November 26, 2009
Branches Station, The High Country Experience.
Filed under: Fishing Diary — Henare @ 2:55 pm
Comprising of approx 90,000 acres and having the privilage to stay and spend a few days on Branches Station is something special.
Just being there, let alone learning the day to day running of such a place and finding some of the history of the Gold days and the farming are things you don’t get to experience everyday.
Take a look at some of the things that Fred, Kay & Jay got up to while they were Staying at Stockmans Hut on Branches Station.
If you like what you see, get in touch with Holly at holly@thebranches.co.nz
The Essence of a New Zealand High Country Station. James Murray (Station Manager) his horse and his dogs moving stock the way it has always been done.
Flying out of Queenstown to Branches Station via Milford Sound.
Kay & Fred getting a birds eye view of Fiordland and Mt Aspiring National Park.
Getting up close and personal with some Ice and snow on the Earnslaw Glacier.
Flying up the Caples River Valley on the way to Milford Sound. This river offers some of the best fishing in the world i reckon. If you don’t beleive me get in touch and i will take you there!!
Fred & Jay getting a view of some dolphins we had spotted cruising up Milford Sound.
Arriving at Stockmans Hut. Branches Station.
Dave Miller from Karuna Fine Cuisine was our Personal chef along side Holly Taylor (host & General Manager of Highland Resorts) and Fred Krehbiel one of our guests for the 3 days.
Kay with one of Jame’s Heading dogs. James and Jay would muster about 1400 marino sheep up into the Floodburn valley to graze.
Jay enjoying the ride and Kay having the experience of a High Country Sheep Muster.
Fred enjoying the experience of Horses, Dogs and Sheep.
What a veiw looking up the Shot over river!! James, Jay, Fred & Kay.
Man’s best friend. One of Jame’s trusty Hunterway’s. To see these guys in action is a very cool experience!!
Marino sheep that have just been shorn. Time to get back out on the hills and have a feed.
Sheep are not that keen on getting their feet wet. Stock bridges like this one are a great help. The Shot over river looking pretty nice.
We met up with Ian (Local Gold Miner) had a cup of tea at his place, and then went and had a look for some gold..
Fred, Kay and Ian using a small sluice to sort the gravel out before turning to a gold pan for the fine search of gold.
James coming to have a closer look at the mining activity. Nice way to travel.
And yes!! After about half an hour Ian found gold!!
Branches Station, this place is special.
Jay and James, on the muster.
James taking his horse for a swim.
Looking for Gold!!
This is the real thing, an awesome experience.
What a beautiful place to stay for a few days. It’s pretty easy to forget about the rest of the world!!
Having a brew with James and Gorgie during the muster.
Fred, Anabel, James, Gorgie, Arther, & Jay with a back drop that has to be seen in person.
Jay, we drove out from Branches Station through Skippers Canyon.
Fred, Kay & Jay looking happy to be near the end of the drive out from Branches.
The end of 3 awesome days in a place that for most people exsists only in books and dreams.
You are right it is a beautiful place at the Branches Station.I have been up there many times in the past and enjoyed staying at Lake Lochnagar,the Hundred mile hut etc. It is a shame that it is now only possible for the rich to enjoy it though, with the general public not being allowed on the place. In the past when the Borrels owned the station people were allowed up there as long as it didnt interfere with there running of the station which was great.
Comment by Graeme Murray — April 4, 2010 @ 11:08 pm
If you bothered to ring up and ask you would probably find that the Branches still provides access to most parties as long as it works in with the Station schedule.
Along with a huge number of Wakatipu students each year many other people who are not rich! still enjoy the Station.
Comment by Trevor Tramper — May 17, 2010 @ 5:31 pm