Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
at a signposted junction. The left fork is a ridge track that heads southwest to Totara Saddle
and then Browning Hut.
The right fork quickly emerges from the bush into subalpine scrub and arrives at Rocks
Hut (16 bunks), reached 6km (2½ to three hours) from Middy Creek Hut. This is a very ap-
pealing hut overlooking Mt Richmond and Mt Fell. There are few sandflies (if any) and a
rainwater supply. If staying at the hut, follow the Browning Hut track for 30 minutes to
check out a series of pinnacles known as
The Rocks
(939m).
From the hut the track heads northeast towards Dun Saddle and quickly passes a side
track (10 minutes) to an open perch with a view to the west. Within 45 minutes you break
out of the trees and stunted scrub for good, and then reach
Dun Saddle
(960m), one hour
(2km) from Rocks Hut. It's usually too windy to hang around this spot.
Dun Mountain
(1129m) is 45 minutes away (1.5km) via a poled route that heads right. If the winds are
light, consider a side trip to the mountain for excellent views of Nelson and the surrounding
region.
You then head left along a barren route, which is not marked nearly as well as the previ-
ous section of track (keep an eye out for metal poles and orange triangles on the trees), but
the views are great. You briefly re-enter the bush, but within 30 minutes of Dun Saddle you
reach
Coppermine Saddle
. This is the start of the old Dun Mountain Railway, NZ's first
railway, which was constructed to enable horse-drawn carts to haul chromite ore from the
mountain to Nelson.
The walking track resumes by sidling a ridge off Wooded Peak, and in 30 minutes (two
hours from Rocks Hut) arrives at
Windy Point
. This exposed tip of the ridge is signposted
because the winds here are legendary - so much so that at times it can be hard to stand.
Hang onto your hat…with both hands. Just as amazing, walk 15 minutes down the track and
the roaring winds are often just steady breezes. Departing from Windy Point is the poled
Wells Ridge Route to
Wooded Peak
(1111m), 1½ hours away.
The Dun Mountain Track continues to skirt Wooded Peak, and with every step looks
more like the railroad bed that it is. The walking is easy, a pleasant end to a long day for
many. You quickly re-enter the beech forest and 1½ hours from Windy Point you reach
Third House Shelter. This is strictly a place for a break, as camping is not allowed and there
is no water. At this point Brook St is two hours away along a well-signposted trail that still
looks like a 4WD track. The final 30 minutes is a rapid descent, ending just north of the
Brook Valley Holiday Park (
Click here
)
, 4km from Nelson's city centre.
