Thread: Can you identify this place - Stewart Island

Freshwater was my pick, but I haven’t been to much of the island. Definitely looks different now (or it did 15-20 years ago!).
I know the Mason area was farmed, but I didn’t see any rivers or inlets you could get a boat up.

Originally Posted by Cigar

I know the Mason area was farmed, but I didn’t see any rivers or inlets you could get a boat up.

They made a tractor track from masons to freshwater over the swamp, seen photos of old model t? Fords going over it. 17km of flat land.... with lots of water/swamp when it rains

Thanks heaps guys, really appreciate all the help and knowledge. I knew someone would know. Sadly, all the info and stories of these slides went when my Dad passed away, and its probably about 45 years since Dad used to have a Sunday night slide evenings which would have been the last time I had seen them, so my remembering of the story is also gone. It is great to be able to get some info on them. I havent found to many hunting ones to date.

Thanks again, very much appreciated.

What I can tell you is that the little boat was called the "Highland Lass". I believe it was a converted life boat from some ship. It had an inboard single cylinder crank start marine engine (with reverse). Tiller stearing. Had a top speed of about 5 knots. It was resident on Lake Manapouri all my life and was well used, how he got it over to Stewart Island and back must have been a story in itself.

Interesting photo and history.

Most likely Freshwater landing. But could equally could be Rakeahua River landing, the former had a track from Masons Bay to it accessible by tractor with a lot of work. They used to call it ''corduroy tracks'' Manuka stems and branches laid out in the boggy bits. They also tried to drain large areas by way of digging drains by hand. You can still see some of those drains by aircraft flying over.
When I first moved to the Island we took a 3 wheeler over to Masons via Freshwater river. Locals used to take there beach buggys over the same tracks in summertime.

I don't recognise the wee clinker boat in the photo but there are a couple like it still on the Island.