Another attempt at finding a 10 feet deep winze in the Northern Forest
Today I was joined by Tony Weir for another expedition into the Northern Forest, continuing our search for an old winze, or prospecting hole, believed to have been dug during Wainuiomata’s early gold-prospecting days.
Once again, we started from Lees Grove Track. After climbing onto the Rātā Ridge Track, we headed towards Lowry Trig before leaving the track and dropping steeply into the bush to investigate a feeder creek of Gollans Stream.
This was actually the area we had intended to explore a couple of weeks ago in Bush Bash 88. On that trip, however, we had dropped into a smaller neighbouring creek without realising it, which eventually joins the feeder stream we were now searching.
Reaching the gully floor, we began exploring both the western and eastern slopes, looking for any sign of old workings. We followed the gully downstream for a distance before deciding that our best option was to regain the ridge and try to find a way down towards Rātā Ridge Track itself.
Our next descent further east brought us into a broad, open gully that was surprisingly flat in places. It looked promising, so we searched the surrounding hillsides carefully, but once again there was no sign of the elusive winze.
We continued down the gully until a small stream began flowing beneath us. Thick supplejack made following the stream difficult, so we concentrated mainly on the eastern hillside. Eventually it became obvious that we were still nowhere near Gollans Stream. We therefore climbed steeply out of the gully and back onto the ridge.
To our surprise, we discovered we were back on the same ridge we had travelled along two weeks earlier. It is easy to understand why people have become lost in this area over the years. Some gullies are straight, but others twist and turn, and this country is far larger and more confusing than it first appears.
We then headed south along this ridge and dropped into another wide section of a gully. Again we searched the area, but found nothing of interest. As we continued downhill, the gully began to narrow sharply and we realised that, if we kept following it, we would simply end up back in the same feeder stream we first visited today, rather than reaching Gollans.
So back up the hillside we went and my legs were killing me.
Near the top we suddenly heard voices in the bush. Two teenagers appeared who had come across from the Eastbourne/Days Bay area and were trying to work out how to get back. So we walked with them until we nearly hit Rātā Ridge Track and parted ways. We then continued south along the same ridge instead.
With the feeder creek below us on one side and Gollans Stream somewhere beyond the other. Our aim was to find a suitable place to descend into Gollans, but the ridge was high and the dense bush made it difficult to see the terrain below.
Eventually we decided the sensible option was to head back onto the Rātā Ridge Track. By now we were becoming exhausted.
We continued east and eventually reached the Lees Grove Track turn-off, but instead of heading out we carried on along Rātā Ridge. From the track we were finally able to look down towards the headwaters of Gollans Stream. At that point I realised that I had actually visited this tight gully several weeks earlier without realising that it was the beginning of Gollans Stream.
Rather than following the stream from its headwaters, we continued further along Rātā Ridge before eventually dropping down into the Gollans catchment.
At the bottom we found a surprisingly wide, flat area scattered with rocks. It looked like exactly the sort of place worth investigating, so we searched carefully for any sign of disturbed ground, old workings or the mysterious winze. Again, however, we found nothing.
We followed Gollans Stream downstream for a short distance before finally deciding we had done enough for one day. We turned around and began the long journey out, eventually returning via the Fern Gully Track.
We may not have found the old gold-prospecting winze, but the day was certainly not without its moments. Somewhere in the middle of the Northern Forest we managed to point two lost young men in the right direction, explored several remote gullies and ridges, and gained a much better understanding of the complicated country surrounding the headwaters of Gollans Stream.
By the time we reached the car, Tony and I were completely spent. Every muscle seemed to ache, my right knee was sore and I had developed a blister on my left foot.
Sitting down in the car felt like heaven as I had been standing all day and walking up and down steep hillsides and gullies.
After changing into dry clothes, I started the engine and headed home.
The winze remains hidden somewhere in the hills, but the search continues.
