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Tracks

History in the hills: Stamper batteries

Track • 2 – 3 days. Easy/medium. Loop track.

This classic circuit explore Reefton's gold history, starting from the site of the Capleston gold town and leading up to a spectacular hut on Kirwans Hill. Visit an open cast mine site with aerial ...

Big River - Inangahua Track

Track • 2 – 3 days. Medium. Loop with brief road section.

Faded gold miners' trails into the remains of the Big River gold town, past old stamper batteries, rails, mines and buildings.

Croesus Track

Track • 2 days. Easy. One way.

An easy route onto the alpine landscape of the Paparoa Ranges along an historic mining road.

Macetown Road

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

Historic road leading to a pretty, abandoned gold town.

Britannia Track

Track • Easy. Return via same track.

A gentle climb along a wide mining road to an old battery site.

Larry's Creek

Track • Easy. Loop track.

A less well-known track into a gold mining site north of Reefton. A feature is the restored Robey portable steam engine.

Blue Creek Track

Track • Easy. Return by the same track.

This short walk sets off from the site of a gold mining town, exploring mining relics and a river resurgence.

Lyell Walkway

Track • Easy. Loop track.

This loop track under pretty beech forest explores the history of the gold mining town of Lyell, including cemetery, stamper battery, diversion tunnel, and dray road. Part of the loop is closed aft...

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.