• gonebush For those who are interested in side trips, the short side trip up cold stream to Cold Stream Hut is worth while. It is about halfway between Jollie Brook Hut and Little Sisters Carpark (signposted). It takes about 30-45 minutes each way. Much of the walking is following the stream or in the stream, which is often only ankle high. The stream is a little slippery in places, but then I found the Jollie Brook to be quite slippery in comparison. The route can be a little difficult to follow in places (compared to the easy following of the Jollie Brook), however if you stay close to the stream you'll have no problems.
  1 August 2005
• frank king In the walk up Jollie Brook you're hemmed in the bottom of a narrow valley the whole way so don't get much of a view. To get a better appreciation of where you are, scramble up the ridge behind the Jollie Brook hut. If you have the whole day, continue right to Jollie Brook Peak. This does have a short steepish section that you can bypass by descending on the south side. The Jollie Brook upper biv was removed because it was washed off its foundations by a flood. The biv itself wasn't damaged and could have been reinstated fairly easily. DoC had no ability to fund this work. They gave all the details to the Chch tramping clubs. The clubs declined to help.
  25 April 2004
• MB Watch out for the sandflys at the hut! Not a bad walk, the only problem we had was a few spots of deep mud (from the cows) which were surrounded by gorse.
  2 December 2003
• uubeem The wirewalk mentioned by Tim has been replaced by a bridge.
  14 June 2003
• Tim Buma An excellent circuit walk. The area is not prone to NW weather patterns, so a good place to go when most of the backcountry is being pummelled by NW rain. Joliebrook hut was renovated in 2002, and now has an excellent fireplace. Joliebrook Biv was removed by D.O.C. in 2002 (Can't understand why???? as it was in good order.) The walkwire over the Joliebrook from hut toward Gabriel saddle has been removed by D.O.C., so beware in high river conditions i.e. this used to be a 'Safe" exit out of the Jolie Brook, if the river was high. Gabriels is an old, sack bunk type hut and often occupied by hunters. The walk from Gabriels hut out to Lake sumner takes about 15 minutes and is worthwhile. The trout fishing in this spot is really good. The flats in between Gabriels hut and sisters swingbridge have some fantastic tussock vistas and their is a huge old moraine wall, that looks like a hydro dam. Mount Longfellow makes a good climb from Gabriels hut.
  23 May 2003
• Clayton This is a great tramp for a 2 or 3 day break away. Character huts add to the enjoyment.
  23 February 2003
• Timmo Nice easy walk, covering a variety of country. Great if taking younger kids. Good older style huts.
  3 February 2003

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Added 2 February 2003 by uubeemuubeem. No revisions.