Walking the length of NZ's main divide

  • 136 – 300 days one way
  • Hard

Information may be incorrect: you are not viewing the latest version of this page. This version ID 28406 created 5 January 20215 January 2021 by madpommadpom.

A guide to my route from East Cape to West Cape, the length of NZ's main divide.

West Cape • By madpom. Licence: C.
Walking the length of NZ's main divide: Key information
Walking time
136 – 300 days
Distance
2,216.0km
Type
One way
One way
Grade
Hard
Where do I start - this trip has everything! Grades explained
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Walking the length of NZ's main divide: Find it
Starts
East Cape
()
Ends
West Cape
Maps
NZTopo50-BD45
NZTopo50-BQ32
NZTopo50-CF04
NZTopo50-BQ29
Altitude
Sea level – 2,190m
Altitude change 2,190m

This track provides links to route guides for the entire trip based on the route I took, and trip reports for sections that  been written up.

East Cape lighthouse • By madpom. Licence: cc by.

 

North Island

East Cape to Motu Road - (Raukumaras)

Route guide: Raukumara East-West Traverse

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/13

 

Motu Road to SH2 (Waioeka) - (Urutawas)

Route guide: Urutawa Crossing: Motu Road to Waioeka Gorge

 

SH2 (Waioeka) to SH38 (Waikaremoana Summit) - (Waioeka / Urewera)
Route guide: A Waioeka - Urewera crossing: Redpaths Road to SH38

 

SH38 (Waikaremoana Summit) to SH5 (Rangataiki) - Whirinaki
Route guide: A Whirinaki crossing - Waikaremoana Road Summit to Rangitaiki Tavern

 

SH5 (Rangataiki) to Napier-Taihape Rd at Kurikapango - (Kaimanawa / Kawekas)
Route guide: The Kaweka Main Range - a NS traverse

 

Kurikapango to SH3 (Woodville ) - (Ruahines)
Route guide (N-S):

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/910

Trip report (S-N):

Walking the length of the Ruahines

 

Woodville to Rimutaka Hill Rd summit (SH2) - Tararuas

Route guide: A Total Tararua Traverse

 

Rimutaka Hill Rd summit (SH2) - Wellington - (Rimutakas)
http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/15

And optionally - Haurangis

Route guide (south->north) Haurangi North-South Tarck

 

 

South Island

Picton to Okaramio (SH6) - Richmond Ranges (east)

Route Guide:  Route Guide: Richmond Ranges (east)

 

Okamario to St Arnaud - Richmond Ranges (west)

Route Guide: Route Guide: Richmond Ranges (west) main ridge

 

St Arnaud to Lewis Pass (Nelson Lakes)

Route Guide: Route Guide: St Arnaud to Lewis Pass

 

Lewis Pass to Otira

Route guides:

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/911

Harper Pass: Harper Pass - Kiwi Saddle

 

Otira to Mt Cook Village:

Route Guide:

Part 1 - Route Guide: Otira to Mt Cook Village (pt 1)

Part 2 - Route Guide: Otira to Mt Cook Village (pt 2)

Trip reports (parts of trip):

Crossing the Clyde and Havelock - brushes with the Canterbury Death

 

Mt Cook Village to Makarora:

Route Guide: 

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/906

 

Makaroroa to Aspiring Roadend

Route Guide:

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/907

 

Aspiring roadend to Glenorchy / Paradise:

Trip report:

Matukituki to Paradise by roads less travelled

Route guides:

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/876

 

Glenorchy to The Divide:

Trip report:

Not The Routeburn

Route guide:

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/892

 

The west side of Lake Te Anau from The Divide to the Doubtful Sound road

 

Milford Road summit (The Divide) to The Glaisnock:

Route guide: http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/40

 

Glaisnock to Gorge Burn (Te Anau South fiord)

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/1666

Gorge burn to Wilmot Pass (Doubtful Sound road)

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/1665

 

Doubtful Sound road to West Cape

There are two main options - with or without a packraft.

Route with packraft (the one I took):

http://routeguides.co.nz/trips/1667

Tramping only route:

Much of this isn't even in Moir's.  The accepted route seems to be follow the Dusky Track to Lake Roe Hut. Then the route in Moir's to the Dark Cloud Range, then drop into Oho Creek and follow the packraft route above.  This has been done by at least 1other party - though they had to swim across Lake Cove in Edwardson Sound.

 

 

 

 

Map
ID 10244

About this track

Added 4 June 2014 by madpommadpom. 24 revisions, most recently 5 January 2021 by madpommadpom.
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