West Coast

Greymouth

Maps and a compass are essential for all these routes. Riders should be experienced, and take sufficient gear and food in case you do not make a hut when weather closes in. Take a personal locator beacon. All huts are first in first served (no bookings). More info click here Paparoa National Park Visitor Centre Ph: 03 731 1895

Elizabeth Hut Route and Trent Saddle

9 km ests 5hrs

This route is accessed through private land - contact Gloriavale Christian Community, phone +64 3 738 0224.

The route initially follows a 4WD farm track on the left of the Haupiri River to a car park. From the car park, the route to Elizabeth Hut is marked. The remains of a natural hot-springs bath (often useable) are found just upstream of this junction, 40 metres off the marked route. You can also link up via a marked route over the Trent Saddle to Top Trent (Lagoon) Hut. From Top Trent Hut there is unmarked riverbed travel down the Trent River to the Mid Trent Hut.

Getting there: Drive north from Greymouth to Ngahere on SH7 and turn right on to Nelson Creek Road just past Ngahere (approximately 25 km). Follow this road for approximately 30 km then turn right on to Heaphy Road, just past Lake Haupiri.

Amuri Pass Route to Slaty Creek Hut - Doubtful Valley Track

2.2 km approx 1 hr

The Amuri Pass Route is only suitable for experienced horse trekkers – it is narrow and steep. There is a horse pen available at Slaty Creek Hut.

Initial access to the upper Ahaura catchment is through Waikiti Downs farm. You no longer need permission from the landowners, just follow the road to a car park at the end. After about 3–4 hours of unmarked riverbed travel you will arrive at Slaty Creek Hut. Another 3–4 hours beyond the hut, a short, marked route starts on the true left side of the Waiheke River and climbs to the top of Amuri Pass, joining up with the Doubtful Valley Track in Lake Sumner Forest Park. Parts of this route are on a historic stock route used by Canterbury farmers selling sheep to hungry West Coast gold miners in the late 1860s.

Drive north from Greymouth to Ngahere on SH7 and turn right on to Nelson Creek Road just past Ngahere (approximately 25 km). Follow this road as it turns into Haupiri Rd, and drive past Lake Haupiri and the Kopara Village, turn right on to Ahaura-Amuri Road (on Google maps this appears as Haupiri-Amuri Rd) until you reach Waikiti Downs farm.

Hope Pass Route

1.4 km approx 1 hr

Drive north from Greymouth to Ngahere on SH7 and turn right on to Nelson Creek Road just past Ngahere (approximately 25 km). Follow this road past Lake Haupiri and the Kopara Village, turn right on to Ahaura-Amuri Road until you reach Waikiti Downs farm. You no longer need permission from the landowners, just follow the road to a car park at the end.

After 2-3 hours unmarked riverbed travel you reach the junction of the Trent and Tūtaekurī Rivers. Turn left (south-east) and continue for 4-6 hours up the Tūtaekurī River until the start of the route on the true left bank. This steep, but short route crosses the Pass and joins up with the Hope River Track in Lake Sumner Forest Park.

Crooked Route to Jack Flat Hut or Top Crooked Hut

7.8 km to Jacko Flat Hut,approx 6hrs 5.4 km from Jacko Flat Hut to Top Crooked Hut approx 2hrs

Experienced riders only - the route to Jacko Flat Hut follows the Crooked River and is very rough and steep in places, but passes spectacular gorges and rapids, intermingled with deep, blue pools of still water. From Jacko Flat to Top Crooked Hut the travel is easier, but the route up to the Morgan Tops, just downstream and opposite Top Crooked Hut, is very steep. Once onto the tops there are several options for experienced trampers. The more popular option is to travel on to Lake Morgan Hut and then exit via Mount O’Shanessy and the Brian O’Lyn Route down to the Haupiri River.

Drive north from Greymouth to Stillwater on SH7 and turn right into Arnold Valley Road (approximately 13 km). Follow this road to Moana (approximately 40 km). From Moana drive south (towards Christchurch) for approximately 14 km, turn left on to Bell Hill Road. Turn right after 1.8 km onto the public (unmaintained and rough) Rotomanu-Kopara Road.

The last section of this road crosses private land and permission needs to be obtained from the owner Bruce Burgess, phone +64 3 429 0901.

Camp Creek Route to Camp Creek Hut

3 km to hut, approx 3 hr

From the road end the route passes through thick rainforest until it reaches Camp Creek. It then continues up the creek bed before climbing steeply up a side creek and then a ridge, then levelling out and sidling around the hill, high above the creek. The route crosses the creek shortly before reaching Camp Creek Hut (up a short side-track) and then climbs very steeply onto the tops and a long ridge leading to the summit of Mount Alexander. Spectacular 360 degree views reward trampers after a long and steep climb.

The route starts approximately 19 km south of Moana (towards Christchurch) on the Lake Brunner Road, just north of Lake Poerua.

Brian O’Lyn Route to Lake Morgan Hut

2.3 km approx 3 hrs

This route is accessed through private land. Contact Gloriavale Christian Community, phone +64 3 738 0224.

Follow the 4WD track on the true left of the Haupiri River until upstream to a car park, where the start of the route is marked by a sign. The route is extremely steep for the first half and care needs to be taken. The route ends a few hundred metres past the bush-line, but is straightforward tops travel from this point. The usual option is over Mount O’Shanessy to Lake Morgan Hut and then either on to the Crooked River or a bush-bash to Cone Creek Hut.

Drive north from Greymouth to Ngahere and turn right onto Nelson Creek Road. Follow this road for approximately 30 km then turn right on to Heaphy Road, just past Lake Haupiri.