Day 1 – Hacket carpark to Starveall Hut
We set off from the Hacket carpark just after 9am on Sunday, having delayed the start of the trip a few days waiting for the rain to stop and river levels to go down. We stopped at Hacket Hut for morning tea, leaving around 11am to head up the river. The route criss-crosses the river a few times, some crossings were quite deep after all the rain. We enjoyed the river crossings (once we got our boots wet) as we were in sunshine and the water was warm. We had a short stop before tackling the big uphill to Starveall Hut. The first part is straight up and the track continues on fairly steeply towards Pinnacle Rock – a large outcrop visible from the track. We had lunch in a patch of sunshine then carried on upwards. Higher up there are a few more river crossings but these are much shallower than on the main river stem. We reached the hut around 3.30pm after a solid climb. The hut was in glorious sunshine, but with a cold wind. A few other people were there overnight, but they all camped outside (with two dogs) so we had the hut to ourselves. However, it was a social evening sitting around the fire while the wind raged outside. We were glad to be snug in the hut and not camping!
Chrissy crossing the Hacket River
Day 2 - Starveall Hut to Old Man Hut
We had a leisurely start to the day and left the hut about 8.45am. It took 2.5 hrs to walk to Slaty Hut (we didn’t do the side trip up Mt Starveall) and we had a short break at the hut. From Slaty Hut we sidled under Slaty Peak to get onto the ridge leading to Pt 1538. Most of the day was ridge walking. We were lucky the weather was clear and sunny and the views were fabulous. After going through Ada Flat we climbed up onto Old Man. From here we had views either side of the range, to Tasman Bay and across the Wairau River to Cloudy Bay. To the north across Mt Richmond Forest Park we could see D’Urville Island. The day was mostly straightforward walking, with only a few rocky bits on the ridge coming off Old Man. From the turn-off to Old Man Hut on the ridge it’s about 220m down a fairly steep track. At that time of the day it seemed to take a long time but was in fact only about 20 mins. We got to the hut just before 5pm. We had a cosy night there with the pot belly stove fired up and one other person, who had walked in from Lake Chalice.
Day 3 – Old Man Hut to Rintoul Hut
The 200m climb back onto the ridge didn’t take long (about 30 mins). On the ridge bellbirds were singing. It was a straightforward climb up the next 300m to the top of Little Rintoul (pt 1643). Coming off Little Rintoul was challenging; it was steep and rocky and slow-going.
Coming off Little Rintoul towards Rintoul Saddle
The wind was quite strong so we sheltered in the lee of the ridge to have lunch, where we had great views across to Mt Starveall, Slaty Peak and Ada Flat. Beyond we could see Mt Richmond and D’Urville Island. Chrissy’s tech tip was the ‘Raleigh effect’ – when mountains fade to blue in the distance. After this the track goes down further to avoid the rocky ridge between Little Rintoul and Mt Rintoul. There were some challenging bits getting back onto the ridge leading up Mt Rintoul. Once on this ridge, the climb was pretty straightforward up to the top (1731m). It was windy on the top but fabulous – it’s a broad flat rocky top with superb vegetable sheep. We could see the previous days routes from Starveall to Old Man which was pretty special. Off to the side of Rintoul are steep rocky cliffs in a ‘u’ shape. Very dramatic. Our route went over the far side of the rocky ridge, with a steep scrambly down and up at one point to avoid the ridge proper. Once over this ridge we were back on the broad top and dropped off the side down a scree slope and into the bush, then down to the Hut. We got to the hut around 3.30pm. Great views from the hut to Rabbit Island, Moutere Inlet and Abel Tasman. It was a day of lots of variety and epic views.
