Saturday 19th August 2023
With a heavy rain warning and grey threatening clouds we drove to Reefton all feeling a bit dubious about the tramp at Blacks Point. After coffee and cake at the Reefton Tearooms we all agreed to do the walk anyway.
The starting point is at Blacks Point just a minute or so outside Reefton on the way to Springs Junction, the carpark is a little hidden on a bend, so watch out for the DOC sign and brake hard!! There is enough room here only for 3 or 4 cars. We set off on a lovely wide logging track under beech trees that sheltered us from the light drizzle heading gently uphill.
As you climb gently up into the hills you come across a big steel suspension bridge to cross Murrays Creek. The track sidles along the river for a good stretch and you will notice old remnants of the mining activities in and around the river. Cementown was a 5 minute diversion from the main track to an area where there had once been a settlement of some sort but nothing was left now. At the saddle there is a fork in the road, if you turn left you continue on the loop that will eventually take you back to the cars, if you turn right you will head into the Kirwans which were still closed when we visited by way of a large yellow tape across the track. The Kirwans should be open again late 2023 or early 2024.
We carried on up with the rain getting heavier and arrived at our lunch spot at the top of the track where we quickly ate our lunch and set off again heading mainly downhill. When we arrived at the track down to a battery we all chose not to go down as it was so wet by then and we were on an exposed bit of the track. We regrouped at the top of the steep Machine Track and began our long decent back to the carpark. With the beech leaves underfoot and the combination of rain it does make for a slippy descent and care should be taken as its easy to slip on rocks and treeroots hidden by leaves. There are lots of birds in the area singing their hearts out and plenty of places to stop and admire the scenery.
After a change of clothes into something dry most of us met at Dawson’s Hotel for a very welcome hot drink and a warm up by the fire. Thanks Jason, the chief guide, for a great walk and excellent company. It’s definitely a walk I’d like to do again!
Christine Doonan (Member)
