Thread: Macauley

Thinking of heading into Macauley hut this coming spring, but I don’t have river driving experience so I’m not too sure about the access in. My truck is ’09 Mitsi Triton 4WD, pretty much stock standard on 31” Yoko Geolander AT’s, decent bash plate fitted but no snorkel or diff breathers as yet (will I need these?). Guessing it will all depend on river level!

The DoC website https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-re...dley-macaulay/ has red alert: No vehicle access past Lilybank Station but does that apply to the Macaulay or just the Godley?

Any advice much appreciated about access, animal numbers, etc.
cheers

So long as the river levels are low, you should have no problems. But if its been NW or coming on to NW then be very wary, it has claimed plenty of vehicles. Low and clear, easy drive.

Choose where you going to drive over and walk it first.If there been no rain or snow melt for 3 days,you should be fine.Its only 22 ks long,it drains out and fills up pretty quick.

A well-mounted snorkel is a lot cheaper than a new engine (and i wouldn't be driving up braided rivers without one)
My Triton is only a year newer, on 245/65/17 ATs and handles it well!

Just came back from there yesterday, river crossing aat the begining were very low , just one about 80 to 100 metre softer bit (with a fairly rocky base) at the junction of where you turn to go up either to the godley or the Macauley valleys probably up slighlty above wheel hub height, I have a modified raised jimny with 50mm lift 235 tyres etc easy as then and there was toyotas Fj cruisers and Toyota surfs coming out the day we went in. Left Hand side of the valley was the fastest and smoothest bit to drive on then. of course it change change with snow melt etc

fastest rising river in NZ?

Originally Posted by scottrods

fastest rising river in NZ?

As said above.

This is a photo from the Hutt apparently from the early 1950s of a Land rover in the river....

This is a photo from the Hutt apparently from the early 1950s of a Land rover in the river....

Sobering...!

Above river claims about 10 trucks a years.Our local garage gets a collection of wreck trucks sometimes.Some trucks are near new with all the big tyers n gear on them.They just forget about the nut behind the wheel,trucks only good as the driver.