Thread: Boating holyford-Pyke-Martins Bay Area

Hi guys First go at posting so here goes. Spent four days in the Hollyford Pyke area with a bunch of guys and girls and their jet boats
Day one was driving to hollyford road end and boating downriver to the top of the big rapids(unboatable going down)
Here we attached strops to boats and helicopter lifted boat the 600 metres over the rapids

After all safely over we went down the hollyford and turned right and up towards Lake Alibaster to where we based at Pyke River Lodge
Next day was down stream thro Lake Mckerrow and out to the mouth at Martins Bay. We stopped off at the Jamestown site and had a poke around and had a good look around Martins Bay
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That nite the lodge guys feed a few eels down by where boats tied up. Don't think I will be skinny dipping in there anytime soon
Next day was wet,real wet so the day was spent playing cards,lie telling,drinking,eating and gradually deteriorated from there til a barely remembered bedtime of 3.00am. The next morning came around abit quick but after a feed of bacon eggs and toast 2 panadiene and numerous coffees we headed up thro Lake Alibaster and up the Pyke.Good fun boating and with a bit of water in the river got as far up as inland from Big Bay.On the way back down stopped at Saxton camp and airstrip

Then down to Olivine Hut for a late lunch

Quick trip up to Hidden Falls the the 8 boat drag race home 🙄😀

Next day was out to rapids and all of us bar one lifted over by chopper and one boated the rapids out, Took him about 20 minutes and all I can say is he's got bigger balls than I have.
Great trip,great place to stay,good people to stay with and truly a piece of paradise

Very interesting sequences of pictures and a good story. You're one of the lucky ones who have managed to see that remote area. Thanks for sharing.

Awesome, Tx for sharing that.

Gunns camp is one of out favourite places to stay. I've watched several pack rafters put in at the road end and always wondered what things looks like further downstream.

Looks like a great trip.
Cheers for the write up and pics

Any bean sprouts ??

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That air strip looks rather serviceable. will keep that in mind

Love seeing boats in the rivers around there but always wondered if those rapids were able to be navigated.

Exc Post
Thanks for sharing !!!!

Nice one @Swompy. Ive done the same trip but we towed the jetter from Milford into McKerrow with a bigger boat then blasted up the Holyford and into the Pike as far as one can get. Spending 5 days exploring Davy Gunns country was neat. A feeling of real isolation. And yep we had a beer at Saxtons camp also.
On the way out we saw a tramper walking around the edge of Alabaster so we did the decent thing and picked her up, [picture this, gorgeous girl in knickers and wet t-shirt wading along the lake] we dropped her at the Pike swing bridge.
Later when my mate was cleaning out the jet boat back in Te Anau he found her boots. Would have been an uncomfortable walk out for her.
Neat to see your pictures reminded me of an epic trip.

Awesome place, did the same trip about 8yrs ago, venison, whitebait, trout, beers and jet boating. Is someone living in Sax’s old hut?

I think there had been someone living there for quite a while possuming but rumour has it he was moved along by the powers that be

Great spot for an adventure. Cheers for sharing! Busy place now unfortunately, used to be a time not long ago when it was quiet.

I know of quite a few boats that have conquered the falls.

This is one of better videos I’ve seen, very controlled

https://youtu.be/Yw7ra1pqRTM




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Your committed once you start it.

https://youtu.be/GQxYgn695ps

Great trip - I did it in Canadian canoes a few years ago in the roar. Fantastic memories. Very keen to repeat.

Twenty odd years ago use to roar hunt there,stay in Saxton,s hut winch the boats pass the falls great adventure for a young lad ,shot a ripper 14 pointer up the Pyke

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@Swompy
Did one of your team drown his boat on that trip?