Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
junction to the sheltered bay, which is only two minutes down a side trail. In the 1860s, two
sawmills at this bay employed more than 100 people.
The track between Kaipipi Bay and Oban is the former Kaipipi Rd, which was once the
best-maintained and most heavily used road on the island. The old logging road makes for
quick tramping, and in 2.5km you arrive at a junction with
Ryan's Creek Track
. If you head
south on this track, it's a scenic two-hour detour into Oban.
The main track continues east past the junction as an old road, and in 10 minutes you
reach a signposted junction to Fern Gully car park. From the junction, follow the track
southeast, soon arriving at a car park at the end of Main Rd. From here it's 2km to Oban.
TOP OF CHAPTER
North West Circuit
Duration
11 days
Distance
125km (78 miles)
Track Standard
Tramping track
Difficulty
Demanding
Start/End
Oban (
Click here
)
Transport
Boat, plane
Summary
This is Rakiura's legendary tramp, a coastal epic around a remote and natural
coastline featuring isolated beaches, sand dunes, birds galore and miles of mud.
Looping around the northern half of Rakiura, the tramp takes in the wild western coast,
where waves roar in on stormy days, backed by spectacular sand dunes formed by the pre-
vailing winds. As well as truly great scenery, there are constant diversions - ample bird life,
interesting flora, curious rock formations and relics from the island's pioneer era.
It is a serious mission: 11 sizeable days of effort, with frequent, moderate climbs and
some tough terrain. But it's mud, often deep and thick, that makes the North West Circuit
such a legendary trail, and one best attempted by only the experienced, fit and well
equipped. The most difficult sections are between East Ruggedy Hut and Mason Bay, where
you are often slip-sliding across slicks and sloshing through knee-deep gloop. On the up-
