Eyre Mountains/Taka Ra Haka routes
Track category
Route
Description
Irthing Valley
Time: 1 hr 30 min
From the picnic area off Mulholland Road a track leads off up the true left riverbank, crossing to the true right after about an hour. About 20 minutes further on a two bunk bivvy, known as "The Mansion", is located in a small clearing. Above this point the river runs through steeply gorged country and travel is difficult.
Mount Bee Ridge
Time: 3 - 4 hr
A four wheel drive road leads off the end of Irthing Road and climbs up Mount Bee to a group of huts two or three hours walk from the road. From here the road continues for another six kilometres where there is ready access to both the upper Irthing and Cromel valleys.
Cromel Valley to Cromel Branch Hut
Time: 4 - 4 hr 30 min
The Cromel Valley 4WD track passes through about three kilometres of privately owned native forest before reaching public land. The Cromel hut, which has six bunks, is another three kilometres along this track. The track then climbs to the saddle between the Acton and Cromel branch before descending to the Cromel Branch Hut
Acton Valley to Cromel Hut
Time: 2 hr 30 min - 3 hr
The track enters the bush about 20 metres north of the former Acton Hut site and follows up the ridge to a saddle before descending to the Cromel Stream which is crossed about five minutes north of the Cromel Hut.
Acton Valley to Cromel Branch Hut
Time: 4-5 hours
The track starts on the true left bank of the Acton Stream where it enters the bush. The four bunk Cromel Branch Hut is on the true right of the valley clear of the forest edge.
Acton Valley to Islands Hut
Time: 5 - 6 hr
The track crosses to the true right bank and climbs to the ridge and then to the open tops. From here, the route is unmarked to Islands Hut, (4 bunks). It is also possible to travel across the tops from Islands Hut to Windley Hut, Ashton Hut, Cromel Bivvy and Cromel Branch Hut.
Ashton Hut
This hut is located on the upper bush edge above the Ashton Burn. As the stream runs through a gorge the easiest route is along the broad open ridge which leads away from the Ōreti-Ashton junction to the tops.
Note: Full route descriptions may be found in the publication "Moirs Guide South" edited by Robin McNeill.
Getting there
It is less than an hours drive from Invercargill and Queenstown on SH 6.
Practical and legal public access is available to the Ōreti, Acton, Cromel, Eyre Creek and Mataura catchments. Elsewhere access is over private roads or pastoral run land and permission must be obtained to cross it.
Activities
Fishing
Four wheel driving
Horse riding
Mountain biking
Plan and prepare
While the area offers a wide scope of recreational opportunities it is not recommended for inexperienced outdoor people. The terrain is remote and physically demanding while weather patterns can change dramatically with little warning.
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