Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the picnic area, the track begins as a level nature walk up the true right (west) side
of Woolshed Creek. Within 10 minutes you pass a crumpled coal car still sitting on its rails
below the site of
McClimonts Mine
, and 30 minutes from the start you arrive at the area
known as the jig. Here you'll find the remains of a jig line and a hopper, which were used to
transport coal from Blackburn Mine down the steep hill to wagons on the Mt Somers branch
railway. As each full hopper hurtled to the bottom of the jig, the momentum pulled an empty
one to the top. Interpretive displays here cover the history of the operation in detail.
Beyond the jig, follow a segment known as Miners Track. The jig was too dangerous for
workers to use, so they began each day by climbing to the Blackburn Mine along this track.
You climb steeply through the trees for 15 minutes and then break out into a subalpine set-
ting with views of the surrounding mountains. One hour from the car park you arrive at the
well-preserved site of
Blackburn Mine
.
From the mine, the track follows Burma Rd briefly then veers off northeast at a well-sign-
posted junction. You climb steeply along an open ridge and, about 40 minutes from Black-
burn Mine, reach
Trig R
(934m). The final 15 minutes of this climb is stunning, with panor-
amic views of distant Arrowsmith Range and Upper Ashburton Gorge. The magnificent
vista from the trig includes the Manuka Range, the glaciated U-shaped Stour Valley, and,
across to the east, Mt Somers.
Take the signposted track to the north, which leads to another great vantage point known
as
Lookout Rock
, where there are views of the new Woolshed Creek Hut on the western
bank of Woolshed Creek. From there, it's a fast descent to the stream, passing Spa Pool
Waterfall along the way and reaching the hut 30 minutes from Trig R.
Day 2: Woolshed Creek Hut to Sharplin Falls Car Park via South Face Track
7-8 HOURS, 13.5KM
This can be a long day along an exposed route, although the Acland Shelter provides wel-
come relief around the halfway point. If in doubt about the weather, stay put or tramp out to
Woolshed Creek car park.
Begin by crossing the bridge across Woolshed Creek directly in front of the hut, and then
follow the track signs to Emerald Pool on Morgan Stream. Cross the stream and continue up
a dry ridge with sparse subalpine vegetation, before descending through beech forest to Tri-
falls Stream. Just after crossing the stream there is a signposted track that heads upstream to
Howden Falls
. This five-minute side trip ends at the highest-elevation falls in the Mt
Somers Conservation Area.
