Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
minutes you'll be on the open sand of the giant dune, where a route to its grassy peak is easy
to see.
Day 9: Mason Bay Hut to Freshwater Landing Hut
3-4 HOURS, 15.5KM
To the east of Mason Bay Hut, the track is an old tractor path all the way to Freshwater
Landing, making for easy and fast travel during normal conditions. But keep in mind that
Freshwater Valley is very flat and can flood quickly when it rains, with waist-deep water in
places.
Within 30 minutes of leaving Mason Bay Hut you reach
Island Hill Homestead
: a centre
of farming activity in the 1880s, it is now a highly valued historic building. The track con-
tinues through red tussock and flax, and in 2km skirts the base of
Island Hill
(137m), the
only slight bit of elevation in this otherwise flat landscape.
Beyond the hill you begin cutting across the famed
Chocolate Swamp
, where the track is
one long boardwalk. Despite the planks, you'll still be sloshing your way through during
rainy periods. Within 30 minutes (or two hours from Mason Bay Hut) you cross the swamp
and move into a forest of manuka and scrub where, for the next 3km, the track parallels a
ditch - an extension of Scott Burn.
Eventually you cross Scott Burn on a footbridge, and from here it's less than one hour to
Freshwater Landing Hut (16 bunks). You arrive on the south side of
Freshwater River
,
where there's a jetty for water taxis, and cross a swing bridge to reach the hut on the north
side. Many trampers opt to take the water taxi instead of walking the last sections of track,
as the trip down the river by boat is quite spectacular.
SIDE TRIP: ROCKY MOUNTAIN
3 HOURS, 5KM RETURN, 539M ASCENT
Starting behind Freshwater Landing Hut, this track passes through forest and subalpine ve-
getation to the rocky top of the appropriately named
Rocky Mountain
(549m), from where
there are panoramic views over the Freshwater Flats and Paterson Inlet.
Day 10: Freshwater Landing Hut to North Arm Hut
6-7 HOURS, 11KM
