Rotary – Oteake Conservation Park 4WD Adventure
On 24-26th February, 15 or so Rotarians from both Ashburton Clubs along with partners and friends experienced some great Rotary fellowship and some of NZ’s most iconic high country.

We travelled down to Danseys Pass on Friday to stay in the Historic Danseys Pass Hotel where we all enjoyed great hospitality and food.

On Saturday we explored Oteake, a vast landscape of golden tussock and changing light. Oteake is 67,000 ha of mountainous high country, tussock plateaus, scree slopes, shrubland and wetland. The distinctive flat-topped Hawkdun Range is the park’s centrepiece, often featured in painting, photography, poetry and prose.

Returning to the hotel late in the afternoon, tired but exhilarated we enjoyed another evening of great fellowship.

Sunday morning we travelled over the Omarama Saddle with stunning views overlooking the McKenzie basin before arriving for a late lunch at the Wrinkly Ram restaurant in Omarama.

Trail 62kms offroad.

Paused to take in the view from the top of Mount Buster.

Stopped for a look at the Kyeburn Diggings

Vehicles navigating the trail

Crossing the Otematata River

Crossing the Otematata River

Enjoying the remote location for lunch.

Ian and Jenny Knight panning for gold

Changing tyre high up on the Hawkdun Range

How many Rotarians does it take to change a tyre?

View from the top of the Hawkdun Range