Glasgow Range

You can't beat a fine winters day on the Coast.  So with only mid-week sunshine of late, it was time to skip work for a day, get up high with a view, and try and banish those blues.

Heading up to the Glasgow Range inland from Seddonville is a great little day trip which provides the quickest and easiest means of getting up to around 1500m on the West Coast.  The track heads up to the prominent open tussock land which can be seen directly ahead while driving up the main road through Seddonville.  With the bush line being relatively low here, it doesn't take long to get up high enough to start getting some views.    

Access to the start of the Glasgow Range Track is via Marris & Woollet Roads which branch off from Charming Creek Road about 100m before the Chasm Creek Bridge No.2.  From the turnoff it is about 3km up these old forestry roads to the start of the track.  While drive-able in a 2WD, the roads are deteriorating, and there are a few steeper rougher sections which have the potential to do some damage.  So taking a 4WD or mountain bike might be a good idea.

The start of the track is sign posted and initially heads up and old 4WD track.  After the track starts proper it soon crosses Tate Creek, and from here a good DoC marked track heads up a broad and not too steep ridge.  The first bush line can be reached from Tate Creek after about an hour.  The track crosses scrubby open tussock land before soon re-entering the bush on the right.  From here the track is a little more difficult to follow and is marked with a combination of DoC markers and pink cruise tape. 

At the first bush line

From the second bush line the route is poled, and after an initial gentle slope a step section, which requires a bit of scrambling, must be scaled to gain access to the upper ridge.

The upper ridge and final approach to the top (Pt 1469)

Three hours by mountain bike and foot at a decent pace from Charming Creek Road usually gets me close to the top.  Pick a fine day and you will be rewarded with fantastic views in all directions.

View towards Reefton and the Paparoa

Tarns in the head of Mountain Creek.  Look closely at the mountain (Rocky Tor) in the background and you can see the Old Ghost Road.

View directly towards the Haystack and Mt Owen

Apart from a cool southerly breeze the day was perfect.  After sitting in the sun for an hour on the sheltered northern slopes, it was time to take some more photos and slowly head back downhill.

The Ngakawau basin and Stockton mine

Making my through the warmth of the sunny lower bush in a T-shirt was magnifique.