Some of the Early Tableland names are still in use and their origins are of interest. After the track emerges from the bush at the edge of Salisbury Open, it slopes down to Salisbury Creek and the Rock Shelter can be reached by slanting up the bank to the bush edge before crossing the creek. [The North-west Nelson Forest Park has erected all necessary signposts and the track can be readily seen]. It is about 250 yards from Salisbury Creek to the Rock Shelter.

The Rock Shelter is simply a large overhanging rock face under which a tussock bed and a fireplace can afford warmth and protection from the weather for about a dozen people. It is the first-known shelter on the Tableland, being found by the Salisburys who used it when building their hut. It is a snug spot with a beautiful spring of water.

The Potholes can be easily reached from the Gordon Pyramid track. In the flower season there are good specimens of ranunculi and Maori onion (bulbinella) in the Potholes, which are water-formed sinkholes.

Richards' Cave is about two miles south-west from Salisbury Hut but is not marked by guide poles (on account of damage) and is difficult to find. It is small and dry inside and is very beautiful, especially the 'Wedding Cake' formation of limestone columns.

Starvation Spur

From the back of the Salisbury Hut for about a mile the track follows a stunted bush spur, named Starvation Spur—on account of its stunted vegetation. The bush edge at the top of the spur where the track emerges into the tussock is Butcher Town. Sheep were led up from the Graham Valley and slaughtered there. Leading seems rather an unusual method, but there were not enough sheep to drive and no holding paddocks. Butcher Town must have presented a strange sight at those times, with bearded diggers coming to collect their mutton and, presumably, paying for it with gold.

Between Salisbury Hut and Balloon the track passes through a beautiful bush-clad gully–Cundy Creek. Before further mention of Cundy Creek it is necessary to describe Bishop's Cave which gives easy access to Cundy Creek. Bishop's Cave is simply a rock tunnel on the eastern side and near to the track, and is well signposted. At the Cundy Creek side of the entrance to the cave there is a stunted gooseberry bush which seems to cling to life year after year. Bishop Suter preached a sermon to the diggers at the cave during his visit to the Tableland in February 1885. He is also reported to have spent a night in the cave—my only comment is that he must have spent a very cold night. Cundy Creek is an enchanting spot and is well worth an hour or two fossicking about and seeing what can be found in this neighbourhood, especially fossilised shells in the roof of Bishop's Cave.

On the Balloon side of Cundy Creek, on a little mound in the bush, is the old diggers' smithy. This consists of a large overhanging rock on which the smoke stains can still be seen. Underneath this rock face there is a square raised stone fireplace. Lying around are a mattock head, horseshoes and other odd pieces.

As mentioned earlier the grave of Edwin Moore is in Cundy Creek, no distance from the blacksmith's shop.

Balloon

Salisbury Hut was built in 1928 by the Mount Balloon Scenic Board and having now reached the end of its life is being replaced. From Salisbury Hut it is about four miles to Balloon Hut at the foot of the tussock spurs leading to Mt Peel. The old Balloon Hut is useless, but in September 1963 the Abel Tasman National Park Board built a new eight-bunk hut at Balloon. The Park Board deserves great credit for its initiative and foresight in erecting this hut. It is a great pity they did not carry on this initiative and add the Mt Arthur Tableland area to the Abel page 11Tasman National Park. Such a combination would have made the Park unique.

Many years ago, some humorist carved on the door of the old Balloon Hut: 'Abandon hope all ye who enter here'. On cold nights in the old days I have felt tempted to agree with him.

China Town

The isolated patch of bush below the Balloon Hut is China Town. Here the Chinese worked and apparently did not mingle with the other diggers, nor do they seem to have been molested in any way. What their fortunes and their fates were no one knows. Today the young beech is growing rapidly and little can now be seen in China Town.

Golden Gully

The Balloon Creek flows through a tussock gully below the Balloon Hut and China Town. This is Golden Gully. Cundy Creek and Commiskey Creek which is immediately below Starvation Spur, join Balloon Creek in this gully. The tussock has grown up high and it is difficult to see much of the old diggings. The gully provides a pleasant walk within easy distance from the Balloon Hut. Golden Gully was the best area for gold on the Tableland.