Big Hill/Clearwater/Cameron/Potts

General information

This area is within the Hakatere Conservation Park, northeast of the Rangitata River and east of the Lawrence River. It is 23 km northwest of Mt Somers township. It's approximately 37,907 hectares and adjoins Clyde/Lawrence to the north.

There is rugged mountain terrain with extensive scree fans. Most of the vegetation is tussock and other alpine plants with a few small remnants of beech forest in some gullies.

Access

Access points:

• Erewhon Park Ski Field Road
• Potts River
• Lake Clearwater
• Paddle Hill Creek
• Cameron Valley

At Mt Somers township follow Ashburton Gorge Road to Hakatere and then either follow:

• Hakatere Potts Road. Access is from Clearwater township, up the Potts River or by following a marked public easement across private land to Erewhon Park Ski Field Road (Mt Potts). Motor vehicles are not permitted on this easement.
• Hakatere Heron Road. A marked 4WD track gives access to walking tracks up Paddle Hill Creek. No vehicle access beyond were the track crosses Paddle Hill Creek.

1.6 km north of Mt Arrowsmith Station an unmarked 4WD track gives access to a walking route up the true right of the Cameron Valley.

Helicopter landings may be approved in certain areas provided an appropriate landing permit is obtained.

Topo maps

NZTopo50 map sheets:

• BX18 Lake Clearwater
• BX19 Hakatere
• BW18 Whitcombe Pass
• BW19 Taylors Camp

Huts

• Cameron Hut 
• Top Hut
• Potts Hut
• Boundary Creek Hut

Know before you go