For those who want to escape to the hills for xmas:
A crossover tr amp from Inwood Lookout via Hunter Hut, across the Red Hills to the SH63 Wa irau Road end (near St Arnaud), starting from both ends on 25th, finish on 27th, ideally meeting in Porters hut for lunch on 26th. We need to have eno ugh people to start on either end (e.g. 3) and swap cars, and I need to kno w numbers by Tuesday night (22nd). We should carry tents, as the huts are s mall and part of Te Araroa. I haven't done this tramp myself, (and am told the part from the lookout to Hunters is very steep!), but it's meant to be one of the more interesting TA sections, and hopefully not too busy this ye ar.
This is the official Te Araroa description:
Hunters Hut to Porters Creek Hut - 9km / 4hr The track undulates south and crosses a numbe r of open boulder elds and streams on its way to Porters Creek Hut (6 bunks ).
Porters Creek Hut to Red Hills Hut - 10.5km / 5hr The track curves around to the Motueka River Right Branch and, once there, sidles abo ve the true right bank to a crossing near the Maitland Creek conuence. The Motueka river can rise, and fall, very quickly after heavy rain. Take care in crossing and be prepared to sit it out if required. The track then climb s and sidles above Maitland Creek's true right bank towards Red Hills Hut ( 6 bunks), which opened late in 2009 and replaced an older hut.
Red Hi lls Hut to SH63 – 7.5km / 4-5hr Note: There is no water supply on this rout e between Red Hills Hut and SH63/St Arnaud After Red Hills Hut, Te Araroa c ompletes the Richmond experience on the Maitland Ridge Track - this was con structed as a MTB track by local volunteers and we are very grateful to sha re it with them. Take care on this route as it is used by mountain-bikers w ho may be moving at speed in some areas. From Red Hills Hut an old 4WD trac k climbs steadily uphill to a rocky knoll at 1050m. Down the ridge to a bro ad saddle before (at times steep) climbing to a high point of 1200m, throug h lovely beech forest. Then a long downhill with some zigzags that keep the gradient smooth with open patches that offer occasional views bordering on spectacular. The saddle is at 1040m then another climb follows to the 1300 m high point of the track where you have a great vantage point over the sur rounding area. Finally, a steep descent (more zigzags) to the Tophouse Road . From Tophouse Road it is 750m to SH63 then an 8km (2hr) walk on the road shoulder to St Arnaud.
This event was imported from: https://live.nelsontrampingclub.org.nz/events /events-search-results/837/red-hills-crossover?tmpl=componentDTSTAMP:20260816T234628 DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20201225 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20201228 SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR