COMMUNITY | HIKING
Getting into the back blocks of Island Hills Station is an absolute treat, and possible for everyone now that the walking track is open again. Restoring bush and focusing on conservation areas is a major focus, and walkers have the treat of passing through the QE11 reserve.
A whole new wilderness BY: ANNABELLE LATZ
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t was smoko time for Shaun Monk up at Island Hills Station. He was taking a five minute break from his chainsawing work, lying on his back on the hiking trail he was in the middle of cutting. “I looked up into the beech trees and saw the territorial battle of a bellbird versus a tui. Although he was much smaller, the bellbird won, puffing his chest up to make himself bigger. It was so cool to watch.” There are so many reasons Kiwis love exploring their own backyard, and for Shaun, getting close to nature is just one of them. Turn the clock back to May, the end of
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lockdown was around the corner, and up at Island Hills Station in North Canterbury the ideas cogs were turning. Shaun Monk would be one of the first to admit his pocket suffered due to Covid-19, with no guided hunting right through the heavily booked red stag roar. But this downtime also provided a chance to think about the future. Owners of Island Hills Station Dan and Mandy Shand used to run a very successful hiking business on their farm called Hurunui High Country Track. After a bit of discussion over a cup of tea in late autumn they collectively decided a rebirth of this venture was a great idea. Thus, Island Hills Station walking track was born.
GPS tracking, utilising trails already there set by wildlife, scrub-cutting and being on the end of the chainsaw has been a familiar way of life on and off for a couple of years for Shaun as he was establishing trails for a guided hunting business. But since May and the plan for the revamped walking track, it’s been full noise. “I figured, I might as well go for it, put all resources into it. Go balls in.” Island Hills Station is 7000 hectares, of which half is low-input extensive sheep and beef farming, the remainder being non-grazed reserve, including Canterbury’s biggest parcel of QE11 Covenant at 600ha. Shaun, originally from the West Coast, came out to Island Hills Station several
Country-Wide
December 2020
