The Invincible Mine Track not only offers easy access to a scenic terrace high above the Rees Valley and magnificent views of Mt Earnslaw-Pikirakatahi, but also a fascinating insight into the activities of tenacious quartz miners of yesteryear.
Rees Valley once supported a small but thriving community of miners whose settlements were scattered over the terraces between McDougalls and Invincible creeks, Department of Conservation Queenstown regional visitor centre supervisor Andrew Evans said.
"Today, little remains of their presence; however, there is ample evidence of the main mining activity in the Rees Valley - the Invincible Mine.
"While the main gold rush in the Wakatipu in 1862 yielded little long-term success, the discovery of a gold-bearing quartz reef in the Richardson Range was where significant quantities of gold were eventually won."
A syndicate called the Invincible Quartz Mining Company carried out its first processing of quartz in 1882 and yielded 325 ounces of gold in one crushing.
The round-the-clock operation processed 90 tonnes of quartz per week.
By the time of the main battery's closure in 1897, 7500 ounces of gold had been recovered and a rare dividend was paid to its Otago shareholders, Mr Evans said.
"The success of this mine in particular helped push Otago to the forefront of New Zealand's economy at the time. It's for this reason the site has national significance and is part of the Otago Goldfields Park."
The Invincible Mine Track accesses the historic area and was built by miners in the 1880s to allow passage of equipment to the mining operation.
To reach the start of the track, drive 30 minutes from Glenorchy along the Rees Valley Rd, a gravel road with fords.
The signposted track is on the right-hand side and ascends from the terraces of the Rees River through beech forest and abundant bird life.
A climb of 400m took a walker to the mine site, which afforded unlimited views of the Rees Valley, Mr Evans said.
"Allow plenty of time for exploration of the fascinating relics. As well as the seven unique cast-iron berdans that ground ore, parts of a water wheel which once drove the stamp battery are apparent.
"Quartz ore was extracted from several underground levels driven horizontally into the mountain for 230m to intersect an almost vertical quartz reef."
Mr Evans said after the initial promise of the late 1880s, the fortunes of the Invincible Mine took a catastrophic turn when the quartz reef was "lost".
"Desperate efforts were made to regain the vein but, due to the numerous faults in this part of the Richardson Range, it defeated even the perennial optimism of the miners at the time and it was finally abandoned in 1897.
"That optimism was evident again in 1902, 1912 and 1922, but all efforts came to nothing. In the long run, it may be said the reef was indeed invincible."
