Soon after settlers arrived in Nelson it was evident that there was not nearly enough farm land to supply those who had paid for it before leaving Britain. On 17 November 1842. less than a year after the founding of the colony. John Sylvanus Cotterell, a young surveyor, left Nelson with five men to explore to the south-east of the then known land. Exactly a month later the Editor of the Examiner announced his safe return and rejoiced that an easy route had been found to the extensive Wairau Plains. (Nearly ten years later that same route was being described by the paper as a miserable track, not worthy of being called a road.)

Some accounts of early journeys follow, editorial notes are in square brackets.