HTST Record – Horse Trails South Trust (HTST)

Record of work undertaken via the Trust as at 5 September 2024


The HTST was initiated in July 2017 to progress work started in order to protect and promote horse trekking and trails in the backcountry of NZ (South Island), primarily on publicly accessible land. Much discussion and negotiation has taken place with local authorities, Department of Conservation and relevant others to gain information, access, permissions etc, as well as advance planning for the work undertaken, which isn’t reflected in this document. Also not reflected is the support given by individuals such as Craig Benbow of the Backcountry Trust/Deerstalkers Association to assist the aims of the Trust.


Agreement was reached with Department of Conservation that tracks restored by HTST would be maintained by the Trust for 5 years, after which time DOC would take this work over.



Canterbury High Country

 

Cass River

Winter 2021: Cleared old pack track to provide access from Waimakariri Basin, up Cass River over Cass Saddle to Hamilton Hut. By: Pete Hurst/Stu Murray


Redcliffs Stream Reserve

(provides a loop with the track via Comyns and Cookies Huts).

  • 2015-16: Negotiation to allow horses into the Reserve.
  • 2020 Redcliffs Stream track reopened. By: Pete Hurst, Stu Murray
  • 2023: Work needs to be done to reinstate track where washed away and reinstall paddock at Tribulation Hut.

Canterbury

Mt Grey, North Canterbury

  • 2023: Discussion with Rayonier to allow access. Agreed to open for 2 days per year. Access by PCL established 2006.

Kennedys Bush Track, Port Hills

  • 2022: Liaison with Christchurch City Council. By: Pete Hurst, Corey Woodward, Vicki Christoffersen, Fran Murray.
  • 2023: Horse gates installed to give access from Kennedys Bush Road to summit. Materials: Christchurch City Council.

Port Hills – Akaroa

  • 2023: Liaison with landowners and Te Ahu Pātiki Charitable Trust underway for route access. By: Corey Woodward.

 

Dalethorpe

  • 2023: Liaison with Rayonier and local farmer to be undertaken to allow access. By: Fran Murray/Pete Hurst. Access by Bell Hill now established through Forestry.

Molesworth Recreation Reserve

 

Severn and Saxton Pack Tracks

  • Nov 2021: Work on Severn Track. By: Pete Hurst, Viv Hurst, Brownie
  • May 2022: Track work to give access from Wairau River to Acheron Road. By: Pete Hurst, Sean Jamieson, ? Sponsor: Backcountry Trust. Donation of electric standards and tape from High Country Pleasure Riders for Severn and Saxton Huts.
  • May 2021: Work on track from Sedgemere Chalets, Severn Valley, over Severn Saddle to Leatham Conservation Area and back via Saxton Saddle and Saxton Valley to Molesworth Recreation Reserve (or out to Wairau River).

Liaison: DOC Renwick.

Sponsor: Backcountry Trust.


Leatham Conservation Area

Top Leatham Hut

  • Apr 2022: Horse paddock installed.

Lower Gordons Hut

  • Apr 2022: Horse paddock installed.

Also refer Molesworth Recreation Reserve.


St James Conversation Area

 

Boyle River

  • Dec 2023: Boyle River track scrub cleared and remarked. By: Pete Hurst, John Burrill, Sean Jamieson.
  • 2023 Track from Boyle village to Magdalen Hut. Track from Magdalen Hut to Boyle Flat Hut. By: Sean Jamieson.

Liaison: DOC re historic pack track from the Anne River (Pete Hurst, Mary Holloway). Sponsor: Backcountry Trust ($45,000).


Magdalen Valley

  • 2022: Track along valley.

Liaison: WAMS and Council.

  • 2023: Track to be completed.
  • Future: Bridge over Waiau River between Magdalen Valley and Charleys Saddle.

Various

2023: Paddocks at huts to be repaired. Jolliebrook and Gabriel Huts.

 

 

Lake Sumner Forest Park

Roach Pass

  • 2018: Work up Hurunui River South Branch on route over Roach Pass into the Cox River, Mt White.

By: Sean Jamieson

Sponsor: HTST.


