Thread: Townshend Track Lees Valley - anyone driven it recently

Looking at heading in near Wharfdale Hut and wondering what access is like for the Townshend Track. Ideally like to drive this portion with farmer permission rather than walking.
So two questions:
- anyone know what condition the track is in? I've got a stock 07 prado but heard was pretty heavily rutted from stuff online
- anyone recently obtained permission to drive from the farm owner? Or are they not that keen on people driving

Feel free to PM - cheers

I was in Lee's on the Weekend. Farmers still got the gate to Tarn Hut locked from the road. Been that way since July last year. I saw others parking for the Wharfdale track by the road end. I didn't stop to check if that was locked as well.

the 3.7km extra each way to Tarn really sucked.

The station has a ‘newish’ manager who allowed a few to hunt on the farm, but as usual it was abused with people wandering everywhere without permission. He has locked everything up to stop it and has had Alpine Helicopters (I believe) in a few times to remove as many deer as possible.

A workmate is good friends with the new manager and told me they had removed around 1000 deer in a year. These were largely from the eastern side of the valley where they were coming out of the Oxford RHA to feed on his paddocks - not good news for anyone who used to hunt in the RHA.

Cheers for the info, good to know

Oh wow... yeah that's a huge 3.7k kick in the nuts on the way out eh!!!!

Just get yourself a Suron . Fresh legs when you get to where you need .

Originally Posted by Rendogg

Just get yourself a Suron . Fresh legs when you get to where you need .

Just as illegal as cutting the lock and driving in. Doing something like that can hurt hunting access for a lot of folks, across a lot of areas.

I would rather just go to a different spot with legal access and/or a shorter walk.

Originally Posted by Average-Lad

Just as illegal as cutting the lock and driving in. Doing something like that can hurt hunting access for a lot of folks, across a lot of areas.

I would rather just go to a different spot with legal access and/or a shorter walk.

Take a mountain bike, it's a long flat boring walk before you get to doc land

Didn’t he try locking the gate a few years back and Doc got him to unlock it?

I don’t think it is the same guy Stu. This guy is relatively new. I guess the easement is still there and able to be used, but you can no longer drive the first bit across his paddocks.

He might be less averse to the Suron idea than you think - he prefers quieter electric vehicles near his stock so uses Ubco’s on the farm.

I have yet to come across negative comments from anyone I come across while using my Suron for hunting access . Have stopped and spoken to cockys while using their easements , one even had a go on the Suron . As for average lad likening it to cutting the lock and driving in , how ridiculous . A Suron is the new mountain bike . Just done 2300 kms on mine hunting and they are in a league of their own .

The only issue with using a suron or similar is it will have to be lifted over a fence once you cross the easement. What do those bad boys weigh ? Is it a one person job to lift over a fence ?

Originally Posted by dannyb

The only issue with using a suron or similar is it will have to be lifted over a fence once you cross the easement. What do those bad boys weigh ? Is it a one person job to lift over a fence ?

Forget how much they weigh Danny, you have to be a skinny bloke to ride them. They are designed to take 100kg max from memory.
Best option would be a Buzz Bike, sold here in Chch. Work mate has one, it's self propelled up to 65kph & you can peddle if you like to make you feel good . Look at the Forest Hunter model.

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Originally Posted by Mathias

Forget how much they weigh Danny, you have to be a skinny bloke to ride them. They are designed to take 100kg max from memory.
Best option would be a Buzz Bike, sold here in Chch. Work mate has one, it's self propelled up to 65kph & you can peddle if you like to make you feel good . Look at the Forest Hunter model.

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Yeah I'm well aware of the size limits of the suron and at 6'8 and 110kg it wouldn't be at the top of my list, my observation was a generalized comment.

3 hunting mates own surons all over 6 ft and weigh over 100kgs . You have accessories galore to make them fit your size . Usually 2 of us so lifting one is no problem