Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Day 2: Locke Stream Hut to Hurunui No 3 Hut
6-7 HOURS, 15KM, 280M ASCENT
Above Locke Stream the valley continues to narrow and the Taramakau appears more like a
mountain stream. Ongoing slips may slow your progress through this section.
From the hut, the track winds in and out of the forest as it climbs towards Harper Pass.
Keep your eye on the markers as you go. This section is challenging, but within 1½ hours
you should reach a swing bridge located 3km above Locke Stream.
Cross to the true right (north) side and follow the Taramakau (rarely seen through the
bush) to the headwater gorges. Here the track begins a largely steep and sometimes rough
280m ascent through forest to Harper Pass (963m), marked by a sign around three hours
into the day's journey.
The track drops quickly on the eastern side to the headwaters of the Hurunui River . With-
in 30 minutes you arrive at Harper Pass Bivouac (two bunks), located in a grove of ribbon-
wood above the stream on the true right (south) side.
Below the bivouac, walking becomes a lot easier as it drops down through beech forest.
It's a steady 6.5km, two-hour descent from the bivouac to the first substantial flat, where
you will find Camerons Hut (four bunks) on the edge of the forest. At Cameron Stream
there's an emergency walkwire 100m up from the Hurunui riverbed. From here the track
stays on the fringes of the forest for the next 1.5km until it opens onto a flat. Here you will
find Hurunui No 3 Hut (16 bunks), which looks just like a deserted schoolhouse, standing in
the middle of the grassy clearing. The old, two-roomed building has a large wooden porch
and a wood stove.
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