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Lyell to Mohikinui and a meteorite *PHOTO ALBUM*
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DescriptionOur mate dropped us off at the Lyell, on a fairly decent November morning in 1976.A leisurely day was planned to gently ease us into our adventure.A dray road, just wide enough for a horse-drawn cart was built as far as Lyell Saddle(18 km) in the 1880's. The plan was for a road linking Lyell, with the mighty Mōkihinui River to the north.
My Mountain Mule pack was full of the essentials,ready for a planned 10 day,off track trek to Rolling River,on the Wangapeka .Richard took many photographs around the cemetery.The dray road to Gibbstown on Irishman's creek,was the easy bit.Here 3 Irishmen had found 1000oz of gold and a nugget weighing 108 oz. Then we continued upstream,checking out the old miners hut sites and the remnants of mining equipment scattered around along the way.At the site of the Alpine Mine stamper batteries, we searched for gold bearing quartz,without success.Climbing straight up to one mine entrance,we had a poke about before reconnecting with the track.
Alpine Hut was on a bit of a lean,propped up by a couple of sturdy poles.A small campfire outside,boiled the billy and with a cup of tea in hand,we strolled a few metres to check out the first "Big Slip". There’s a couple of slips from the 1968 Inangahua earthquake to cross that have 100 metre-style drop-off.The first was a couple of 100m long,steep gravel slope with a goat track across it.Not too bad if you took your time,had a head for heights and the confidence of youth.The next ones were legends - they were so treacherous even goats wouldn’t dare cross them.
Next morning, a quick traverse across the first slip was easily done.Next after a brief discussion, we roped up and began our climb over the top, bashing our way through dense bush and rugged terrain.The drop offs were epic.Our climbing rope came in handy on a couple of gnarly bits.Eventually we were back on the dray road but confronted with another series of challengers.The Lyell is well known for sudden,tornado like winds,sweeping down the valley with a tremendous roar.You hear it coming and the local gold miners would grab what they could and hold on.One such wind had flattened huge trees across the track for about a considerable distance.Over or under were both a challenge.I am tall but couldn't see over many of the trunks-it was a good workout.The rope came in handy,progress was painfully slow.By the time we got to the Lyell saddle,the sun was going down,we were knackered and had spent all day covering about 5km.A cup of billy tea put things in a better light.Pitched the tent and even the stones didn't disturb our slumbers.
Next morning we were awakened by the nosiest dawn chorus I have ever experienced.It was a splendid way to start the day.I took a compass bearing to Bald hill and onwards and upwards,along a game trail,emerging an hour or so later on the tops.Awesome panoramic views towards Murchison,Maruia and Lewis Pass made the climb worthwhile.
My Uncle Jeff had told me the route to take and about a very unusual boulder,just on the bushline.This rock seemed to be solid iron with saucer shaped dimples on one side.Well,it was definitely metal,rang like a bell when we hit it with a granite rock.Something very similar,but smaller can be seen in Canterbury Museum -from Meteorite crater.
This boulder has always been rattling around ,on my "to do"list.I always meant to return and have a decent look.Hard to believe 50 years have gone by.
It is out of context with the surrounding geology,which is granite country.It looked like a big metallic boulder,about knee high,wider than you can reach around.Not rusty,nothing growing on it.Dark brown colour.No photos of the boulder were taken,which I have often regretted.Since then,I have seen many iron/nickel specimens in museums around the world.This one looks similar.Busy,now working on my fitness and biking endurance.Glad there is now a hut nearby.This old bugger will need it.At least it's a good downhill ride back.
Well,we went and had a look,just a few weeks ago.Steve Wyn Harris is with Fireballs Aotearoa Meteorite Search co ordinator and media liason.He organised the group that found the Tekapo meteorite,NZ's 10 meteorite.
We tramped several hours to the search area,on Bald Hill and then spent 2-3 hours looking for the spot.I found the trail we had been looking for and as we were right on the bushline, all we had to do then was look down.
And it wasn't there!
The site was exactly as I remembered it and had described,so we are all certain we were in the right place.
Signs that someone may have dug beneath where it sat to get a net under as we would have had to do and then hook it onto a line from a helicopter.
There now is a marked track leading straight down to connect with Old Ghost Road a few hundred metres lower. You probably have been down it.
