surroundings than I imagined.
The large flax bushes would later provide good viewing of various small birds feeding on the flowers at twilight.
With the water tank empty at the hut, popping down the hill to the creek and carefully balancing not-for-purpose containers on the return was not a hardship when it is as tranquil as this.
Slow to rise after one of the longest and deepest sleeps I’ve ever had in a hut, there was no rush to close the loop. Eventually I was down to and over the creek, climbing up the other side past the previous hut site. Morning dew wetting my legs made me conscious that this section of track was far more overgrown than that which I’d seen so far. Over halfway up the steep climb, the track widened to old double track and became a little faster.
Those tracks look rideable…
Sidling off the ridge to meet a small creek, trail finding was a bit more difficult as the gorse closed in. A brief diversion took me up to ABC Cave. Turned out I could have easily made it here the night before, which would have been fun – but I had a very nice night as it was, so no regrets there.
Could probably get four on that sleeping platform.
Leaving the creek as it was only just forming here, and two more nice looking patches of beech, I regained the ridge – now on the Yellow Ridge Route.
Recognising the peaks close to current-home.
Down to Waikouaiti, on that small bay.
I detoured again to check out The Gap and the view from the trig. The double track here quite overgrown by gorse, and even some spainard, legs were mightily scratched as I barely negotiated what was left of the trail.
Back along the track to The Gap.
Thankfully the views were worth a nice break to soak them in on a mild, clear and still morning.
Down to Blueskin Bay area.
I had hoped to go back along Rocky Ridge to Pulpit Rock – this route reported to have the best views in the park – but the track was overgrown enough that I couldn’t find it, and my legs were itchy enough. So back along the Yellow Ridge it was.
Ah yes, the naming of The Gap becomes even more obvious down here.
Dropping a little and then along the ridge I was soon at the small Philip J. Cox Memorial Hut – might be worth a stay sometime. The route traditionally drops down and crosses the Waikouaiti South before climbing up to a forestry road – for a six kilometre gravel road walk back to the parking lot. Ugh. Thankfully, an alternative has recently been opened.
Start of the River Track.
Soon in quite different surroundings, I enjoyed the drop to river (further upstream than the old route).
Marking of the track is still in its infancy, there was only one part where I really had to stop and work out just where the track went.
Not having to cross the river, it was nice to cross each tributary – plenty of opportunities to drink and wet my cap as the early afternoon warmed.
At the bottom of the valley, the trail was much more benched and easier to follow than coming down off the ridge.
I came across two volunteers, the only people I saw out there that day, cutting in more switchbacks to bypass a steeper section. I appreciated chatting for a while and hear of all the work they’d been helping with in here expanding the trail network. So close to Dunedin, I could see from this brief excursion what a great park it is in such proximity to the city.
Having passed them, I was on trail that had had a lot more recent attention. Some of the trail building solutions and resourcefulness were equally impressive and ingeneous.
My last little side-trip – up to Possum Hut. Unlikely to ever sleep here.
Interesting walls though.
One last hundred metres climb up the new Gold Miners Direct track and I was back at my very dusty car. What an excellent morning to complete a fun little overnight. With all my little diversions, it was four hours of walking for eighteen kilometres – somehow well over a thousand metres of climbing in there, didn’t feel like it. The whole loop would be a good day walk or run (provided good weather is picked, I can see it’d be nasty up here in adverse conditions) – but I wanted a nice little overnighter and that’s what I got. Brilliant wee outing and I’m looking forward to further exploring when I’m in the area with time to spare.
Back down to the track along Guffies Creek.
Mt Kyeburn on left, soon…
Over the Maniototo to the Rock and Pillar Range. Naseby, one of my current homes, in those pines right.
Across more diggings to yesterday’s big descent to the Otematata and the Southern Alps in the background.
It wasn’t straightforward.
Coastal cloud. Hopefully that would burn off by the time we went over the pass.
From the top of the track.
Andy’s photo.
Down to the Kye Burn, Danseys Pass road across the centre, our track down coming in from the left.
I think we were all pleased we got to the top. Another of Andy’s.
I guess that’s the bottom and I can take another photo.
Looks like Rob joined us for the flattest part of the trip! Trying to find the correct track to follow the river.
There was even a wee gorge to rise above.
