Distance: 3.9 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 404m to 1014m. Gain: 64m. Loss: 674m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills:

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

A legal road drops north from Mt Richardson, descending through private land to the Lees. Unfortunately the legal roadline and formed track on the ground do not match exactly (they differ by 20m or so in places), so you will need permission from the farmer (Lees Valley Station) if you want to follow the formed track. DOC Rangiora have the contact details (email).

From the 'Mt Richardson' signpost 500m ENE of the summit along the Blowhard Track, follow the obvious old 4WD track NW down into a saddle. A small stream here is one of only two reliable water sources on the tops here, but locals advise treating the water if you use it.

The track runs north through kanuka scrub and enters a large clearing after 600m or so. Follow the southern bushedge west onto the ridge, where good flat shaded campspots exists around the bushedge. The bushedge is the boundary of public and private land, A rough ground trail crosses the clearing heading north towards pt1018. One on the flat summit north of the saddle, keep close to the bushedge and look out for the old 4WD track dropping NW into the bush.

The 4WD track zigzags down through beech to emerge onto a narrow spur with rough paddocks on the northern face. Follow the spur NW on the track. After about 500 the track drops south off the spur, and cuts back into a scrubby, gorsey gully - this turn is easy to miss. The track zigzags down into the gully and then follows it down through grassy paddocks to the fenceline alongside Dorman Stream.

Follow the fenceline beside Dorman Stream all the way to the Ashley. A farm track runs along the northern side of the fence - though the legal roadline is generally on the south side which is thick scrub. Ignore the point where the farm track swings north towards De Bourbles station, and instead continue in the direction you've been taking, passing through a gate and dropping to the Ashley riverbed.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description