Loch Katrine - Show weekend getaway -

I had been wanting to do an overnight solo trip for a while after doing the day drive through the Nevis Road. A few people in the 4WD & Overlanding in NZ group on Facebook suggested Loch Katrine near Lake Sumner. After looking at the DOC website it looked stunning and a great place to try my first overnight trip. It offers fishing and mountain biking so I had to pack both into the Suzuki.

Had a couple of false starts to get up there. With sickness and poor weather in the region stopping me from going on a couple of the planned weekends. But the forecast for Saturday and Sunday of Show weekend in Canterbury looked perfect.

I borrowed a stretcher and a small gas bottle for my cooker from a workmate. Got some supplies from Complete Outdoors, a pack of Back Country meals and some pans to boil some water. Add to this the recent suspension lift to the Suzuki Escudo and I was ready to hit the road.

The drive-in on Lake Sumner Road

It was quite a nice drive, the road is pretty rough at points. I found that the road tyre pressures were a bit uncomfortable so found a spot to air down them to about 25 from the 38 psi that they started at. This made the drive better. The place I stopped at was near an old bridge and a group of white water rafting were getting ready to head off. I ended up having a chat with the tour bus driver and gave some more insight into the place.

Parked up beside the Hurunui River, this is where i let down my tyres for the gravel road. Found 38 psi was a bit harsh for the gravel road.

A historic bridge on the Lake Sumner Road with a creek running below it beside the Hurunui River. — A historic bridge on the Lake Sumner Road. This was near where I stopped to let some air out of my tyres.

A group of white water rafters having a briefing beside the Hurunui River. They are all dressed up ready for the trip with the raft in the middle — A group of white water rafters having a briefing beside the Hurunui River.

Old map and information on the white water rafting information of the Hurunui River. — Safety information for rafting the Hurunui River

A small feeder creek into the Hurunui River.

The historic bridge back from where I was parked. With a gravel entranceway in front and bushy hills in the back. — Another view of the historic bridge, from where I was parked to air down my tyres.

As I drove in and saw Lake Taylor it looked awesome and I could not wait to get around to Loch Katrine.

Stopped to close the gate with Lake Taylor camp ground and Lake Talyor in the back ground — Had to close the gate and heading into Lake Taylor

Showing some alternative paths people have taken — Hmm not sure why some people needed to make those other ruts.

Parked at the entrance to Lake Taylor, with Lake Tayloe in the background — Parked at the entrance to Lake Taylor ready to start this adventure

Driving around to Loch Katrine and here the road got quite a bit rougher. Any 4WD should be able to do it comfortably but a 2WD car would struggle. Here are some photos of the drive around and later on is a video of my drive out of Loch Katrine

My Escudo on the straight gravel road flanked by grasslands and mountains on the side. — Heading out on Lake Sumner Road.

Grasslands with sheep and lambs around and Lake Taylor in the distance — Coming up to Lake Taylor as driving out.

Lake Taylor looking north, with a fence extending into the Lake with mountins either side — Lake Taylor looking north

My Escudo on the road just past a gate looking with Lake Taylor in the background — On Lake Sumner road heading around Lake Taylor

On the side of the gravel road over looking Lake Taylor in the back ground — Had to stop for a look at this view over Lake Taylor

My Escudo on the beach of Lake Taylor with the mountains in the background — Had to stop for a fish at Lake Taylor and admire this great view

Arriving at Loch Katrine

Once I made it to Loch Katrine I quickly got my table, cooker, and gas bottle out to make some lunch. While having lunch I read my book for a bit and enjoyed the amazing view.

The Escudo parked under a tree. Some bachs in the background — We made it to Loch Katrine.

The cooker set up on a small table with a chair ready to cook lunch. — Ready to cook lunch.

Under some trees with some people sitting under the shade to the left. Loch Katrine out past that with mountains on the side — Just arrived at Loch Katrine to a stunning day.

Loch Katrine under a clear sky — What a stunning day to turn up to Loch Katrine

After lunch, I had a quick fish just out in front on the shoreline. I walked around the corner a bit with a black and gold toby on. In my first cast I had a hit, my second I had a little fish on which I released at my feet. Then a couple more small hits and nothing else. The North West wind started to pick up so I went and read my book in the Escudo while this died down.

