Molesworth Dillon Block Best Access Route

Hi There,

We have an upcoming block in Dillon.

I was interested to know what others have found the best access route into the Dillon.

There are a couple of options available to use. I am curious to know what others have found the best route in favor of accessing the middle of the block the easiest.

- Access via the guide river and 4x4 track via the half-moon hut and into the Dillon river.

- Access via the true left of the clarence. From the small bridge north of the Acheron campsite and along the true left negotiating the bluffs.

- Access via the true right of the clarence via the 4x4 track to the Hossack. This would involve crossing the clarence. I am also not too sure how far up this 4x4 track are you able to walk before you have to cross. So not to not enter the private land of the Hossack.

I would be grateful on any tips of previous experience on best way to access the block. Happy for private messages.

Cheers, in advance.

I don't know have not been in those blocks on that side. You would possibly need to get permission from Baldrick at the Hossack if it crosses their station.

I have hunted Half Moon and Bullen Hills, both adjoining Dillon, but not hunted Dillon itself.
I think you're in for a walk.
As far as I know there are no vehicle access options but I don't know about the side of the Clarence where Hossack is. Even with permission to use a possible vehicle track there you have to cross the Clarence ( if coming from Hamner ) to get to the track ( I don't know if there is a suitable ford to cross ) then recross the Clarenece downstream to get into Dillon. A Clarence crossing would be very subject to flows and around there it can run swift and fairly deep.
The two walking options are:

Parking at or arond the campsite at the lower Acheron ( near the Clarence confluence ) and hoofing it down the true left of the Clarence. It's not bad going, just a couple of swampy areas to get around. Getting around the bluffs is not to bad. I did it the right way going downstream and the wrong way returning upstream but still doable. And yes, I crossed the Acheron over the small bridge upstream from the campsite.

Parking at the ford to the Guide Hut. You could drive your gear over in a suitable 4WD but I think you need to park on the true right so at least one person needs to walk across the Acheron, which is easy. You can't drive much further than the crossing as there is a locked gate just before Guide hut. Getting through the gate would require Jim Ward's permission, and a key, and I don't know if either are given.
So, walking from there you follow the vehicle track up the Guide River , cross through the saddle into Half Moon Stream, follow the vehicle track downstream past Half Moon hut to its confluence with the Dillon River and downstream from there you are in your block. Re the 4WD track bewteen the saddle and Half Moon hut there are a couple of boggy areas to negotiate. Doable in dn dry conditions I would assume but maybe not if wet. Molesworth staff do drive the track but only when passable I would guess.

Since you want to access the center of the block I'm not sure which route would be most expedient. Personally if I were going in for a first time I would choose the Guide River / Half Moon Stream route as I enjoy this walk. You could always go in by one route and return by the other but when reaching Acheron Road again would probably need to thumb a lift whicever way to return to your vehicle.

Nice country in there. Hope you have a great hunt.

I went in there last year and parked at the Acheron/Clarence Confluence information board. It is roughly an 8km walk to the start of the block. I walked down the true right of the river until it was shallow enough to cross. Easy walking along a 4wd drive. Took about 2 hours. It is good country and worth the walk. Have a successful hunt.

Just follow 4WD track on right before bridge at Accommodation house bridge. Follow track down river , true right, as far as Hossack boundary. Cross river ( usually easy enough if no recent rain ) then walk last 4kms to Dillon boundary. As far as I know there’s nothing to stop you driving as far as Hossack boundary which has a locked gate, it’s their main access to that end of station. Been a few years since I last drove the track but Subaru brumby ute did it no trouble into Hossack. If river is high the true left of river is easy enough to walk. Spent a few years hunting that country before it was opened up to general public so my idea of easy might be different to some. Good luck with hunt.

Rafting could be a goodie [emoji41]

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Thanks for the info, looks like heading down the true right of the Clarence is the way to go and cross the Clarence at the Hossack boundary.

I walked in down the true left as the main river was well up - a decent walk but other than a scramble up and around the Bluff pretty easy.

Definitely an hour to be saving going down the other side and crossing the Clarence

Saw two decent chamois and a few deer plus the odd goat. Lots and lots of geese and some cast Fallow antlers also.

Enjoy

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

Rafting could be a goodie [emoji41]

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Wathing Tas's video ...... ?? :D;)

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Originally Posted by 30.06king

Wathing Tas's video ...... ?? :D;)

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Na mate, I did a trip down there with my family before christmas. Couldn't help but think it would be a good way to access some of those molesworth blocks. Just a few days down river once you are done.

Stunning country [emoji41]

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Good fun rafting when river is running clean, not so much when high and dirty. Even when running clear but high it's claimed a few broken bones over the years. One local walking around these days with one leg shorter after trying to fend raft off rock about 30 years ago. Can be some excellent hunting to be had, with the appropriate permissions of course.

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

Na mate, I did a trip down there with my family before christmas. Couldn't help but think it would be a good way to access some of those molesworth blocks. Just a few days down river once you are done.

Stunning country [emoji41]

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I think that would be a wonderful way to travel for a few days. Would make a memorable family trip. Well done.
It is grand country through there and soul enriching to wander those hills, rifle in hand, privileged to do so. I come out of there feeling high after a trip and it takes no time at all to feel the wanting to return. It's one of those places that gets inside me a bit.

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Originally Posted by woods223

Good fun rafting when river is running clean, not so much when high and dirty. Even when running clear but high it's claimed a few broken bones over the years. One local walking around these days with one leg shorter after trying to fend raft off rock about 30 years ago. Can be some excellent hunting to be had, with the appropriate permissions of course.

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Yeah nar that's a big no no,fending out of control craft by getting your body in the line of fire with the oar.Always from the hip so it glances by cause it will go bad.A very very well known Canty jet boater lost his life by doing the cardinal sin.Died in the meat wagon on the way to hospital due to cardiac arrest.Push pole drove into his chest and he of all people should have known better.
The Clarence is dynamite on boats too.The bank is littered with smashed up boat pieces all the way down.
The other thing about the block that I find interesting is the geology sculptured by fault movement and river erosion.Enzed is just a pup in the scheme of things

Just walk from the guide through Bullock Gully block, it's not that far. I've passed through plenty of times. I'll walk past it tomorrow night. All the best.

Thank you everyone for your input.
Thought I would post and update of how we got on with access and travel into the block.

We left the vehicle at the information board next to the clarence. Walked up the track to the Hossack where we crossed the clarence at the first stand of willows after the bluff on the true left.

Travel down the true left was easy all the way up the Dillon.

We then completed a loop of the block south to north exiting via the guide and walking most of the way back along the Acheron road before being hitching a ride back to the truck.

Great trip, unfortunately quite low numbers of deer despite covering the entire block.

That's a bugger about the low numbers but a cool as mission in some neat country.
How many days @EFriz ?

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@kukuwai in Wednesday out Sunday.
Yes mostly young animals. Nothing old/mature seen that fitted what I was looking for.
Left for another day.