20 THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS - AUGUST 2018
TIDES OF CHANGE
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Takapu for ultimate Fiordland experience
Poppa Mike
CH …CH…CHECK THIS LOT OUT
We have a few gaps to fill in the following dates. 14th – 20th Oct & 20th – 26th Oct If you would like to have the ultimate fiordland experience CALL US NOW! Start your adventure by being whisked via helicopter over some of the most pristine wilderness New Zealand has to offer, and landing on beach to be transferred to the Takapu, an impressive 21m vessel — that’s 72 feet of workable platform. The Takapu is one of New Zealand’s largest charter vessels and having accommodation for up to eight people means your individual cost can be kept to a minimum.
venison, washed down with your favourite drop, of course. Takapu Charters, a family run business, is one of New Zealand’s most well-known charter vessels. Mark Kruishoop, your fully qualified skipper, is a real Kiwi outdoorsman with 18 years of charter experience in Fiordland’s pristine Chalky and Preservation Inlets and, as result, has a vast knowledge
Relics of a bygone era along Charming Creek
Photo credit Michael Reardon
If you are seeking the ultimate Fiordland fishing, diving, and hunting experience, then look no further than Takapu Charters. If diving is your thing, with a cook on board
of the area. His knowledge and personal attention to detail make a trip aboard Takapu the ultimate Fiordland experience. If you have a group of friends or family who
Photo credit Michael Reardon
and a fully equipped galley, you will soon be feasting on delicious scallops and crayfish. For some culinary variety, you might cast your rod amongst the bountiful blue cod and groper, or perhaps sample your fresh
would love to disappear into the wilderness for seven days, then a Takapu Charter is for you. Many of New Zealand’s outdoor TV personalities have had the Takapu experience and rave about it – you will too.
LOOKING FOR THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME?
7 day charters, fishing, diving, hunting
When the family suggested a mid-winter break on the West Coast recently I found myself pulling into a bush clad car park at Chasm Creek, inland from Seddonville. Keeping us company were bush robins and weka, along with the noise of rushing water carrying away the heavy rain from the night before. For the next two hours the family rode their mountain bikes along the Chasm Creek walkway, so called because of the deep chasm-like gorges cut by the creek flowing under narrow footbridges and down steep sided gullies. The track passes the site of old timber mills, first Watson’s Mill then later Mumm’s Mill. The Department of Conservation has established information stops along the way and made efforts to preserve old timber milling and coal mining relics wherever possible. Also to be seen are the vague remnants of early grazing land, established once the native bush had been cleared. The track then meets the Mt Glasgow Walkway, then links up with the Charming
Creek Walkway, originally the access route and rail line into the Charming Creek coal mine. Other tracks crisscross throughout the region, remnants from the early endeavours to reach more and more trees and in the search for new pockets of coal as the current ones began to run out. The region is full of historical surprises at every turn - the site of the distinctive bowstrung suspension bridge over Chasm Creek, the Mangatini Falls and a 50 metre railway tunnel provide additional interest. It was particularly interesting to read about the history of the Charming Creek coalmine behind Ngakawau. It first produced coal in 1929 and became one of the longest-lived mines in New Zealand. At its peak in the 1940’s, it employed about 70 men, producing over 40,000 tonnes a year. Some of these miners lived in Seddonville, with an 8km bush walk to get to work each day until the road was opened in 1948 and a bus used - the route of the current Chasm Creek walkway. Others miners
SERVICE GROUP
lived at Ngakawau or Hector, so they rode in the empty mine bins as they wound their way up the gorge to the mine. This mine closed in 1986. Today coal mining from other coal deposits still continues at Ngakawau, under the Bathurst name. The new mountain bike trail over the Old Ghost Trail, which starts at Lyell, ends at Seddonville. After a stopover and refresher at the Seddonville Hotel, beds are available there, or at the Seddonville Holiday Park, the old school with all facilities including bunk rooms for mountain bikers, the ideal finish is to ride the extra two hours over the ‘Ch – Ch’ trail and end at Ngakawau. Expect things to be quite busy over January/February as the routes become popular. In mid-July the Ngakawau car park was nearly full. Plan in advance and make use of the various information brochures and internet history sites. And make sure you take a camera - one of the best and most varied West Coast tracks awaits you.
Specialists in all types of marine repairs, sales and service
FIORDLAND Book now:
027 224 1284 www.takapucharters.co.nz
137 Vickerman St, Port Nelson 03 548 1439 nick@aimex.co.nz