Exploring Aorere Valley | Time Out 2021-22 Golden Bay Drive
The forecast was right, wet weather arrived but just a hint of the 'significant rain event' due tomorrow onwards.
My private rock garden was wet, but not enough for the little natural waterfall (light strip above the table) to flow.
Fair weather thoughts for today were either a ride up Aorere Valley or drive/ride to Wharariki Beach. With the bikes already packed it would be a drive/walk day. Bravo'ing the wet weather on the road towards Collingwood.
I hadn't visited Parapara Beach on my 'exploration ride', view from the lookout in the intermittent rain. Didn't need sunblock today!
Salisbury Falls| Aorere Valley
Drove up Aorere Valley to Salisbury Falls, named for the Salisbury family who were attracted to the area during the gold rush of 1860, and apparently yet another Hobbity film location.
The valley is also the access for the Heaphy Track Great Walk/Ride. This walk allows cycling off peak between May 1 and November 30. It is on my 'to-do' list but off-limits for this visit.
Bravo HGT at Salisbury Bridge, near the falls.
Aorere River is fed by rainfall in the valley and from headwaters in Kahurangi National Park. There's evidence here of how dramatically it can change.
The Salisbury Footbridge
The Salisbury Footbridge was built in 1887, it was restored in 2004, a popular attraction and historic place until 2010 when up to 400 millimetres of rain fell in a few hours. In the worst flood in 150 years the river rose over 11m destroying the bridge, flooding the valley up to 1km wide in places.
All that survived is a tower, by the tree, on the right riverbank below. Sobering to think the bridge was above the level of the riverbank bush line, and that wasn't high enough.
The Historic Langford Store & Post Office
Love the welcome to this iconic store:
Welcome to The Langford Store where “Some things change, and some things stay the same”
Established in1928 it's now famous for great coffee, Devonshire tea and sweet treats. It's open 5 days a week 9am-5pm, closed Thursdays & Fridays.
I'm not a tea fan but got a coffee and some goodies to snack on while walking.
The Bravo didn't need oil, and I already had insurance. Despite it being a bit cool, I did get an ice cream!
The Post Office is better than many current city ones!
Love the Post Boxes
Devils Boots Road & Aorere Goldfields
The 'Devils Boots' are these natural limestone outcrops; "so named because they look like the devil’s boots, sticking out of the ground upside down | Teara.govt.nz devils-boots"
A natural carport!
I started driving the last couple of kilometres to the Goldfields but turned back as was a bit marginal for the Bravo ground clearance. The engine undertray is a rubbery plastic and has already been 'rebuilt' once after the mounts cracked. Bizarrely—twenty years after production—they are still available new, non-OEM, in Europe for just £88, but shipping was £480!
Checked out the start of the Aorere Goldfields Track but setting out on a three-hour hike late afternoon in this sort of weather didn't seem wise...
Especially when the trail included a stream crossing...
These locals were curious about the walker passing by.
The river was building, back to the car sheltering from the now persistent rain.
Close to Excellent Street, Plain Road!
Italian style on Plain Road, just along the highway from Excellent Street.
Liked the School Shop offer: Hot Pies, Ice Cream, Coffee, Fish Bait, and a Post Box. All you need for life!
Lazy Dinner for my last evening here; delicious Thai from a takeaway caravan in Tākaka Village.
Robin Capper
