Lillburn Route

Tarn Hut is perched on Lilburne Hill at the edge of Puketeraki Conservation Area. The hut affords views across the Lees Valley and out to Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula. 

Two routes lead into the hut, offering a loop option. This route is more straightforward, leading up a spur along an old 4WD track directly to the hut. The route is more prosaic, but offers good winter walking.

The Lees Valley is located at the back of the Canterbury Plains, and accessed via a long winding shingle road through the Ashley Gorge. Track access is signposted from the road, and is across 3km of tussock flats. A vehicle track crosses private land to the car park. With a standard car, you might park at the main road and walk or bike in to the car park. Higher or 4WD vehicles should be fine.

This route is entirely over private land. 

From the car park, follow the Youngman Stream Track along the fence line down to the Rakahuri / Ashley River and follow it up the true right bank. Poles soon lead over to a 4WD track, which leads across matagouri / mānuka scrubland. 

Soon, you cross the Lilburne River and come to the track branch. The Lilburne Route branches off to the left, and up the spur. The track is poled and easy to follow. It climbs persistently through mānuka and turpentine scrub up onto alpine rockfields and leads easily along the ridge to the hut.