Up-country splendour

If you dislike the average and want to experience some of the spectacular beauty of the South Island high country, a four-wheel-drive adventure awaits. RICHARD COSGROVE writes.

In the 80s, Kiwis were bombarded with an advertising campaign telling us "don't leave town till you've seen the country".

While I have travelled extensively, I've tried to follow this concept and have always been keen to explore as much of New Zealand as possible.

So I leapt when the chance came to join High Country Journeys for a four-wheel-drive adventure in the Canterbury high country.

Mike and Karen Meares have been arranging self-guided and self- driven adventures for Kiwis and tourists for the past 17 years.

Former owners of Ryton Station, one of New Zealand's premier high country stations, they have, through their farming contacts, opened up access to the high country for ordinary Kiwis to explore.

One of the best features is getting to stay with those who live and work in the high country, while retaining some of life's comforts, including luxury accommodation for those that do the full six-day journey.

For a 4WD novice like myself, Mike and Karen contacted Overland Rentals in West Melton, and Tony, from Overland, provided a Toyota Landcruiser from their fleet for the weekend.

On a magnificent Canterbury Saturday, we joined Mike and fellow travellers Marcus and Margaret, from England, for the first day of a two-day adventure, with a trip up the Wilberforce River.

The Wilberforce is a tributary of the Rakaia, and part of it is diverted into Lake Coleridge.

The journey up the Wilberforce takes in outstanding beauty.

It's a massive environment, and you feel very small as you pick your way across a vast river valley. On this section you are accompanied by Mike and we were joined for the day by his brother Phillip, both of whom have an extensive knowledge of the area and are quick to impart 4WD tips to us novices.

If you are doing a full six-day experience with High Country Journeys, the Wilberforce day prepares you for the sorts of terrain you will encounter and provides practice at river crossings to build up your confidence.

Excellent food is provided, with all meals and accommodation included in the trip cost.

A full-on day was followed by an evening at the Meares' home in Coalgate, where Karen gives you a full briefing on the upcoming journey. Mike and Karen have meticulously prepared a manual for participants; they have driven each track on the journey and recorded navigation notes and obstacles down to the kilometre, making it easy and stress-free for your daily navigation.

Day two dawns with us heading off with the English fellow travellers in a two-vehicle convoy, on what normally would be the first day's journey. As we head around the back of Mt Hutt, we leave the main road for the 17.7km Redcliff track.

This track offers spectacular views of the Rakaia River, Lake Coleridge and the power station, as well as the red cliffs the track was named after.

It is also the most challenging of all the tracks in the six-day journey.

You climb rapidly through some challenging terrain to a height of 990 metres, where you can enjoy the fantastic views before continuing across this alpine basin and coming back down the other side of the basin.

The Redcliff track is a great confidence builder, being probably the worst terrain you will encounter on the journey.

After the exhilaration of the Redcliff track, we head further up the valley, following the Rakaia River through some of New Zealand's premier high country stations to start the Lake Stream track to Lake Heron.

This track would be one of New Zealand's hidden gems, and progress is slowed in order to take in the stunning views. The journey manual allows a hassle-free expedition.

After enjoying the picturesque Lake Heron and travelling through the Ashburton Gorge to Mt Somers, our travel is over. We head back to Christchurch, feeling quite envious of the English travellers Marcus and Margaret, who have a further five days of exploring the South Island ahead of them while we have to return to work.

Our two-day journey is part of a new concept Mike and Karen are exploring that should prove a winner because it offers a great four-wheel- drive experience if you have limited time. Combined with Overland Rentals' fleet of 4WD vehicles, it means you could fly in and pick up a 4WD without losing time travelling to Canterbury.

I never thought being bounced around in a 4WD could be so much fun.

Information: www.highcountryjourneys.co.nz, www.overland.co.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News