Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
to the top of
Peak 1538
. You can then follow the ridge to Key Summit (919m), descend to
Howden Hut, and follow the first leg of the Greenstone Track back to McKellar Hut.
Day 3: McKellar Hut to Greenstone Hut
4½-6½ HOURS, 18KM
This day is spent tramping through the heart of the Greenstone Valley, where you'll see lots
of cattle and, if you're wearing polarising sunglasses, a few of the river's famous trout.
The track immediately crosses the
Greenstone River
on a bridge in front of the hut to the
true left (east) side. You then cut through beech forest for 30 minutes (1.5km), emerging at
the northern end of Greenstone Flats, which are dominated by Jean Batten Peak.
The track cuts across bullrush grass and then returns to bush for almost 2km, skirting the
Greenstone River, which boasts many beautiful pools. After crossing a large grassy flat the
track moves higher onto the forested bluffs.
For the next three hours the track stays predominantly in the bush above the open valley.
There is an occasional stretch of rocks and roots, but for the most part the track is a straight-
forward tramp with little climbing. When you emerge into a large open flat you can soon
spot private Rat's Nest Hut on the opposite bank of the river.
You remain in grassy flats until the track ascends around a gorge. Short side trails allow
you to peer down between the rock walls at the roaring Greenstone River, before the track
descends to
Steele Creek
and a major swing bridge. Just before the bridge is a signposted
junction with a track heading north (left fork) to Steele Saddle and Upper Caples Hut, a de-
manding tramp (10 to 12 hours). On the other side you break out of the trees and cross a
grassy terrace to a signposted junction. The left fork heads off to a private hut for guided
trampers. Right above you is the closed Mid Greenstone Hut, formerly the second stop
along the track before being replaced by the current Greenstone Hut, 1½ hours east along
the valley.
The right-hand fork descends to open flats for the next 3km. Re-enter the bush across
from the confluence of the Greenstone River and Pass Burn; the hut on the other side of the
river is private. The track now begins to skirt around
Greenstone Gorge
, and after 2km
comes to a junction with a track to Greenstone Hut. It's a five-minute descent to the bridge
across the Greenstone River, from where there's a good view of the narrow rock walls of the
gorge. Another 10 minutes from the swing bridge is
Greenstone Hut
(20 bunks) and the
northern end of the Mavora-Greenstone Walkway. This is a great hut with a huge kitchen
and wraparound deck that takes in the surrounding mountains.
