Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Day 4: Taipo Hut to Belltown Manunui Hut
6-7 HOURS, 10.2KM, 407M ASCENT, 847M DESCENT
Soon after leaving the hut you cross a bridge over Pannikin Creek and then begin a steady
climb towards Stag Flat, a tussock subalpine plateau. The climb steepens just before you
reach the flats and Stag Flat Emergency Shelter.
After leaving the shelter you sidle around Stag Flat and begin another steep climb to-
wards
Little Wanganui Saddle
(1087m), an open clearing of snow grass. The climb is a
knee-bender, but the views from the top are the best of the trip. The saddle is the highest
point of the track and overlooks the Little Wanganui River to the West Coast and the Taipo
River to the east.
The track descends past Saddle Lakes and drops steeply to the valley floor, re-entering
bush and finally crossing a bridge over the Little Wanganui River to its true right (north)
side. Just before crossing the bridge you pass a signposted side track that leads 150m to
Wangapeka Bivvy (four bunks).
Note that despite the western end of the Wangapeka Track having been altered a number
of times, the section along the Little Wanganui River can still be hazardous due to erosion
and particularly during periods of high water.
After crossing a swing bridge, the track continues to Tangent Creek then climbs above the
river and sidles along the gorge, returning to the river at Smith Creek.
A little further downstream the track leads directly to Belltown Manunui Hut (10 bunks).
A clearing just downstream from the hut is a good area for camping.
Day 5: Belltown Manunui Hut to Wangapeka Road Car Park
3 HOURS, 10KM
From Belltown Manunui Hut the track immediately crosses Drain Creek and remains on the
true right (north) side of the river. Within 2km you use a swing bridge to cross Lawrence
Stream, and in another 1km cut through a large grassy area known as
Gilmor Clearing
.
Just beyond the clearing, the track follows an old access road to climb north away from
the Little Wanganui for the next 3km, before dropping back to the river. It is a further 4km
to the finish of the track, the last section of which crosses private land before reaching
Wangapeka Rd car park, where you will find a public telephone.
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