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Waitangi Weekend at Louis Creek

Cleggie		Posted : Friday, 26 February 2016 9:38:12 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Hi guys, just a little show and tell. Spent 3 days at Louis creek over the Waitangi weekend and found some good gold. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3_G_S2gUwE Great weather and had fun wrestling with the rocks in the boulder garden but well rewarded for my effort. Cheers Ken.

RioGold		Posted : Saturday, 27 February 2016 11:15:53 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 10/12/2014(UTC) Posts: 24 Location: NELSON Thanks: 21 times Was thanked: 19 time(s) in 11 post(s)		That's awesome ken thanks for sharing :) Those boulders up there can be hard Yakka!! I see you had a nice little system going tho!! You deserve all the gold get up there :) Cheers Dave

The Hatter		Posted : Saturday, 27 February 2016 11:56:59 AM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Ingot Groups: Registered Joined: 21/05/2013(UTC) Posts: 259 Location: Westport Thanks: 62 times Was thanked: 320 time(s) in 125 post(s)		Well done Ken. You worked hard for that gold and deserved every bit. Cheers Trev aka " The hatter"

mwyatt		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 12:54:45 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/12/2015(UTC) Posts: 28 Location: Auckland Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Hi Ken, Well done! Looks like an awesome trip. From the Topo map it doesn't look like there is formed roads close by. How easy or hard is access to the Louis and New Creek areas? Cheers, Marcus

goldsborough		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 2:51:24 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: Rotorua Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 24 time(s) in 10 post(s)		You can't it requires a four day climb up the Southern Alps.

mwyatt		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 3:22:37 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/12/2015(UTC) Posts: 28 Location: Auckland Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 8 post(s)		A four day climb, wow! Am I mistaken to think it's the same Louis Creek that has the public fossiking area? http://www.paydirt.co.nz...1921,172.634213&z=14 Is Howard Valley Road and Porika Road not public roads? If not, then I can see getting there is going to be a slog... I'm asking the questions because I'm planing a prospecting trip to the South Island next summer.

Cleggie		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 5:02:01 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Nugget Groups: Registered Joined: 24/03/2012(UTC) Posts: 88 Location: Christchurch Thanks: 88 times Was thanked: 59 time(s) in 31 post(s)		Originally Posted by: mwyatt A four day climb, wow! Am I mistaken to think it's the same Louis Creek that has the public fossiking area? http://www.paydirt.co.nz...1921,172.634213&z=14 Is Howard Valley Road and Porika Road not public roads? If not, then I can see getting there is going to be a slog... I'm asking the questions because I'm planing a prospecting trip to the South Island next summer. I think Goldsborough was pulling your leg (he he he ) The following link will give you an idea of the road in to Louis... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhJuIySyvHk It's a public road to the ford over the creek and then you go up a forestry track to get to the fossicking area. Mostly ok for a 2wd vehicle but there are some deep ruts in places so a 4wd is recommended. To get to the creek you still have to go on foot and follow the tracks. they are well signposted and a little steep in places, and slippery when wet, but the gold will make up for any hardship endured. Stay golden, Cheers, Ken

goldsborough		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 5:24:07 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: Rotorua Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 24 time(s) in 10 post(s)		We crossed the Ford and took the first road that veered right, entered the pine plantation and got up to the Fossicking area in an almost Vintage Mitsi L300, bouncing all the way. Parked at the sign "Louis Creek Fossicking area" walked down to the track which is quite obvious, through the old tailings. Walked upstream 50m and got the best results we have ever had. Unbelievable as it is , most of the people we met there were from the North Island and north of Auckland. The area doesn't even have a sign mentioning the "Gold Fossicking area" when you are travelling from St Arnaud. All the tracks roads show up on the GPS. Drop a donation in the area before the ford. I think it's worth it. Hope this helps. Edited by user Thursday, 3 March 2016 8:41:33 PM(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified

mwyatt		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 7:25:39 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/12/2015(UTC) Posts: 28 Location: Auckland Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Good one, Goldsborough! :D You had me there for a while... Thanks for the video showing the road into Louis creek. It's absolutely beautiful country and the road is very good. Even the last bit to the Doc hut ain't that bad. I have a double cab, so shouldn't have an issue and Jan/Feb is also not wet season. So I reckon it should be all good. The Doc hut area looks quite high up on the valley wall. How is the walking track down to the stream? Reasonable or is it quite rough? Damn, I wish I could get down there tomorrow...but I'll have to wait. Hopefully my plans moving to Chch falls into place quicker than the current timeline. I'm so sick of Auckland...

goldsborough		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 8:46:02 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Medals: Groups: Registered Joined: 28/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 26 Location: Rotorua Thanks: 11 times Was thanked: 24 time(s) in 10 post(s)		The hut by where we parked is a hunters hut. I don't think there is a DOC hut there. We are going back, we hope in mid April for a quick fossick before winter, so we have something to play with. You need something to play with during the wet winter period in Rotorua

mwyatt		Posted : Thursday, 3 March 2016 10:52:00 PM(UTC)
Rank: Gold Flake Groups: Registered Joined: 14/12/2015(UTC) Posts: 28 Location: Auckland Thanks: 72 times Was thanked: 15 time(s) in 8 post(s)		Originally Posted by: goldsborough We are going back, we hope in mid April for a quick fossick before winter I'm jealous! :)