Today, I planned to explore an area east of Sledge Track Creek that I had left out on previous treks. By doing so, I could mark this area off my list and shift my focus to new locations, having explored everything in this part of Reservoir Valley. However, before heading to this area, I wanted to revisit the area where two unidentified huts once stood. The reason being that I’d be showing this location to a group of people in the coming week, and since the artefacts here can be tricky to find even with multiple visits, I needed to familiarise myself more thoroughly with their exact locations, so I would be prepared when that day came.
Upon arriving at the site of the two unknown huts, I managed to locate all the artefacts except for the remains of an old fence where a tree had grown around the wire. While not particularly remarkable, this feature does provide a clue to the time period when the area was in use.
With this location revisited, it was time to explore the last remaining area east of Nikau Creek. Reaching the general vicinity, I had to scale along a hillside for a bit, then entered an unexpectedly flatter area that was forested and reasonably easy to walk through. I searched the area as I walked through not knowing what to expect. This general area is steeped in history, so there was always the possibility of finding something from yesteryear.
Eventually, I noticed a piece of corrugated iron sticking out of the ground. Upon closer inspection, I realised it was part of a larger stack of iron sheets, likely the remains of a collapsed hut, dugout, or even an old cache . Resting on top of the iron was an old billy can and a large flagon style bottle. I took photos and continued to explore the surrounding area but found nothing else of historical importance.
It was difficult to determine whether this structure dated back to the construction of the old dam or was from a more recent period. The billy can, although quite old, was painted blue. My best guess is that it wouldn’t be any newer than the 1970s, but that it could also be older. The larger bottle looked like an old flagon, but older than the ones I was familiar with back in the 1970s and 80s.
Satisfied with the exploration for the day, I headed back, crossing the Wainuiomata River at the ford to clean my walking shoes. From there, I enjoyed a pleasant walk down Reservoir Road with wet and cooler feet and onward to the carpark where I made my way home.
