Mini-METHS – Collingwood, Top of South Island,
New Zealand
March, 2022
Participants: Members: Mike (Mad) & Verena (Muesli)
Petzold
Guests: Keith & Marie-Anne (maybe they'll join the
club?!)
Six members registered
to attend, but only two pitched up. Four
were sadly forced to withdraw due to Covid travel
restrictions. So, M & V set off from
Nelson, via Richmond, Motueka and Takaka. The very friendly, small town of Collingwood
is never crowded with groups of "tourists", probably due to the
rigours of Takaka Hill, its 300+ direction changes
and hairpin bends. Drivers dare not
glimpse at the magnificent scenery, or their car would be over the precipice!
We stayed at Collingwood
Camp, ideal for METHS meets – lounge and kitchen area, plenty of ablution
blocks plus a very hospitable family managing the place – very short walk to
Collingwood Tavern for excellent meals and friendly bar (see below *). The little town stands right at the estuary
of the Aorere River, which had partly flooded the
campsite, following a recent storm, but all was clear for us and the tidal
estuary water-level had sunk by around six feet.
Day One, we enjoyed a 2˝
hour tramp, along the beach and we scrambled up the steep track to the highest
point above the town. On the way back,
we called on our friends Keith & Marie-Anne (also Swiss) who live nearby
and they joined us for Day Two's hike in the locally restored Milnthorpe reserve – lots of long trails maintained and
indigenous forest replanted, by volunteers.
Day Three – Sunday – was
return to base over Takaka Hill, but
not before we had explored the access and lower part of the trail up Mt.
Burnett, 2,100', the highest peak in the Burnett range, which is clearly
visible across from where we camped in our lovely little hut. So … we are all set for the Burnett summit
at the 2023 NZ Mini-Meths – Watch This Space!
*… where, coincidentally,
we met 2 more friends from Nelson, who were unable to join us for our
"3-peaks" – perhaps I exaggerated our "rules"
!!?
Mike Petzold
© METHS, 2022