HIGH COUNTRY EVENTS

SHOTOVER MOONLIGHT MOUNTAIN MARATHON

The inaugural Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon will be held on the 4th of February 2012.  It begins at the Pipeline Bridge across the Shotover River and ends at the Ben Lomond Station woolshed at Moke Lake. The route initially follows the Shotover River, past old gold dredging equipment, and continues to follow old water races. The course traverses the home of 3500 superfine merino sheep, and you will follow the route they take each spring to be shorn.

View the event website www.activeqt.co.nz/events/shotover-moonlight

Special Race Weekend Accommodation Packages Available

Accommodation is available at Ben Lomond Lodge on the night before Race Day for marathon competitors and supporters.  Accommodation for Saturday and Sunday nights is also available.

Marathon competitors  $299. This all-inclusive package includes dinner, bed, breakfast, heli-transport to the start of the race and the race entrance fee.

Supporters $139.   This includes dinner, bed, breakfast and a takeaway lunch. You will have the advantage of some spectacular vantage points for viewing sections of the Race. These vantage points are only accessible if you are staying at the Lodge. You will need your own 4WD transport.

To book these package please email ginny@benlomond.co.nz  

Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon Video

HIGH COUNTRY MERINO MUSTER

The annual merino shearing muster takes place towards the end of November each year.

The annual merino dipping muster takes place at the end of January each year.

At these times all the merino wethers (castrated male sheep, grown for their superior fibre) are gathered up and brought to wait in a large holding paddock. Each muster takes three days and on the fourth day the sheep are either taken to be shorn at the woolshed near Moke Lake or dipped in the yards near the holding paddock. The daily routine begins early with breakfast and lunch-making rituals and you begin to gather the sheep at day break. At the end of each day’s muster it’s back to camp, tend to their dog’s needs, then have a well earned beer and swap yarns about that day’s muster. ‘Camp’ is Ben Lomond Lodge for three nights and a back country musterer’s hut for one night.

We invite anyone with an interest in the story of the high country to participate in this traditional event. You will need a good level of fitness to truly enjoy this activity, as you need to be able to walk on unformed sheep tracks for about six hours each day. You will live with the musterers for the duration of the muster.

This is a truly unique and genuine high country experience.