Thread: EOI. Downies Hut, Quad bike trip

Originally Posted by Pengy

Sacraficial stunt bike and trailer available right here

A shame that the sacrificial rider (owner) is busy that weekend

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

Thanks for the info Turtle, what stops Quads from heading further up than the climb you refer to? Presuming this is around McKellar Stream?

Track is washed out but if river is low enough flow you can get up.

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

A shame that the sacrificial rider (owner) is busy that weekend

Doing what..................riding lessons perhaps or flying (or both)

Originally Posted by mikee

Doing what..................riding lessons perhaps or flying (or both)

perhaps like this??

Originally Posted by mikee

perhaps like this??
Attachment 161631

It's almost like you were there..

Originally Posted by ROKTOY

It's almost like you were there..

I picked up the pieces don't worry

Made it.

After a few comments about McKellar stream posing an issue I ditched a box off the quad, culled some gear and loaded my pack up instead, in preparation of a possible walk in to get to Downies.
A cruisey Friday morning heading up the Valley on the Quad, an early lunch beside the river before looking at McKellar Stream.


Someone had made a start moving rocks to clear a path across the stream, so I did a bit more work and drove (skidded and slipped) across, McKellar is quite swift for its depth with a decent drop off beside the crossing. I had the winch ready in case I got into trouble.
Photo looking back after crossing.

Got to the hut with only one little hiccup, I found a hole in the river that gave bike and rider a good dunking.
Downies hut is a gem. Cleverly crafted from a large number of holes held together with rough sawn timber. A huge open fire place and an enormous clearing to one side and a fantastic mountain vista to the rear. The Hut book has a recent comment from DOC rangers about restoration work being planned. (John Taylor who has played a part on restoring several historic huts and tent camps in the Top of the South)


Millions of wasps, Good deer sign about but also a lot of people sign also, I encountered other quad bike riders (dare I call them hunters?) Saturday afternoon back down stream as I moved to a different camp site. I was happy to leave them to it.
Found a few trout in the river, one particularly good sized specimen in a pool adjacent to Downies. None where interested in my shiny metal offerings.
Two deer seen, which is a good result for me and my less than average hunting skills. One spooked and the other seen waaay off in the distance through the binos, long gone by the time I stalked in on it.
Saturday night walking back to camp I came across a cat stalking in on a hare, so I bet it to getting the hare and when it lifted it's head to see what was happening I offered it the same flavour 223 pill the hare received.

After a quick morning hunt, fruitless I expect due to my neighbours on their bikes the day prior, I had a late breakfast before packing up and heading out, stopping off to try out the rod and reel on a few more pools.


Hit a traffic jam back at the Farm carpark, realized my cap had blown off my pack, a quick zoom back up the track found said cap floating on a puddle in the middle of a cattle raceway... Bugger...

The Quad bike went well, I had a ball. Learnt a few things, quads DO NOT behave like a 4wd, they float a lot quicker, and river crossings with flow are a PITA.
Definitely keen to go back. It's a good walk/drive in.

awesome thanks - been keen on getting to downies for awhile now , good weather window.

Nice writeup thanks

Awesome.
I think they are even going to mill a couple of trees on site for the timber to do the restoration.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Awesome.
I think they are even going to mill a couple of trees on site for the timber to do the restoration.

Holy mother of god!
They are allowed to mill native timber to restore a hut? On the boundary of a NP no less!!!!

Maybe there is hope for this country yet.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Holy mother of god!
They are allowed to mill native timber to restore a hut? On the boundary of a NP no less!!!!

Maybe there is hope for this country yet.

It’s certainly the most eco friendly way to get timber onsite, and it’s just better. But yeah, surprised it’s an option


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I think Doc can be persuaded to do that sort of stuff if they don't have to pay for it all.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Awesome.
I think they are even going to mill a couple of trees on site for the timber to do the restoration.

They did the same when restoring Chaffeys Hut up the Cobb. Used windfall trees to slab for timber.

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Nice looking area alright.