Jolliebrook Track

  • Sep 2019: Track clearing. By: Pete Hurst, Megan Kelly, Maree Handy, Jenny Hyland, Tim Kelly, Diane Penwarden, Emma Kelly, Lauren Kelly.

Gabriels Track

  • Dec 2023: Track around the lake checked. By: Pete Hurst.
  • Aug 2020: Gabriels Hut to Hope Kiwi Pack Track – extensive work towards reopening. History: This track was used by government deer cullers to transport hides and supplies from the Patrolman’s base in the Lewis pass to the Jolliebrook and through to Esk Head and Mount White Stations.
  • May 2022: Horse access restored between Gabriels Hut and Lake Marion. By: 8-9 people.
  • 2022: Gabriels Hut – horse paddock installed. By: John Burrill, Jenny Hyland.

Liaison: DOC.

Sponsor: HTST HTST Record


Hope Kiwi Track (from Engineers Camp)

  • Dec 2023: Access to Tui Track from Rogers Crescent cleared. By: Pete Hurst, John Burrill, Sean Jamieson.
  • 2017: Tui Track from Engineers Camp to Hope River, then access across river onto public pack track, back across the Hope River and onto Hope Kiwi Hut. Hope Kiwi Hut track through to Lake Sumner. Maintained for 5 years.
  • 2017 Paddock installed at Hope Kiwi Hut. By: Pete Hurst, Deano, Bry, Hamist Hurst, Kay Holder, Josh Hurst.

Coast to Coast

 

Amuri Pass

  • Feb 2019: Amuri Pass Track opened. By: Pete Hurst, Hamish Hurst, Glen Jelinek, James Burnett, Jeremy Matson, Megan Kelly, Fran Murray, Pete & Wendy Knowler, April Hill, Brian Clark, Lauren Kelly. Maintained to Oct 2023. History: Pack track east coast (Doubtful River, Lewis Pass) – west coast (Waititi Downs, near Lake Haupiri) Slaty Creek Hut: horse paddock installed. Horse paddock at Doubtful Hut.

Liaison: DOC (over 8 years).

Sponsors: Backcountry Trust ($45,000 grant)

 

 

Hakatere Conversation Park

Potts Hut

  • 2018: Horse paddock installed. By: Kristin Hubbard

Turtons Saddle

  • 2018 : Access up Glenrock Stream, over Turtons Saddle, to Comyns Hut – 5 gates installed. By: Fencing contractor.

Sponsor: Outdoor Recreation Consortium (now Backcountry Trust) ($8000 grant).

  • 2018: Horse paddock installed at Comyns Hut. By: Kristin Hubbard. Materials: DOC.

Boundary Creek

  • 2021: Horse paddock repaired.

Materials: local hunter.


Manuka and Double Huts

  • Jan 2022: Horse paddocks restored. By: Pete Hurst, Ross Jones, Brendon Adams, Kathy Lynch, Jonathan Appleby.

Sponsor: HTST.


Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park

  • 2020-21: Track up Forest Creek to Felt Hut restored. By: Pete Hurst, Megan Kelly. History: 1860s pack track.
  • Apr 2021: Public easement at Coal River open without locked gates (to Camp Stream Hut).
  • Jan 2022: Camp Stream Hut – horse paddock installed. Sponsors: Backcountry Trust, Fox Glacier horse rider.
  • Feb 2023: Track benching up Neutral Creek to Neutral Saddle. By: Pete Hurst, North Islanders.

Ahuriri Conservation Park

  • 2018: Top Dingle Hut to Cotters Hut in Dingle Burn: track resurrected.
  • Mar 2018: Cotters Hut in Dingle Burn to Lake Hawea – clearing and creating tracks. By: Megan Kelly, Stu Murray, Pete Knowler, Kay Holder.

History: first time in 50 years horses travelled through.

 

  • 2021: Ahuriri Base Hut ?: horse paddock installed. By: April Hill.

Ahuriri to Lake Ohau

  • 2021: Hideaway Biv, Snowy Gorge Hut and Otamatapio Hut: horse paddocks installed.
  • 2021: Maitland Hut: horse paddock repaired.
  • 2023: Repair and remark Charlies Saddle to Racecourse Track
  • 2024: September – recut Mt Grey Track to improve horse access to Mt Grey summit through PCL.