Thread: Leatham / Branch Valley Access

Hello all,

Just wondering after the recent floods if anyone knows how accessible it is up the Leathem / Branch rivers?

I'm not sure how far a standard 4WD would get up there these days, and don't fancy the long drive to find out if I can avoid it.

Thanks!
Dickybird

Check the TDC river flow on the Branch River. If it’s over 12 cubic metres per second I don’t risk it. Best if it’s below that and dropping. My standard Hilux gets to Bottom Gordon’s Hut easily enough. It’s pretty hard hunted up there, though.

The Leatham is doable, unsure of the branch. There are a few detours through the river bed here and there but can still access the end of the road. Check the river flow charts or the crossings will be dodgy

Last time I was up there (about a month ago) there was a detour around the Station Creek crossing and Boulder stream had also blown out and would be a bit dodgy if it was running high. Unsure if either have had any work done on them.

Hi all,

Just checking to see if 4WD access up Leatham would be ok for a stock Dmax at the moment, no winch or snorkel, have good AT tyres, max tracks, strop and shovel.

Branch river flow is currently at 11.7 m3 and dropping, happy to wait and let it drop more.

I think that weekday access to Branch is off-limits due to logging. So Thinking of heading up Leatham for a trout fish and hunt/camp midweek. Never been up so assume that If Boulder creek crossing looks to dodgy can always just park up and walk and fish up from there?

Cheers FBD

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What I have heard recently is that the road is fine.
I was thinking of going up the Wye route tomorrow to find a goats tail.

Thanks Shearer,

My daughters want to go trout fishing tomorrow so was thinking of hitting the Motueka as they only spin fish.

But now thinking maybe head up Leatham for a fish and maybe a hunt.

Making the most of spending time with them before they have to find work..

Have you walked in to hidden hut and turkeys nest?

Cheers

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Originally Posted by Fat belly Dog

Thanks Shearer,

My daughters want to go trout fishing tomorrow so was thinking of hitting the Motueka as they only spin fish.

But now thinking maybe head up Leatham for a fish and maybe a hunt.

Making the most of spending time with them before they have to find work..

Have you walked in to hidden hut and turkeys nest?

Cheers

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Haha. What a coincidence. My wife and I were talking about that right now.
No. I haven't been in to either yet. Really keen to get to Turkeys Nest though. Long walk in from Wye route. We are thinking of cutting up from Boulder forks.

Way faster to head up that fence line. 1-1hr 15 to get up with a day pack. Bit longer with a full pack.

It's a long walk into hidden hut, takes forever once you drop into the Wye. Climbing up from the Boulder stream where it cuts off up to the hut is a good idea.
We never went to turkeys nest, sounds like it's hard going though

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Sam and Kev on YT have a great short video on the hike into turkeys nest.. looks tough.

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Road up the Leatham was fine last week. Mate runs stock up above homestead so we're up there pretty regular. Havn't been up to Barbers lately but crossing downsteam of hut was ok not long ago. Been up to Bottom Gordon in Isuzu Bighorn and Mitsi Triton no dramas.
300wsm for life, good on ya, you"re fitter than me. From old stockyard paddock up fenceline to ridgeline then up Station Creek over into Wye is over 8.6km to Hidden hut, 11.5 km from Quarry. Took me a bit longer last time I did it. As to going to Turkeys Nest, why? unless you like walking. It's barren as fuck up there and when it blow's, the wind is strong enough to blow the milk out of your tea as the saying goes. There's plenty of animals in the handy country.

Lots of goats at turkeys nest.. couple nice guts at either side of turkeys nest, were chocker with goats pats year when I went up there. Shitty thick stunted wilding pine all around the biv, better off to climb the opposite face onto a ridge(western side) or walk up the gravel washout to get to the open. Were a couple old stag rubbings, nothing impressive though, and not the sort of place I’d go back to. Half way to hidden hut though is a nice broad leaf stand that would be worth sneaking into on a windy day

What’s the deal with the branch? Are they logging those random pines up in the doc? Can the public still access the branch on the weekends?

Originally Posted by Jus

What’s the deal with the branch? Are they logging those random pines up in the doc? Can the public still access the branch on the weekends?

Could a week or so ago, though there was talk of putting a gate in. Check with DOC.