25-May-2002 -- Finding the 170.000E/46.000S convergence is probably best done during the summer. That having been said, we did having an awesome adventure locating it in the midst of a howling southerly last Saturday. The convergence is sited in the midst of the Waihola State Forest, southwest of Dunedin, and road travel to the forest was sublime in our heated car. We followed SH1 south to Henley, where we turned inland to the Sinclair Wetlands (see photo). The sun was shining, and rainbows dotted the Taieri Plains as another snow/sleet shower threatened. We followed the Clarendon-Berwick Road south to the Waihola Hill Road, which took us to the South Boundary Road. At the intersection of South Boundary Road and Centre Road, we parked the car, bundled up, and ventured into the forest to find the convergence (see photo).

The main roads took us to within 800m of the convergence, and a logging track took us to within 400m. At that point, we travelled through regenerating, thinned, pine forest for about a half hour until reaching a gully filled with blackberry bushes. Dedication to the cause meant sacrificing blood to negotiate the final 40 metres. Within 10 meters of our destination, it started to sleet, I began worrying about wild pigs, and poor GPS coverage threatened to spoil our mission! When things looked dire, however, we got a good satellite fix and ended up right on the money (see photos). No spectacular views, but the thrill was in the hunt.