Sawcut Gorge to Zoo Hut
- 2 days return by the same track
- Medium/hard
Stunning limestone gorges with amazing biodiversity.
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Walking time
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2 days
11 hr – 12 hr
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Type
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Return by the same track
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Grade
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Medium/hard
Easy walk up Sawcut Gorge. Loose chalk gravel above Brian Boru Hut is not pleasant. Waima Gorge involves around 7 or 8 short swims. Grades explained
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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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Blue Mountain Station |
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Ends
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Blue Mountain Station |
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Maps
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-
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Times given are the times we took. We are currently moderately fit.
Blue Mountain to Isolation Hut (2 hrs): Easy wander up Waima and then Isoation Creek passing through Sawcut Gorge and admiring the limestone and the vegetation. Isolation Hut recently tidied up by DOC and now sleeps 6. White board at Blue Mountain station enables trampers to record their intentions to stay at the hut and if used will give an indication of numbers.
Isolation Hut to Brian Boru biv (1 hr 50 mins): Doc marked this track up through matai forest to saddle and down to the biv. Last section above the biv descends steeply over loose chalk scree.
Brian Boru biv to Zoo Hut (1 hr 40 mins): Doc have marked this track all the way to the zoo. Track climbs initially through bush, drops down to side creek draining into Brian Boru Stream, then up again onto a farm track below Iwitahi Ridge finally dropping down to the hut in a clearing in bush adjacent to some old yards.