Places ► Arthur's Pass National Park ►

Tracks

Arthur's Pass National Park

Track • 95 days. Medium. One way.

Te Araroa is a walking trail running the entire length of the North and South Islands. The trail opened 3 December 2011.

Three Passes

Track • 4 – 5 days. Medium/hard. One way.

A classic trip from Arthur's Pass across Browning, Whitehorn and Harman Passes, emerging near Lake Kaniere on the West Coast.

Barker Hut

Track • 2 – 3 days. Medium. Return by the same track.

Surrounded by glaciers at the head of the White River, this is the highest hut in Arthur's Pass National Park.

Casey Saddle - Poulter River - Binser Saddle

Track • 2 – 3 days. Easy/medium. Loop track with a short road section.

A brief circuit crossing one open saddle and one bush saddle in the southeastern corner of Arthur's Pass National Park. The very popular recently built Casey Hut allows accommodation half way in th...

Otehake Hot Springs

Track • 2 days. Easy/medium. Return via same track.

A popular weekend route to good hot pools.

Edwards River-Hawdon River

Track • 3 days. Medium. One way.

See Hawdon River.

Sudden Valley

Track • 2 days. Medium. Return via same track.

A secluded hanging valley in the southeast corner of Arthur's Pass National Park

Bealey Spur

Track • 1 – 2 days. Easy/medium. One way.

Gentle climb with generous views over Arthurs Pass and the Waimakariri River. The track visits an historic musterers' hut framed with beech saplings.

Harman Pass - Taipo River - Kelly Saddle

Track • 3 – 5 days. Medium/hard. One way.

A long journey through the west of Arthur's Pass National Park.

Kelly Range

Track • 1 – 2 days. Medium. Return by the same track.

A brief climb up to Carroll Hut on the tops at the northern edge of Arthur's Pass National Park. Magnificent 360° views.

East Hawdon Stream

Track • 1 – 2 days. Easy/medium. Return via same track.

A short walk to a new biv located on a branch of the Hawdon River.

Kelly Range - Hunts Saddle Circuit

Track • 2 – 3 days. Medium/hard. Loop track.

A challenging circuit route traversing the Kelly Range and returning along Kelly's Creek. The direction described is the easiest option.

Hawdon River

Track • 2 days. Easy. Return via same track.

Easy travel up a wide river valley.

Mount Cassidy

Track • 1 day. Medium/hard. Return via same track.

A short but challenging climb from Arthur's Pass Village.

Lake Kaurapataka

Track • 1 – 2 days. Easy. Return via same track.

Easy weekend trip to a pretty Arthur's Pass camping spot

Lake Mavis

Track • 2 days. Medium. Return via same track.

A side trip off the popular Mingha-Deception route in Arthur's Pass.

Avalanche Peak

Track • Medium. Loop track.

A day trip near Arthur's Pass village to an altitude of 1833m.

Arthur's Pass Village Historic Walk

Track • Easy. Loop track.

Introductory circuit of the village, providing a history of the Pass and the rail tunnel.

Mount Barron Route

Track • Medium/hard. One way.

Old access track onto the Mount Barron tussock tops.

Woolshed Hill

Track • Medium. Hawdon Valley.

The track begins steeply climbing through beech forest from near the Hawdon carpark. It emerges into brilliant dracophyllum draped tops with impressive views of the Hawdon Valley and beyond.

Dobson Nature Walk

Track • Easy. One way.

A short walk on the Main Divide of the Southern Alps, offering alpine flora and panoramic views.

Arthur's Pass Walking Track

Track • Easy. One way.

A new walk, opened March 2014 to mark 150 years of Arthur's Pass. Attractive and easy walking from the Arthur's Pass village to the pass itself, offering access to a variety of other tracks.

Bealey Chasm and Valley

Track • Easy/medium.

A excellent short walk in the autumn or spring with wonderful views of rolleston glacier

Lake Misery Track

Track • Easy/medium. One way.

Short connecting track on the Main Divide of the Southern Alps.

Track grades

Easy: Unusually smooth, well-marked track, easy gradients. Up to about 4 hours per day.
Easy-medium: Typical lowland track. Generally easy walking and well marked. Ascents of up to 1000m. Some easy river crossings, unmarked travel along rivers.
Medium: Typical tops track. Experienced trampers only. Rough, muddy and poorly marked or unmarked. Ascents of up to 2000m. River crossings, open tops, passes. Up to about 8 hours per day.
Medium-hard: Navigation and snow skills (use of ice axe and crampons) required. Glaciers, exposure to falls.
Hard: Rough or non-existent tracks. Following ridges, bush spurs, and rivers. Steep ascents, arduous travel, hazardous conditions, snow and navigation skills essential.