Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Day 1: Punakaiki to the Ballroom Overhang
7-8 HOURS, 19.5KM
The track starts from the car park at the Pororari River bridge on SH6. It follows the river
closely along its true left (south) bank, through a spectacular landscape of towering lime-
stone bluffs graced by nikau palms and tree ferns. Keep an eye on the river's deep green
pools: you may spot trout or eels in the morning, or perhaps you might feel inclined to take
a dip. Stranger things have happened!
After 3.5km the track comes to a junction, with the right fork leading back to
Punakaiki
River
and SH6 - a popular three-hour loop walk for day-trampers. Continue on the main
track, which in 300m reaches a swing bridge across the
Pororari River
.
Heading northwards, the next 4km stretch works its way through silver beech forest. The
track can become muddy in places, with fairly consistent scenery of thick bush and an occa-
sional signposted sinkhole, but it is easy to follow.
After 1½ hours you enter a clearing where views of the Paparoas come into frame. Here
you join a 4WD track across
Bullock Creek Farm
. The route passes the shacks of an
aban-
doned lime works
and a junction, the left fork of which leads back to SH6. Continue on-
wards to
Bullock Creek
, where large orange markers indicate the best place to ford it.
Once across the creek, the track follows a farm road for almost 1km and then re-enters the
bush. The track stays in beech and rimu forest, but sidles an open area and passes some im-
mense stands of flax. After 2km the track begins ascending to a low saddle (200m) on the
main ridge dividing Bullock Creek and the catchment formed by Fox River. There's lots of
mud here but the climb is easy, and views of Mt Fleming and flat-topped Mt Euclid are pos-
sible on a clear day. The descent on the other side is rapid.
The track remains fairly level until it emerges at
Fossil Creek
, 2½ hours from Bullock
Creek, marked by a large rock cairn and a small sign. There is no track at this point - you
simply follow the creek downstream for 1km or so, walking under a thick canopy of trees.
The pools will be easy to wade through in normal conditions.
It takes 30 minutes to reach the confluence with
Dilemma Creek
, marked by another rock
cairn and a small sign. This section of track, following
Dilemma Gorge
downstream, is the
most spectacular part of the trip. Hemmed in by massive limestone walls, you will con-
stantly ford the river, avoiding deep pools and following gravel bars. Keep in mind that if
the first ford is a problem, the rest will be even more difficult. Fox River can be reached in
well under an hour, but most trampers, revelling in the stunning scenery, take 1½ to two
hours to cover this short stretch through the gorge.