Night time

The campsite set up with the table, cooker and tent infront of there with my Escudo to the side with Loch Katrine in the distance

Once the wind had died down, I started to set up my tent and stretcher. I quickly found that the stretcher I had borrowed was too big to fit in the tent. But squeezed it in past the fly netting. The main problem was it sat very high for my small tent.

I made my dinner of Roast Chicken with mashed potato which for a dehydrated meal was actually very tasty.

After dinner, I tried again for another fish with a few others, without any luck even with the rising and jumping all around us. Here is a short video I tried to get of all the fish. They did like to stop once I hit record. I really need to learn how to fly fish.

That night was something else we had an awesome sunset. But I found the tent to be very claustrophobic. I could not get comfortable forgetting my pillows did not help as a hoodie is different. After struggling I ended up sleeping in the car.

Day 2 of Loch Katrine

I awoke to a foggy and still morning. After a breakfast of muesli and yoghurt with a hot cup of coffee. I packed up the tent and everything back into the car.

Once everything was packed up, I got a bag sorted with some snacks, water, a camera and my fishing rod. It was time to bike around to the top of Loch Katrine.

I have never done any more mountain biking than on a simple gravel road and while for most people this was a pretty simple track it did offer me some challenges. With some steep rocky parts and holes to dodge. It was very enjoyable and at the end where I could have driven to I had a quick spin for a fish but no luck. It was time to head out and drive back.

My mountian bike leaned up against a bush to the left with Loch Katrine in the background and the mountain bike trial to the right. — Had to stop for a photo opportunity. I have never mountain biked before on anything other than gravel so these little rocky parts for a bit of anew experience.

At the top of a rise looking down over Loch Katrine. Bright green contrasting the blue of the watrer and sky — Such vivid colours over Loch Katrine

From the mountain bike trial back towards the Loch Katrine Campground — Looking back towards the Loch Katrine camp ground from trial I was mountain biking

Loch Katrine and its clear water with a tree covered hill in the back ground, and the cam ground to the right. — More of Loch Katrine and its clear water with the camp ground to the right

More of Loch Katrine and its clear water

Loch Katrine with a boat at the background — Trout cruising along the edge, the water is so clear

My moutnain bike up against a tree beside Loch Katrine with a bushy hill on the other side — The water of Loch Katrine is so clear and just awesome

Rough mountain biking track — Some more of the mountain biking track

Rocky mountin bike trial around Loch Katrine — Part of the rocky trial which I mountain biked.

Grassy fields with tussock around Loch Katrine with the mouintains in the background — Bit more of Loch Katrine with its grassy fields

Near the top of Loch Katrine it opens up to grassy fields — Loch Katrine as it opens up with the grassy fields around it.

My bike in the foreground with a Fish and Game Angler Access information board and Loch Katrine in the background — Wider viewer of the top of Loch Katrine

The back of my mountiain bike on the ground near a Fish and Game information sign with the top of Loch Katrine in the background — Stopped my mountain bike ride here to try for a fish as I saw a few crusing and rising in the background.

Leaving Loch Katrine

On my out of Loch Katrine I stopped a few places to try for another fish and to take some photos. Below are those photos and a video I got off my dashcam.

Parked at Lake taylor with a beautiful day — Another view of Lake Taylor

The Escudo parked at Lake Taylor. With a beautiful clear sky — Parked up at Lake Taylor heading out and stopped for a quick fish. It was a beautiful day.

On the end of lake taylor have a fish — Those waters are amazing.

Stopped at the Hurunui River to try for a trout. Can see my Escudo parked beside the river with the rivers trubulant flows. — Stopped at the Hurunui River to try for a trout.

After ending the journey out of Loch Katrine pumping the tyres back up to road pressures. Parked in a nice park with a swimming hole sign — After getting to the end of the gravel roads, stopped that this park to pump my tyres back up to road pressures.

Final Thoughts

This was a very enjoyable trip but I did learn a few things from this trip. I need to take some insect repellent and will our use our 4-man tent to make the sleeping more comfortable.

I am keen to hear from you guys and girls if you have been here or any other trips around Canterbury.

Cheers
Parriehunter

Loch Katrine – Show weekend getaway

The drive-in on Lake Sumner Road

Arriving at Loch Katrine

Night time

Day 2 of Loch Katrine

Leaving Loch Katrine

Final Thoughts

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The drive-in on Lake Sumner Road

Arriving at Loch Katrine

Night time

Day 2 of Loch Katrine

Leaving Loch Katrine

Final Thoughts

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