Caution urged on backcountry roads
A vehicle that plunged some 30m off the Macetown Road into the river in late December pictured (top, middle) after it had been towed out of the water
Local and visiting drivers are being urged to be cautious and aware when driving on some of the Wakatipu’s narrow backcountry gravel roads after a few unreported incidents and one accident.
A Queenstown wedding planner had to quickly become resourceful on Sunday (January 8) and find an impromptu new spot for a couple’s wedding nuptials after a caravan blocked Moke Lake Road.
About five cars were delayed for about an hour, finally having to back some distance so the caravan could get through, she says. Thankfully, her wedding clients were “quite chill” about crossing a stile and getting married at the opposite end of the lake.
The following day a motorist, unsure of the safety of the same road, which is narrow in places, wasn’t confident to move further to the left, despite coaxing from an oncoming driver. The assisting motorist then backed about 25m to 30m to a pullover to allow the driver to move forward.
Two barefoot young men, thought to be teenagers, were also seen travelling at speed into Moke Lake and straight back out on small motor scooters the same evening. Thankfully, it appeared no oncoming traffic met them.
In late December an off duty Queenstown policewoman, Detective Constable Alex Cully, who was out enjoying the backcountry, came across a four wheel drive vehicle that had gone over a steep 30m bank along the rugged Macetown Road a few days prior.
Police understand the car initially landed in the river but had been towed out into the bushes by the time she came across it.
“I attended in a personal capacity, just because it was alarming and it had been fresh,” she says. “I put some police tape around the scene to make people aware. I understand the car had initially been in the water but when I got there it had been towed out of the water. It was a significant drop off the road on that site.”
Queenstown Police area prevention manager Senior Sergeant John Fookes says, while police were not called, he understood the woman had managed to scramble up the bank and had set off her personal locator beacon to alert an air ambulance which airlifted her out. She was believed to be unhurt.
“Extreme care needs to be taken on that road and it’s definitely four wheel drive access only,” says Alex. “Just make sure you have the right experience and skills to navigate a road like that.”
Senior Sergeant Fookes says there are a lot of people driving on unfamiliar roads at this time of year and, while police did not attend, or were unaware of, these incidents, it’s a timely reminder.
While most drivers are confident on our roads, a few may find them a bit more challenging, he says.
“Be courteous or mindful of time and space on these roads. Go slower and give other people space as some drivers may be a lot less than comfortable. Cut others a bit of slack,” he says. If you’re towing a caravan or in a large vehicle then be mindful that you may meet people coming the other way.
DOC operations manager David Butt says tourism is certainly back with higher numbers of people on our roads and while that’s really exciting caution is needed. People need to consult the relevant websites of the authorities that administer any backcountry roads and drive to the conditions.
“We certainly do see it at the moment, people trying to access the backcountry who don’t have the right vehicles or skills to be out there,” says David.
“We have signage on a lot of our backcountry roads and we put alerts up on our website too. Backcountry roads can be dangerous and you need competency and the proper vehicle,” he says.
It’s definitely not just a problem for tourists but local drivers too.
“People should pull over ahead of an approaching vehicle if there’s a shoulder in the road and let them pass.”
With the popular DOC camping ground at Moke Lake the road in is becoming very corrugated in places due to heavy use over the busy season.
Council spokesman Sam White says the Queenstown Lakes District Council will be raising fresh grading of the road with its contractor.
“There have been no specific incidents reported but our backcountry roads are regularly inspected and we’ve brought that forward,” says Sam.
“We will be looking again at signage, edge marker posts and road conditions to see if there’s any room for improvement and more maintenance work that’s within budget and timing,” he says.
“Drive to the conditions. Everybody’s red line and tolerance is different.”
