Serpentine Track
Track category
Walking track
Mountain bike - Intermediate
Time:
6 - 8 hr
Description
The Serpentine Water Wheel and
restored battery
This all-day walk, or mountain bike ride, leads to a well-preserved isolated mining area, deep in the heart of Central Otago.
The stamper battery and water wheel are in excellent condition having been recently restored. Almost all of the working parts are intact and there is even a gold safe lying nearby. The complex was built in 1882 at the top of the ridge to crush ore from mines in the area. It was moved in 1890 to its current site but it didn't live up to its early promise and was abandoned in 1891. The stamper makes a good lunch stop.
The head race of the water wheel can clearly be seen and traced back to a holding dam 100 m up-valley. There are also areas of hydraulic sluiced ground further up Long Valley.
The stamper was supplied with ore via and inclined railway and the line of this should be followed steeply up the slopes of Rough Ridge. The occasional sleeper and rail spike will be found scattered about. From the top of the incline (about 200 m above the stamper) a sledge track is followed on a level grade south to the main mine tunnel with its associated tipping benches. The tunnel is full of knee-deep water.
Another 150 m directly upslope from the tunnel mouth, almost on the crest of Rough Ridge, are stone dwelling huts and the mineworkers' store in excellent condition. Nearby quartz reefs are visible.
Getting there
The track start is about an hour's drive from Alexandra. Drive to Poolburn Dam and turn off onto Long Valley Road to access both the church and Serpentine battery. This is 4WD track. To access the battery there is a marked walking track (1hr return) from Long Valley Road. There is no 4WD access to the battery.
Mountain bike from Poolburn Dam to Serpentine Church is 2-3 hr.
Walking from Poolburn Dam to Serpentine Church is 5 hr.
A topo map and navigational skills is essential.
Activities
Dog walking
Four wheel driving
Historic sites
Mountain biking and cycling
Plan and prepare
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.