Have been told that this rock was flown out by a helicopter many years ago. Would love to know who,when and where it went.ContributorJohn Lester
My Mountain Mule pack was full of the essentials,ready for a planned 10 day,off track trek to Rolling River,on the Wangapeka .Richard took many photographs around the cemetery.The dray road to Gibbstown on Irishman's creek,was the easy bit.Here 3 Irishmen had found 1000oz of gold and a nugget weighing 108 oz. Then we continued upstream,checking out the old miners hut sites and the remnants of mining equipment scattered around along the way.At the site of the Alpine Mine stamper batteries, we searched for gold bearing quartz,without success.Climbing straight up to one mine entrance,we had a poke about before reconnecting with the track.
Alpine Hut was on a bit of a lean,propped up by a couple of sturdy poles.A small campfire outside,boiled the billy and with a cup of tea in hand,we strolled a few metres to check out the first "Big Slip". There’s a couple of slips from the 1968 Inangahua earthquake to cross that have 100 metre-style drop-off.The first was a couple of 100m long,steep gravel slope with a goat track across it.Not too bad if you took your time,had a head for heights and the confidence of youth.The next ones were legends - they were so treacherous even goats wouldn’t dare cross them.
Next morning, a quick traverse across the first slip was easily done.Next after a brief discussion, we roped up and began our climb over the top, bashing our way through dense bush and rugged terrain.The drop offs were epic.Our climbing rope came in handy on a couple of gnarly bits.Eventually we were back on the dray road but confronted with another series of challengers.The Lyell is well known for sudden,tornado like winds,sweeping down the valley with a tremendous roar.You hear it coming and the local gold miners would grab what they could and hold on.One such wind had flattened huge trees across the track for about a considerable distance.Over or under were both a challenge.I am tall but couldn't see over many of the trunks-it was a good workout.The rope came in handy,progress was painfully slow.By the time we got to the Lyell saddle,the sun was going down,we were knackered and had spent all day covering about 5km.A cup of billy tea put things in a better light.Pitched the tent and even the stones didn't disturb our slumbers.
Next morning we were awakened by the nosiest dawn chorus I have ever experienced.It was a splendid way to start the day.I took a compass bearing to Bald hill and onwards and upwards,along a game trail,emerging an hour or so later on the tops.Awesome panoramic views towards Murchison,Maruia and Lewis Pass made the climb worthwhile.
My Uncle Jeff had told me the route to take and about a very unusual boulder,just on the bushline.This rock seemed to be solid iron with saucer shaped dimples on one side.Well,it was definitely metal,rang like a bell when we hit it with a granite rock.Something very similar,but smaller can be seen in Canterbury Museum -from Meteorite crater.
This boulder has always been rattling around ,on my "to do"list.I always meant to return and have a decent look.Hard to believe 50 years have gone by.
It is out of context with the surrounding geology,which is granite country.It looked like a big metallic boulder,about knee high,wider than you can reach around.Not rusty,nothing growing on it.Dark brown colour.No photos of the boulder were taken,which I have often regretted.Since then,I have seen many iron/nickel specimens in museums around the world.This one looks similar.Busy,now working on my fitness and biking endurance.Glad there is now a hut nearby.This old bugger will need it.At least it's a good downhill ride back.
Well,we went and had a look,just a few weeks ago.Steve Wyn Harris is with Fireballs Aotearoa Meteorite Search co ordinator and media liason.He organised the group that found the Tekapo meteorite,NZ's 10 meteorite.
We tramped several hours to the search area,on Bald Hill and then spent 2-3 hours looking for the spot.I found the trail we had been looking for and as we were right on the bushline, all we had to do then was look down.
And it wasn't there!
The site was exactly as I remembered it and had described,so we are all certain we were in the right place.
Signs that someone may have dug beneath where it sat to get a net under as we would have had to do and then hook it onto a line from a helicopter.
There now is a marked track leading straight down to connect with Old Ghost Road a few hundred metres lower. You probably have been down it.
Have been told that this rock was flown out by a helicopter many years ago. Would love to know who,when and where it went.ContributorJohn Lester
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EventLyell to Mohikinui and a meteorite
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West Coast New Zealand History (12th Feb 2026). Lyell to Mohikinui and a meteorite *PHOTO ALBUM*. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 19th Mar 2026 03:14, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/35766