EXPEDITION DESCRIPTION

 

This Expedition takes us south from Queenstown to the small country town of Garston where we say good bye to sealed roads and head for the hills.

With varied terrain of river flats and tussock grassland high country, old gold mining history, huge rock tors and the spiked native spear grass plants covering the mountain saddles, this expedition provides an adventurous day out without any difficult driving.

Easily handled by most 4WD vehicles and drivers with limited off road driving experience.

A great day out for the whole family, this expedition showcases what Central Otago has to offer.

 

ITINERARY

 

From Queenstown we head south following Lake Wakatipu to the small township of Garston for a last takeaway coffee and fresh muffin.

From Garston we gain altitude and climb up into tussock country at the southern end of the Hector Mountains over Nokomai Saddle.

We descend into the southern Nevis Valley where we find the Nevis River.

 

Following the river the valley opens out to be a wide, barren, typical Otago high country valley. After numerous small fords and creek crossings we start to see the gold mining remnants, from sluicing ponds and pipework to historic buildings. We pass the old settlement and turn off to explore the old cemetery.

 

After lunch we head off again and from the Nevis crossing we leave the valley and river behind to climb up and over Duffers Saddle. We will spend time amongst the rock tors enjoying the magnificent views over Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the Pisa Range.

 

Descending down to the old 1858 township of Bannockburn, we stop at the local pub for a dust quenching drink and debrief. From Bannockburn we separate, and head back to Queenstown in our own time.

 

 

 

HISTORY OF THE NEVIS

 

The earliest settlers in the Nevis were the Maori. Though it was too cold to establish permanent settlements in the valley, there are signs of Maori summer Moa hunting camps and ovens close to the bridge at Schoolhouse Creek.

Despite the great flood of 1866, which destroyed all evidence of the earliest mining, an interesting story of the evolution of alluvial gold mining methods is preserved in the workings on the valley floor in the lower Nevis. At its peak in 1866, there was a population of some 600 people in the valley. By the late 1860s the Chinese population outnumbered the Europeans. It is believed that there could have been as many as 500 Chinese working the Lower Nevis area with the majority of them on the terrace opposite the mouth of Commissioners Creek.

Very graphic and disheartening description of the Nevis in the first Warden's Report of the gold field in 1865: “Nevis is so isolated and remote from every centre of population that it is just beginning to be discovered. This cold, sequestered, and ice bound region, hemmed in on all sides except where it opens to the Kawarau will probably never attract a very large population. It will be a storehouse of wealth to the hardy adventurers who are prepared to brave its inclement climate”. That description is still largely true today, well over a century after it was written.

 

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

 

• Available on our guided passenger tour or tag along
• Full commentary at each stop
• Explore the stunning remote Nevis Valley and its past
• Explore the rock tors on Duffers Saddle
• Amazing views down to Lake Dunstan, Cromwell and the Pisa Range

 

 

DATES AVAILABLE

Trips run on demand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nevis Cemetery photo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EARLY NEVIS IMAGES

click on image to view

Nevis Valley adventure