Track description

Muddy Creek to Shelter Rock Hut

Time: 6 - 8 hr

• Muddy Creek to 25 Mile Hut: 2 - 2.5 hours
• 25 Mile Hut to park boundary: 2 - 2.5 hours
• Park boundary to Shelter Rock Hut: 2 - 3 hours

Follow the vehicle track from Muddy Creek and then follow the marker poles across the grassy flats beyond Arthurs Creek. Twenty Five Mile Hut (which is owned by the Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club; 8 bunks) is situated 60 metres above the track on a terrace.

The track to Kea Basin and Mount Earnslaw / Pikirakatahi starts on the other side of the river, approximately opposite the hut and north of Lennox Falls.

Continue up the grassy flats to the bush edge which marks the boundary of Mount Aspiring National Park. There is a marked track through the bush, and a swing bridge crossing to the west bank of the river. The track continues through beech forest past Clarke Slip to the bush edge, where there is a good camp site. Above the bush the track crosses several gullies - these are avalanche paths, and care should be taken crossing them in spring and early summer, when late snow may still pose an avalanche risk.

Half an hour from the bush edge is a foot bridge crossing to the east bank of the river and Shelter Rock Hut (22 bunks).

Shelter Rock Hut to Dart Hut

Time: 4 - 6 hr

From Shelter Rock Hut the track follows the east bank of the river. Follow the track through scrub as the track rises to about 100 metres above the river. The route sidles into the tussock filled upper basin, and follows the stream bed. There is a lightly marked track, close to the bluff on the left, on the final steep climb to Rees Saddle (1447 metres).

From the Saddle follow the orange markers as the track drops past tarns to a tussock bench well above Snowy Creek. From here the track traverses steep slopes that can be dangerous when wet or snow covered.

A bridge crosses Upper Snowy Creek, and the track sidles across broken slopes before descending sharply. A bridge crosses Snowy Creek to Dart Hut (30 bunks) on the true left bank.

NOTE: The Upper Snowy Creek swingbridge is removed each winter and is replaced only when the snow clears, which might be as late as December. This river can be hazardous so extreme care must be taken if crossing it.

Dart Hut to Dart Glacier/Cascade Saddle

Dart Glacier

The Dart Glacier and Cascade Saddle are a pleasant day trip from Dart Hut. Cross the Snowy Creek bridge, and follow the rock cairns by the Dart River and the glacier edge. Check in the hut for route details.

If you are intending to cross into the Matukituki Valley via Cascade Saddle obtain a copy of the Cascade Saddle track guide - this route is only suitable for experienced trampers, and is very slippery when wet or covered in snow.

Allow 8-10 hours for the crossing from Dart Hut to Aspiring Hut.

Note:  Side creeks can rise quickly through both rain, and snow melt on hot days.

Dart Hut to the Whitbourn Valley

Time: 2 - 4 hr

The Whitbourn Glacier is a pleasant day trip from Dart Hut. The Whitbourn River joins the Dart River half an hour from Dart Hut, and there is a bridge across the Dart River. A track leads up through the bush. Above the bush a route marked by cairns leads out onto the glacier snout.

Dart Hut to Daleys Flat

Time: 5 - 7 hr

From Dart Hut it is an easy 2-3 hours sidle and descent through beech forest to grassy Cattle Flat. A faint track marked by cairns leads across the 4 km Cattle Flat, crossing terraces and gullies. There is a stile across a fence at the bottom end of the flat, and a well marked track through beech forest to Daleys Flat Hut (20 bunks). Note – Unbridged side streams can rise quickly with heavy rains making crossings dangerous.

Daleys Flat to Chinamans carpark

Time: 3 hr 30 min - 5 hr 30 min

Follow the track for 15 minutes through beech forest to Dredge Flat, and then through forest and across gravel flats to Sandy Bluff. The track climbs steeply for about 90 metres before sidling across the bluff and descending to Sandy Flat.

After crossing gravel flats a well marked track follows the river through forest for about an hour. From here the track alternates between unmarked flats and well marked forest. Chinaman’s Bluff is 3 - 4 hours from Sandy Bluff, and there is a benched track around the bluff to grassy flats at the car park.

Chinamans road end to Paradise all weather car park

Time: 2 hr  

A 6 km fine weather 4x2 road leads from here to Paradise car park crossing Chinamans Flat, forests and Dan's Paddock before entering forests again and descends to the farm lands of Mill Flat.

During heavy rain, side streams flood onto the road, and vehicles do not have access beyond the carpark at Paradise. Under these circumstances, trampers may have to continue further down from Chinaman's carpark to Paradise, to meet transport.

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