Mt Crichton Loop Track
- 1 hr 30 min loop track
- Easy
Easy loop to an old mining area, with an historic hut.
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Walking time
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1 hr 30 min |
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Distance
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5.0km |
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Type
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Loop track
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Grade
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Easy |
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Bookings
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No bookings — open access
No — open access
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Starts
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Marked track start, on the Glenorchy Queenstown Road, just beyond Wilson Bay and the Twelve Mile Delta Campsite. |
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Maps
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NZTopo50-CC10
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Altitude
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360m
–
620m
Altitude change 260m
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This straightforward loop explores mining history on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. It connects with the Lake Dispute Track as an alternative loop.
From the car park a smooth benched track leads through beech forest above Twelve Mile Creek. Over a bridge, the track comes to the grassy flats of the old mining site. There are tailing heaps here and a rock fissure that once formed a tailrace.
Sam Summers Hut is a little further on, in forest. There are tailings and pieces of iron scattered around, with a pretty waterfall in the creek. The hut was built in 1930 on the site of a Chinese goldminers' camp.
Beyond the hut, the track crosses a bridge, climb above the creek to a high saddle. Here, amongst manuka scrub, is a junction with the Lake Dispute Track. The Mount Crichton Track continues ahead to follow the creek back to the car park.
| This track needs a photograph. |