Looking towards Mt Rintoul Day 3
Day 4 – Rintoul Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut
Another sunny day. We left the hut just before 8.30am. Early starts were not a feature of this trip! We had a steady climb up to Purple Top, first through beech trees then out in the open. It was windy and cold on the ridge, but lovely to walk on. We left packs at the cairn and scrambled up the first rocky knob towards Purple Top. More fabulous views across to Rintoul and the hut nestled below. We had a short stop in the lee of the ridge coming down, perched above a steep rocky drop. We could see the new Lee Valley dam clearly below (the concrete dam, no water in it yet). The track entered the trees going towards Bishops Cap, a steep peak which the track sidles below. The track then heads west down a ridge to Tarn Hut. This ridge was lovely, a rocky spine and open in parts with views. At one point we could clearly see the distinctive pointy Bishops Cap. We got to Tarn Hut just before 1pm, very ready for lunch. Only a short stop though as the sign said 5 hours to Mid Wairoa Hut. From Tarn Hut it’s a steady up and down continuing along the ridge and after a short sidle the track heads East along another ridge. This ridge had large totara trees and bellbirds (there had been lots of birdlife at the clearing at Tarn Hut too). The track down to Mid Wairoa Hut drops steeply off this ridge. A sign said ‘engage low gear’! It seemed like a bit of work had been done on this track to put in a few corners which made it easier than we thought it might be. The hut is the other side of the river across a swingbridge. A bit of gymnastics is required to get off the bridge! The Backcountry Trust had very recently renovated the hut. It now has 8 bunks, a fire and a veranda. No water supply though, water has to be collected from the river. We made good time getting to Mid Wairoa and arrived there close to 5pm. A fun night with a great fire and playing cards.
Breakfast on porch Mid Wairoa Hut
Day 5 – Mid Wairoa Hut to road end, Wairoa Gorge
We left the hut about 8.30am. Different signs had quite different times for the route out – from 3hrs to 5hrs. There was quite a bit of windfall to get through which slowed us down. The track is narrow, rooty and rocky, requiring clambering and concentration. There were lovely groves of podocarp trees by the river – rimu, matai and kahikatea. The Wairoa River is beautiful. It took us 5 hours to get to the Wairoa Gorge mountain bike park. It would have been another hour down the gravel road to where Kath’s car was parked, but we were lucky and were given a lift by Greg from the MTB park.
Is was a great trip, wonderful to be up on the tops for 4 days. We had good weather and great company. Chrissy and Jo were pleased to have done it for the first time, Kath completing it for the 3rd time.
Participants: Kath (leader), Jo (scribe) and Chrissy.
We set off from the Hacket carpark just after 9am on Sunday, having delayed the start of the trip a few days waiting for the rain to stop and river levels to go down. We stopped at Hacket Hut for morning tea, leaving around 11am to head up the river. The route criss-crosses the river a few times, some crossings were quite deep after all the rain. We enjoyed the river crossings (once we got our boots wet) as we were in sunshine and the water was warm. We had a short stop before tackling the big uphill to Starveall Hut. The first part is straight up and the track continues on fairly steeply towards Pinnacle Rock – a large outcrop visible from the track. We had lunch in a patch of sunshine then carried on upwards. Higher up there are a few more river crossings but these are much shallower than on the main river stem. We reached the hut around 3.30pm after a solid climb. The hut was in glorious sunshine, but with a cold wind. A few other people were there overnight, but they all camped outside (with two dogs) so we had the hut to ourselves. However, it was a social evening sitting around the fire while the wind raged outside. We were glad to be snug in the hut and not camping!
Chrissy crossing the Hacket RiverDay 2 - Starveall Hut to Old Man Hut
We had a leisurely start to the day and left the hut about 8.45am. It took 2.5 hrs to walk to Slaty Hut (we didn’t do the side trip up Mt Starveall) and we had a short break at the hut. From Slaty Hut we sidled under Slaty Peak to get onto the ridge leading to Pt 1538. Most of the day was ridge walking. We were lucky the weather was clear and sunny and the views were fabulous. After going through Ada Flat we climbed up onto Old Man. From here we had views either side of the range, to Tasman Bay and across the Wairau River to Cloudy Bay. To the north across Mt Richmond Forest Park we could see D’Urville Island. The day was mostly straightforward walking, with only a few rocky bits on the ridge coming off Old Man. From the turn-off to Old Man Hut on the ridge it’s about 220m down a fairly steep track. At that time of the day it seemed to take a long time but was in fact only about 20 mins. We got to the hut just before 5pm. We had a cosy night there with the pot belly stove fired up and one other person, who had walked in from Lake Chalice.
