Mining History at Woolshed Creek
A Local Canterbury Gem
If you have a spare day in Christchurch and rugged peaks, canyons and open views are on your to-do list, then I highly recommend booking this tour with me – it’s a popular one, so get in quick!
Woolshed Creek is located in the Mount Somers ranges and offers an experience very typical for locals in Canterbury. With a decent drive from Christchurch, your day will be filled with the region’s best features. This tour centres around bushwalking, discovering history in form of mining relics hidden in native bush, as well as a chance to relax around a well-kept hut.
Everything will be organised for you today and we have plenty of opportunities to customize this trip even further:
- The long, scenic drive allows us to ease into the day, stop at the best local pie shops and embrace the agriculture of Canterbury.
- An easy walk over rolling hills and small mountain ranges, suitable for all experiences and ages.
- Plenty of side trips and places to explore like the beautiful canyon pools and exciting swing bridge
If you’re keen to get out of the city and to head into the impressive Canterbury hills, this is the trip for you.
Jill
I'm a 50-something woman enjoying a second teenagehood. I'm a glider pilot who's discovered the spiritual bond I feel in the air extends to the earth and the bush. I'm a writer by profession, a storyteller by inclination, and I have a wide knowledge of the New Zealand bush, its trees, birds, insects, the earth below it and the sky above. People who come hiking with me will feel welcome in the wilderness. I'll share the stories of the place and help you see the small things that you may not know to even look for. We'll take our time. Hiking with me is about being in the here and now, looking, listening, smelling and connecting to the land. I am not about rushing to make it to the end, just to tick a journey off the list. I'll tell you my stories but I also want to hear yours. This is your journey, your trip and I want to make it the best experience you can have.
Our plans for today
On a global comparison, the history of New Zealand is young. A key part of our early settler’s work was their mining efforts, seen frequently by the remaining carts and trains abandoned in the deep bush over 100 years ago.
On the Woolshed Creek hike, we’ll get a chance to go and see the evidence of this first hand – all within ten minutes of leaving the car park. This track only gets better from there with views of our stunning Canterbury hills and plains. I take pride in our region and as we gradually climb up to the tops of the miners’ route, I’ll explain the history and natural world you’re walking over.
Woolshed Creek marks a full day adventure past rhyolite cliffs, historic mines and panoramic lookouts over remote Canterbury and is perfect those new to outdoor hiking, or need something that will entertain the whole family (perhaps even tire out the kids).
The track is blessed with a mixture of terrain, making it a local’s favourite. After passing the first mining relics, the track opens up onto grassy flatlands often seen in films like Lord of the Rings. An hour later, you’ll be at the top of the peaks with a complete view of the surrounding canyons, and even the view of the hut from the distance.
The cosy Woolshed Creek Hut among rocky outcrops and a beautiful mountain river (good enough to drink) offers the chance to unwind under the afternoon sun, have a swim and lunch with a view. This is a great chance for Mum to read her book on one of the sloping hills while the river trickles past, while Dad goes to explore the peaks with the kids.
The area is famous for its caving and dramatic canyons, there are plenty of hidden side trips around the hut if you haven’t had enough adventure yet, so let’s check them out, too.
Gear
All tours require the proper gear to ensure you’re having the time of your life, and are well prepared if things go south. It’s the real and rugged New Zealand out there!
Required
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750ML Water Bottle
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Day Pack
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Hiking Pants
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Rain Jacket
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Recreational Footwear
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Sunscreen & hat
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Top Base layer
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Torch & Batteries
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Warm hiking layer
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Whistle
Optional
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Cutlery & cup
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Hand Sanitiser
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Hiking Socks
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Insect Repellent
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Lighter / Matches
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Personal First Aid Kit
Extras
There are add-on extras for this tour. These are the little things that’ll either make your Adventure easier to organise or more rugged - your choice. You can add these during the booking process.
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Side Trip to Swingbridge, Emerald Pool and Water Caves
The surrounding hillsides of Woolshed Creek are blessed with many exciting treasures, like the emerald pools and water caves (very frequently used by professional cavers who we might even pass on the walk). If you're up for it, we can arrange to check these out after reaching the hut.
Free -
Photographs of Your Adventure
Book this Adventure’s Lensman to come out with you and capture the experience. Leave your camera at home and enjoy the experience while someone else captures stunning photographs of you, your family and the views.<br />
+ $250 NZD
Q & A
Your Bushman has added a couple of answers to questions other Visitors have asked in the past to help you with your booking plans. Once you book a tour, you'll be in direct contact with your Bushman for more support.
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How fit do I have to be and is this suitable for children?
This is a great track for adults and kids alike and a family favourite in Canterbury. Several routes lead to the hut and we can pick the one that suits your fitness level - even though there are hills, children are seen frequently getting over these!
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Are there any opportunities to break up the drive?
Absolutely! I’ve got some personal favourites like local cafes that serve traditional coffee and pie, but we’ll chat in the morning about what works for you.
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Will there be other people out on this track?
Depending on the day and time of year, this is quite a popular hike with locals and in my experience, Kiwi hikers always have an interesting story to tell.
However, there are several lookouts along the way and you’ll definitely get a chance to relax and spend time on your own admiring the surrounding views.
FAQs
Here’s a few answers to the more general questions about the whole journey. You can visit our help and support area for any further information or contact us via the chat function.
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What is the refund and cancellation policy?
Bushman Tours sets a standard cancellation policy that can be found via our Terms & Conditions. This is globally set at 48 hours notice. However, Bushmen may add to this depending on the requirements for the Adventure (e.g. - hiring gear and renting equipment on your behalf). The final policy will be located at the bottom of the checkout, or you can reach out to us to check.
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What happens if the tour is cancelled due to weather?
In most cases, the Bushman can arrange another day to run your tour, but this also comes down to when you're available if travelling through New Zealand. We recommend ensuring you have insurance for cancellation of any tours. If the Bushman has to cancel due to a health risk, we will call you to arrange another option.
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What gear do I need?
Although we have a minimum requirement of gear, you will need the right equipment and gear that is relevant to the Adventure you're booking. This is usually found at the bottom of each tour page, but for our minimum, please visit our FAQs & blog page.
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Can I hire gear/equipment?
In some circumstances, your Bushman will have equipment for you to hire. This is available to browse and book through the checkout. We may also have options through our checkout. Although you may be able to borrow gear during the tour, it's important to reserve it now.
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What food shall I bring?
Depending on the length, this can vary. Your Bushman will advise on the tour page what is recommended for this particular Adventure, but typically, what we offer at checkout via the add-ons section is what you'll need. Keep it lightweight and nutritious if you buy your own.
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Where do I meet my Bushman?
We always try to pick the closest iSite (Visitor Centre) to your Adventure's location. Instructions on precisely where to meet are sent after the booking is made. However, you can also message your Bushman and arrange another location as long as it's close enough to the region.
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How much extra is it to add family/friends onto the booking?
If you book and find that more people want to come with you, we can arrange to add them onto the booking (this is dependant on the Bushman's preference to the number of people to take out). The more that book on the original checkout option, the cheaper the fee for each individual - so spread the word before you go to book! Please note, you cannot add or bring extra people 48 hours before the tour starts.
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Can I talk to my Bushman before the Adventure?
Absolutely! Once you book, you will be able to login and chat directly to your Bushman through a private, secure chat. Here you can arrange some extras you would like to do, timings for pick up and much more.
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Need more help?
In the area
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