Makarora Valley Track
Track category
Tramping track
Time:
5 - 7 hr
Distance:
10.5 km
Description
The upper Makarora Valley opens out into long grassy flats that lead to an impressive basin at the foot of Mount Brewster. Cross the river at Davis Flat to the steep climb beside Stewart Falls or gain access via the 'high river' track on the true left of the road bridge.
Above the falls, the track sidles above the gorge - slippery when wet - before descending to a small river flat. Continue through small open flats and forest to the main valley flat. From here the track is unmarked to the four-bunk Makarora Hut, about 50 minutes away. It's on the right at the northern end of the flat, close to the bush edge.
A three-hour day trip, from the hut to the basin at the head of the valley is recommended. It's an unmarked track that's normally partially covered in ice, coming down from Mount Brewster's upper slopes. Accessed along the river, two gorges must be by-passed - take the true right to sidle around the first gorge, and the true left for the second.
Plan and prepare
Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.
Guides and commercial tourism providers