Southern Wilderness New Zealand

Travers Sabine - History

History:

A quick look at the geology of the area of the Nelson Lakes and in particular the Travers Sabine circuit tells us how young New Zealand is. On a time scale of the Earths Geology,  this country is still undergoing immense change as the plates on which New Zealand is made up of continually crash and grind into each other. This is evident in the jagged nature of our mountains as they are thrust upwards from the continental collision. As you hike the track the fact that you can visibly see faults in the ground you are walking across is an amazing experience. Over the Travers Sabine Circuit you will walk over the Alpine Fault crossing over two distinct rock types.

About 15,000 years ago the world was in an ice age. The Nelson Lakes region as we see it today was being carved out by nature's heavy machinery; Glaciers. The glaciers at this time were several hundred meters higher than the valley floors we hike on today, and as these glaciers slowly moved their way down the valley they carved out the steep walls and flat valley floors, the grand lakes were being sculptured by giant hands of ice, moving with the force of gravity.

In terms of the social history of the area, Maori used to frequent the areas around Lake Rotoiti (small lake) and Lake Rotoroa (long lake) on their travels out to the west coast to gather Greenstone which was a very important and spiritual part of Maori culture. Although they didn't settle in this area, the abundance of eels, fresh water mussels and waterfowl were an important reason for stopping to replenish food stores for their travels. Later on as Europeans started to venture into the Travers Sabine area. Early explorers, geologists and surveyors were the first to venture into the valleys and mountains and as time went on and settlers were looking for more farmable land, sheep and cattle stations were placed in the lower Travers Valley. In fact in 1922 the whole valley, including the summits of Mounts Travers, Cupola and Hopeless, was offered as one great sheep run. A later dream for the valley came in the 1970's when several 50 acre sections on the cleared flats were put up for sale for idyllic hunting lodges. Fortunately the Park acquired the flat lands instead.

Now tracks lead up the valley and over mountain passes for the fit and curious. The Travers Valley is truly a wonderful escape.

Feel free to call from New Zealand on 0800 666 044  or Australia 1800 355 768