Exploring a South Island road less travelled

Paul Richards explored the Orari Gorge 4WD track –
in between lockdowns – with High Country Journeys.

The route starts at the end of Tripp Settlement Road, Geraldine and follows the Orari River up through the Orari Gorge and Blue Mountain Stations to come out on Lochaber Road on the way back to Fairlie. It is included in Mark Wilson’s book 4WD South (page 193) if you have this.
The first section is fairly straight forward as the track follows the Orari River until you get to Andrews Stream. The vehicle bridge over the gorge cut by Andrews Stream was washed out and has been replaced by a sturdy footbridge.
Vehicles now have to go about a kilometre inland through Orari Gorge Station to get to a ford across Andrews Stream. There is a locked gate before the ford which means travellers need to make contact before heading on up the valley.
It is well worth the trip to this point, and more is in store from this point on.
Andrews Stream is the boundary between Orari Gorge Station and Blue Mountain Station. The track along the other side of Andrews Stream takes you back to the other end of the footbridge. Continuing on from here, you follow the Orari River with some fairly steep climbs and descents, nothing too technical but good 4WD touring.
At one point John came on the radio and said, “When you get to the gap between the stone buttresses, pause, take stock, then turn left over the brow because that is where the track goes.” When I got there, all I could see was sky over the bonnet, a big rock buttress on my side and a similar buttress on the passenger’s side. However, Raewyn could sort of see the track dropping down to the left so guided me through the turn. Once clear, I stopped to photograph the rest of the trucks coming through.
From here, we toured out through Blue Mountain Station until we got to the river crossing which took us across to Lochaber Road. This crossing can be quite deep and fast flowing at times so it pays to check what the Orari River looks like at the SH72/79 bridge before you turn into Tripp Settlement Road – if the river is dirty there, don’t go on.