Day 3 – Old Man Hut to Rintoul Hut
The 200m climb back onto the ridge didn’t take long (about 30 mins). On the ridge bellbirds were singing. It was a straightforward climb up the next 300m to the top of Little Rintoul (pt 1643). Coming off Little Rintoul was challenging; it was steep and rocky and slow-going.
Coming off Little Rintoul towards Rintoul SaddleThe wind was quite strong so we sheltered in the lee of the ridge to have lunch, where we had great views across to Mt Starveall, Slaty Peak and Ada Flat. Beyond we could see Mt Richmond and D’Urville Island. Chrissy’s tech tip was the ‘Raleigh effect’ – when mountains fade to blue in the distance. After this the track goes down further to avoid the rocky ridge between Little Rintoul and Mt Rintoul. There were some challenging bits getting back onto the ridge leading up Mt Rintoul. Once on this ridge, the climb was pretty straightforward up to the top (1731m). It was windy on the top but fabulous – it’s a broad flat rocky top with superb vegetable sheep. We could see the previous days routes from Starveall to Old Man which was pretty special. Off to the side of Rintoul are steep rocky cliffs in a ‘u’ shape. Very dramatic. Our route went over the far side of the rocky ridge, with a steep scrambly down and up at one point to avoid the ridge proper. Once over this ridge we were back on the broad top and dropped off the side down a scree slope and into the bush, then down to the Hut. We got to the hut around 3.30pm. Great views from the hut to Rabbit Island, Moutere Inlet and Abel Tasman. It was a day of lots of variety and epic views.
Looking towards Mt Rintoul Day 3 Day 4 – Rintoul Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut
Another sunny day. We left the hut just before 8.30am. Early starts were not a feature of this trip! We had a steady climb up to Purple Top, first through beech trees then out in the open. It was windy and cold on the ridge, but lovely to walk on. We left packs at the cairn and scrambled up the first rocky knob towards Purple Top. More fabulous views across to Rintoul and the hut nestled below. We had a short stop in the lee of the ridge coming down, perched above a steep rocky drop. We could see the new Lee Valley dam clearly below (the concrete dam, no water in it yet). The track entered the trees going towards Bishops Cap, a steep peak which the track sidles below. The track then heads west down a ridge to Tarn Hut. This ridge was lovely, a rocky spine and open in parts with views. At one point we could clearly see the distinctive pointy Bishops Cap. We got to Tarn Hut just before 1pm, very ready for lunch. Only a short stop though as the sign said 5 hours to Mid Wairoa Hut. From Tarn Hut it’s a steady up and down continuing along the ridge and after a short sidle the track heads East along another ridge. This ridge had large totara trees and bellbirds (there had been lots of birdlife at the clearing at Tarn Hut too). The track down to Mid Wairoa Hut drops steeply off this ridge. A sign said ‘engage low gear’! It seemed like a bit of work had been done on this track to put in a few corners which made it easier than we thought it might be. The hut is the other side of the river across a swingbridge. A bit of gymnastics is required to get off the bridge! The Backcountry Trust had very recently renovated the hut. It now has 8 bunks, a fire and a veranda. No water supply though, water has to be collected from the river. We made good time getting to Mid Wairoa and arrived there close to 5pm. A fun night with a great fire and playing cards.
Breakfast on porch Mid Wairoa Hut Day 5 – Mid Wairoa Hut to road end, Wairoa Gorge
We left the hut about 8.30am. Different signs had quite different times for the route out – from 3hrs to 5hrs. There was quite a bit of windfall to get through which slowed us down. The track is narrow, rooty and rocky, requiring clambering and concentration. There were lovely groves of podocarp trees by the river – rimu, matai and kahikatea. The Wairoa River is beautiful. It took us 5 hours to get to the Wairoa Gorge mountain bike park. It would have been another hour down the gravel road to where Kath’s car was parked, but we were lucky and were given a lift by Greg from the MTB park.
Is was a great trip, wonderful to be up on the tops for 4 days. We had good weather and great company. Chrissy and Jo were pleased to have done it for the first time, Kath completing it for the 3rd time.
Participants: Kath (leader), Jo (scribe) and Chrissy.