Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From Trifalls Stream, the track steadily climbs a scrub-and-tussock ridge before topping
off at the
Bus Stop
. At 1150m, this rock formation of colourful rhyolite has been a welcome
sight for many trampers who need a place to wait out bad weather (thus its name). In clear
conditions you can linger here, enjoying great views of the upper catchment of Woolshed
Creek, the Taylor Range, and even as far west as the Arrowsmith Range.
Make a rapid descent from the Bus Stop to Moses Stream and, after crossing the small
creek, climb out of the gully to tussock-covered flats. The nearly flat terrace is an extensive
area of fragile red tussock and care must be taken not to leave the track and further damage
these wetlands. It takes 30 minutes to cross the flats to the well-signposted junction for the
Mt Somers Track (South Face)
, reached 4km (two to 2½ hours) from Woolshed Creek Hut.
The track that heads west (right) is the Rhyolite Ridge Track, which reaches the Woolshed
Creek car park within one hour.
The South Face Track continues southeast from the junction and quickly descends to
Chapmans Creek. After crossing the creek, you sidle across the valley slope and then cross a
low saddle (940m) to merge onto an old 4WD track, reached within an hour of the junction.
This track heads downhill for 500m until it reaches the bush edge.
Depart the 4WD track as the South Face Track enters mountain beech forest and descends
to cross the first of five gullies, all of which are tributaries of
Ghost Stream
and Stony
Creek. Marker poles clearly define the route across the ridges between the forested gullies,
where you maintain an altitude of around 900m beneath the impressive south face of Mt
Somers. The sight of Acland Shelter will be very welcome during inclement weather.
Finally, one hour from the saddle, you descend to the bush and cross
Caves Stream
. At
the stream, a well-formed track climbs steadily through mountain beech forest and in 30
minutes breaks out briefly into subalpine scrub on
Unity Saddle
(1075m). After re-entering
the bush the track sidles around a small gully and two avalanche chutes, and then merges in-
to the Mt Somers Summit Track. From this junction it is less than 10 minutes down to
Staveley Hill (1070m). It's 2.5km (about a 1½-hour walk) from Caves Stream to Staveley
Hill.
On the final leg of the circuit the track steadily descends the ridgeline of Staveley Hill,
through subalpine and manuka scrub, and finally reaches a small grass clearing at the bush-
line, where you enjoy your last view of the Canterbury Plains. You then descend to the bush,
pass
Hookey Knob
(731m) and continue a steady descent until you reach the Sharplin Falls
car park, 3km (1½ hours) from Staveley Hill.