Westport and the Denniston Plateau. 15 January 2021

 

Part of old road bridge to cross the Hope River at Kawatiri

The trip from Upper Moutere to Westport was interesting, especially so as I don’t think I have been on that route since I was a schoolboy in a bus going to Matakitaki Lodge, an outdoor adventure education centre (although that was not in its title at the time).  We stopped for lunch beside the Hope River at Kawatiri which was the furtherest that Nelson rail line went.   By the time we got to Murchison the temperatures were in the early 30s.

 

It was about 10 degrees cooler when we arrived in Westport and checked into our motels.  I enquired about going to Denniston on the Denniston Plateau and it was suggested that given the weather conditions (clear and sunny) it would be a brilliant day to go. 

 

Denniston is an infamous town built to house miners who had come for the black gold.  It had one of the steepest inclines in the world, where coal would be sent hurtling down in a coal wagon on one rail line and a wagon would come up on the other one.  An amazing feat of engineering back around the turn of the 20th century.  It was fascinating to wander around the remnants of the rail system some of which is rusting away but a couple of wagons have been preserved.  There is now virtually nothing left of the town with only a couple of houses remaining. 

 

The views were amazing and it was well worth the drive up to the plateau.  It is rather pretty in a bleak sort of way.

 

After returning to our motel we walked into the main street and had another pub meal that was Ok and filling.   The town is so quiet, that it reminded me of Picton in the middle of winter when there are limited ferries sailing.

 

Rata on the way to the Denniston Plateau

st
Kawatiri Station

Coal Wagon perched to go down the Incline

The brake head

Coal Wagon in situ

 

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