Top Olderog Biv

(Top Olderog Biv looking over the Arahura: Photo Andrew Buglass 2008)

Maintenance Status

Top Olderog is designated as minimal maintenance.

Location

Arahura catchment: Grid Ref: E1464308/ N5257604. Map BV19. Altitude 1250. Top Olderog Biv is situated on a tussock bench high above the TR of Olderog Creek, a tributary of the Arahura River. The Biv was one of the least visited huts on this site when it was created. On my first visit in 2004 there were blocks of petrified butter wrapped in 1973 editions of the Hokitika Guardian in the old NZFS food drums in the Biv. The cup of 30-year-old Red Rose tea wasn't very tasty, mind you it wasn't in 1973 either. The view from the Biv is stunning and the sense of isolation here palpable. A number of tops routes are possible from Top Olderog to other remote huts and bivs in the area. The Biv was getting one visit every 3-5 years prior to being profiled on this site. Visits have now increased to around 3-4 per year.

Access

The most direct route to Top Olderog is via an old tops track up Mt. Kerr from the Big Wainihinihi Valley. The track is not being maintained by DOC but is in reasonably good shape thanks to the efforts of volunteers over the past few years. The alpine scrub section, the most overgrown bit, was re-trimmed and remarked in 2008. The track still needs a bit of tidying up and marking in places. It starts on the TL of a creek in a prominent bend on the Little Wainihinihi Hydro Road. The creek flows down through an iron grill into a water race that runs beside the road. A hut marked at this spot on the older maps is no longer standing. The track climbs steeply from the creek onto the ridge, which it then follows to the tussock. There is cruise tape on the more overgrown bits, generally pole stands of quintinia that have come up through the canopy gaps. Once in the tussock the track veers hard right and continues up through a band of scrub to the trig at point 1278m. There are tarns and good campsites just below the trig. From here it is a steep, but relatively straightforward ridge climb up onto Mt. Kerr.

From Mt. Kerr follow the crest of the range to the Biv. There are numerous small ups and downs on this section, but the going is generally pretty easy. The Biv is sited around a 100 vertical metres below the crest of the range on the Olderog side and is visible from the top in fine weather. A rock cairn marks the drop-off point (bearing 168 degrees) down to the bench where the Biv is located. Allow 5-7 hours travel from the Hydro road to the Biv.

Top Olderog can be accessed from the Arahura valley via Olderog Creeks, Lower Olderog Biv, and the McArthur Crags. From Lower Oderog Biv climb the scree opposite it onto a flattish open area of ultramafic rock and scattered scrub. Continue in a NE direction to the end of this bench, then veer NW uphill through patchy scrub and a gully onto a broad face toward the SE ridge of McArthur Crags. There are several small sharp points on the ridge further up. Drop from the second and highest of these down into a small tussock basin on the Olderog side of the McArthur Crags and sidle onto the crest of the range on the low point under Mt. Kerr. Conitnue along the crest from here to Top Olderog Biv. Allow around four hours fro the journey from the Lower to the Top Biv.

Type

Top Olderog was one of the last generation of bivouacs built by the NZFS. It is a slightly larger design than previous models with two shortish sleeping platforms and mattresses. It was built in 1971 by Tony Newton and Mario Geremia of the NZFS in Hokitika. Two small tarns provide water. There is no toilet.

Condition

The Biv is in good condition currently. DOC gave it a makeover in February 2008, repainted and relined it, replaced the door, replaced some blown out louvres on the southern window, and retightened the tiedowns. The Biv is cosy and weatherproof and heats up rapidly when you are cooking.

Routes

Scottys Biv, is accessible in a day from Top Olderog via the Tara Tama Range. The most direct line up the range to Mt. Olson isn't recommended due to there being significant ups and downs and 4-5 vertical bits, including one very exposed sidle with minimal hand holds. The last party that tried this route described it in the hutbook as, "mildy terrifying." An alternative, as yet untried route, would be to drop into the upper Wainihinihi Basin from the ridge behind or West of Top Olderog Biv. Then climb up onto the Tara Tama Range just SW of spot height 1572m via a prominent spur in the head of the basin. From here it is a relatively easy traverse around the head of Newton Creek basin to Scottys Saddle and Scottys Biv. It would be possible to access Griffin Creek Hut in a day using this route.

Newton Creek Hut is 4-5 hours from Top Olderog. Drop into the head of Olderog Creek via the side creek just upstream from the Biv. From here continue up Olderog Creek and climb a steep gut to the saddle between spot height 1566m and Mt. Olsen. At least one party has done this route in reverse so it is do-able. They also mention there being a rock biv down in the head of Olderog Creek. From the saddle head over the top of Mt. Olson and down a dry creek that enters on Newton Creek at E1467575/ N5256870. It is a mix of river travel initially, then relatively easy bush-bashing down the TR of Newton Creek to the Hut.

It is possible to get from Top Olderog to Lower Olderog Biv by dropping into Olderog Creek and following it down. There are two gorge sections which are negotiable. From the base of the ultramafic rock zone it is a rock and scrub scramble up onto the bench where Lower Olderog Biv is sited. I tried dropping down into the Olderog from the top of the ultramafic band in 2006, but ended up flagging it because I didn't like the look of the scrub below me, or the gorge which I couldn't see into properly. The river route takes around seven hours so the four-hours tops route seems a more preferable option.

Repairs needed

There is a small patch of wet floorboard in the SW corner of the Biv under the cooker bench, the source of which appears to be the iron cladding where it is wrapped around the front of the Biv. A section has lifted a bit and will be letting the rain in. It needs renailing with longer nails (the current nails are not holding) and sealing.

Provisions on site

One billy, one small collapsable shovel, candles, an aluminium bucket and wash basin, a hand brush and shovel, a spare louvre pane, and a quantity of small flathead nails. Under the Biv there is the old door, a makeshift ladder, a few bits of tongue and groove and 4x2, and a coil of No. 8 wire.