A Path Less Travelled . . . . .

The Thompson Gorge Road, from Omakau in the Manuherikia Valley, to Tarras Country Village on the main road north to the Mackenzie Country, is not only wild and very beautiful, it takes you on a journey where you're 'on your own'. The road signs say 'Self Recovery' and 'Not Suitable for General Vehicles'. With our grunty 4WD Pajero, we were fine, and managed to negotiate ruts that were axle deep in mud and snow. 
We had tea, chocoalte and nuts at a simple old stone hut, built in 1908 was a shelter for drovers and travellers on their arduous journey to and from the goldfields. 
At the saddle crossing, at 900m, there was a short traverse over the Dunstan Range crest, before it opened up to stunning views over the Upper Clutha Valley, towards Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, and the Southern Alps. This image here, showing one of New Zealand's alpine plants, the golden spaniard or golden speargrass, aciphylla aurea, was taken along this traverse area.
On the way down to the Lindis River bridge, we visited the old Come in Time gold stamper battery  in the Rise and Shine valley. What an amazing day! and how lucky to be able to do it. There's one image in Extra of the wee stone hut, plus another showing the Dunstan saddle's traverse area.