This is the way to start another day of excellent riding, and pushing.
Well, that didn’t last long. Note Andy’s package of cold toast sandwiches for lunch (there was no shop); the manager was gobsmacked (a priceless expression) and probably despaired for us, we were subsequently offered and took the last two, substantial, pieces of bacon and egg pie from the chiller.
Looking considerably nicer up there than what we dropped out of fourteen hours before.
On Home Hills Run Rd again, for a change heading into the Hawkduns and the Oteake Conservation Area.
Hmmm, didn’t know that – no corresponding sign if going in opposite direction.
Quickly gaining altitude, and walking, amongst the tussocks. Yesterday’s Dunstan Range in background, St Bathans Range coming in from the right.
Mt Ida and Little Mt Ida – landmarks I’m used to seeing from the other side (Naseby).
Down Hills Creek to the Manuherikia Valley.
Rocks getting chunkier, but altogether the track was in the best condition I’d seen it – most of the ruts filled in and not nearly as loose as usual.
With a light breeze from the south, it was still warming up. I found a nice, settled puddle to wet my headwear in – but not to drink out of.
Every hundred metres of ascent was marked, a good excuse to turn and take in the view – and have another snack. 
Much more fun on the way down!
North along the Hawkduns, with the Benmore Range on the other side of the Waitaki (which we’d ridden around the bottom of two days earlier) and the Alps beyond – Mt Cook visible behind Benmore Peak.
Yay, Walking Spur! Cue eye roll.
Clear Stream, the end of which we crossed on TTW21 as it empties into the Otematata.
At least some of the spur was rideable.
Not much to look at, even less to drink.
Back on the plateau, we turned off last year’s TTW course east. A glorious day, we revelled in the vastness of the top and marvelled at the sudden deep gullies – which were thankfully avoided.
Rachel returns to Wire Yards Hut.
Andy taking in the vastness, so close to towns, but so removed – we saw one moto rider at the base of the climb, and no one else all day.
Outside the station/hut, so much more water up here on this year’s route – a nice pool to dip in here too.
Very similar to Wire Yards Hut, less of a view and less exposure.
A rather flat section as we crested the last hill. Getting difficult to work out where exactly we came from.
Hut Creek, there’s a hut over there, funnily enough, which is called – wait for it – Hut Creek Hut. Brilliant!
Tracks galore! None of which we’d take, save that zig and zag just beyond the tussocks, rising from the upper Otematata River.
About to climb from the river – after soaking our feet right at the end of the day.
History, huh.
Leaving the headwaters behind, no sight of Melina Ridge this morning.
First climb over to Smith Creek to try and warm us up.
Into another one.
Heading south, we got some patches of sun.
Twas lumpy, to say the least.
Occasionally the sky corresponded with the last forecast we’d seen.
Another conservation area demanded more food – unsure if it was second-breakfast or first-lunch, but there was a good bottle-filling stream.
We joined what was supposedly a road, Goodger (great name), but was not really much different to the tracks we’d been travelling on over the hills – win!
The sidling wasn’t much better, but nothing compared to the next section.
That’s better.
A bit of sun for the day. Andy’s photo.
St Bathans Range in the background, in the middle Dunstan Pass on the left and further right one of the Chain Hills tracks.
Much the same, but now the rocky tors had begun to appear as we gained hundreds of metres gradually along the tops.
We’d come from somewhere just in front of that small patch of snow.
Many tussocks; looking out to the Alps around Hawea.
Quickly, the low cloud that we had seen sitting over Central Otago blew through on the southerly that had been cooling us much of the day.
Still we kept climbing to more and more rocks.
Now getting above the level of the Chain Hills, we were making progress.
Mistakenly waiting in the lee of a big rock thinking that was the top. Sigh…
Cold enough for jackets and thick gloves. At least we’d made the top; although whizzing down would be even colder. Andy’s photo.
Over the Manuherikia valley in Central Otago – I’d ridden through there the week before.
Time to start dropping 1200 metres in quick time; hands cold from stopping too much to goggle at the view and take pictures.
The usual Spot the Track – fun and fast descent.
Only the week before 
A snippet of the big descent into and through Lauder Station – fun and fast farm track riding.
Made it in plenty of time where we were well looked after – even if some of us almost fell asleep eating the large meals!