Our 4WD Landcruiser had a bit of a workout travelling over the unsealed Danseys Pass road, leaving a dust cloud behind us. We decided against towing our caravan over this road, but after seeing several large trucks roaring by without any bother, decided that perhaps we could come this way on another trip. There was plenty more spectacular high country scenery in this tussock covered land, such as these cliffs. Was the land falling away from wind erosion, or perhaps rain has turned this hillside into such an impressive sight. Who knows?
Eroded cliffs on Danseys Pass
We travelled a mere 17km along the road to our destination of the historic pub. The old Danseys Pass Hotel was formerly a coaching inn, which explains why it is built right on the road side. Constructed in 1852, with a new wing of restaurant, dining room, kitchen and offices added on 50 years ago in compatible stone work, it still offers a warm and hearty welcome to travellers today.
Our group of four entered the old bar area, chock full of comfortable leather couches grouped around a huge fireplace ready to pump out the heat in the chilly evenings, much needed in this high elevation.
Comfortable sitting area
The roof of this old building is held up with massive beams. They were not quite long enough, it seems, as they have been joined together with wrought iron bracing.
Ceiling beams
As we sipped our lattes in the sunny dining room, I could just imagine weary travellers from yesteryear struggling through the snow drifts on this pass in the dead of winter, and finding warmth, hot food, and a bed for the night at this old pub. Just across the road are the remains of yet another gold mining operation in this area, the Kyeburn Diggings.
The Kyeburn Diggings
Retracing our steps on the way back to camp we stopped at Glenshee Park, fashion museum and gallery. While I was ogling all the Benson and Hedges award winning gowns, (ladies, check out the fashions on our other blog www.romanyquilting.blogspot.com)
Robin was very interested in the 450 Jim Beam decanters on display, one of the larger privately owned collections in the Southern Hemisphere, collected by the late Eden Hore. There were even a couple of Kiwi sportsmen immortalised by Jim Beam, Colin Meads and Richard Hadlee.
One of the many cabinets full of decanters
Train decanters
Colin Meads and Richard Hadlee
It was nice to revisit the old historic pub again, and to look through Glenshee Park, which we found out was a NZMCA Park over Property as well.
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