19-May-2002 -- This confluence is located part way up Devil's Peak - one of the four peaks of the Four Peaks range in South Canterbury. This was a bit of an adventure for the five of us - Alison, Linda, Grant, Victoria, and Bruce - none of us having been in this area before.

After having gained permission from Four Peaks station, on which the confluence is located, we travelled into the Te Moana Gorge via Te Moana Road. At the end of the road, a 4wd track leads through to Frasers Stream, then to an old hut, about 5km away. Although the 4wd track is in good condition, we decided to walk most of the way! It was a pleasant walk with good views of the ridge on which the confluence is located. Picture #2 shows the view from about 0.5km from the hut. It took just over an hour to get to the hut, where we ate our lunch.

The confluence is on the small ridge immediately above the hut. It is nearly a 300m climb, up through mostly tussock, to the confluence at about 860m above mean sea level. The view to the east - picture #1 - looks out over the South Canterbury plains towards the town of Geraldine. The view west - picture #3 - is towards a pass, over which the 4wd track continues, eventually coming out in the North Opuha River valley. Picture #4 is the view from a little below the confluence, showing the hut and the route we came in by. Picture #5 is the GPS shot of the confluence coordinates displayed on a Trimble GeoExplorer3. And finally, picture #6 shows how you can combine two sports for the ultimate experience! :-)