Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
not to be taken lightly, but on a clear day - and there are usually many such days in Febru-
ary - the panoramic views from the top are spectacular.
The tramp is described here as a five-day expedition, but a different arrangement of legs
(power legs or lazy legs) could spread it over anything from four to seven. The day-long
side trip to enchanting Blue Lake - a highlight of the park - should be completed if at all
possible. More than a dozen huts en (or close to the) route facilitate extended missions.
The Tramp
Day 1: St Arnaud to John Tait Hut
7-8 HOURS, 25KM, 180M ASCENT
Some trampers make Upper Travers Hut, rather than John Tait Hut, the destination for their
first day. Even with boat transport up Lake Rotoiti, this is still a long day (22km), leaving
many with sore legs and feet on the eve of crossing Travers Saddle the following day.
The trip begins with the Lakehead Track along the eastern side of Lake Rotoiti. You can
also take the Lakeside Track along the west side, but this is a longer walk.
The Lakehead Track is signposted from the Kerr Bay campsite. For the first 1km, to the
junction of the Loop Track, the way is wide and level. Beyond the junction it more re-
sembles a track but remains an easy walk through forest at the edge of Lake Rotoiti. After
4km the track passes a gravel clearing, where there are good views of the northern half of
the lake, including the peninsula between the bays. In another 2.5km it passes a second
clearing, and this time the southern half of the lake can be seen.
Lakehead Hut (28 bunks) is around two to three hours (9km) from Kerr Bay and is on a
grassy bank overlooking the mouth of the Travers River, where there is good trout fishing.
Coldwater Hut (12 bunks), which is smaller and older, is about 800m away, across the
Travers River on the other side of the lake.
At Lakehead Hut, signposts direct you across Travers River and through a grassy flat to
the walking track on the true left (west) side of the river. The alternative during high water
is to follow the true right (east) side of the river for 5km, to a footbridge across the Travers.
The true left side is more scenic because it swings close to the river in many places.
Once on the track on the true left side, head south and you soon pass a signposted junc-
tion for Cascade Track, which leads to Angelus Hut (4½ hours). The main track continues
south, meandering between stands of beech and grassy flats until it reaches a swing bridge
Search WWH ::




Custom Search