Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
creek. Within 2km of the saddle you descend along the creek to the infant Karamea River ,
fording it in a gravel area with more standing dead trees.
The track crosses several side streams as it follows the true left (south) bank of the Kara-
mea. The river itself is also crossed twice in the final 2km to Helicopter Flat Hut. The fords
are easy if the weather is good; if not, there is an alternative, all-weather route (marked with
poles) that continues along the true left bank. The flood route takes an extra 20 minutes to
walk. The routes rejoin on the southern bank and continue to Helicopter Flat Hut (10
bunks), just past Waters Creek. If the creek is flooded, there is a walk-wire 30m upstream.
The hut has a veranda on which to sit and admire the scenery at the end of a long day of
tramping. There is little camping in the area. The only flat space is the helicopter pad, on
which you must not pitch your tent.
This hut is located at the junction with the Leslie-Karamea Track , a challenging and re-
mote tramp through the middle of Kahurangi National Park.
Day 3: Helicopter Flat Hut to Taipo Hut
3-4 HOURS, 8.6KM
From Helicopter Flat Hut the track begins by skirting the gorge above the Karamea River,
then sidles up through bush away from the river. The track gradually climbs to the Taber-
nacle Lookout , reached within one hour, far above the deep and rugged gorge. The Taber-
nacle was the site of an old A-frame shelter, now long gone, that was built in 1898 by
Jonathan Brough when he was surveying the original track. The views from here are excel-
lent - you can see most of the Karamea Valley below.
The track leaves the lookout and after 100m passes a side track that descends sharply east
(right fork) to Saxon Falls and Trevor Carter Hut. The main track (left fork) heads north
then west, and descends steeply for 30 minutes to a suspension bridge over the Taipo River .
On the true left (north) side of the river there is a junction with a track heading east (right
fork) down the Taipo River to its confluence with the Karamea River. It's possible during
fair weather to include the loop from the Tabernacle past Saxon Falls to Trevor Carter Hut,
cross the Karamea River and then return to the main track, although this adds more than two
hours to the day.
The main track is well marked as it heads west and follows the northern bank of the
Taipo. You climb gently for several kilometres and, two hours from the bridge, you reach
Taipo Hut (16 bunks). This is a pleasant hut with good campsites below the nearby heli-
copter pad.
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