Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 15m to 56m. Gain: 133m. Loss: 168m . Gradient: 1 deg (Flat)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
From Pyke Crossing make your way down river on the true left of the Pyke. The Pyke Route is an old unmaintained track. Markers are sporadic with many on trees which are now in the river due to erosion or gone all together. The route has stretches where it is heavily overgrown. Dense forest parts, away from the river, are often full of animal trails which result in you following the wrong trail. As far as Lake Wilmot the best travel is often to be had in the Pyke River bed. There is no track around Lake Wilmot, you get past by wading in the lake, up to waist deep in normal conditions. The "high tide" flood mark on the lake edge adds a metre. Old maps show the route following the lake edge to the outlet and continuing down the Pyke River, this is incorrect. A relatively well marked leg heads southwards from the southeast corner of the lake, as shown on the map here, to the Barrier River. The two branches of the Barrier River are swiftly flowing rivers which are impassible after rain. There is good camping on the sides of the south branch, about 6 hours from Pyke Crossing and about 3 hours from Olivine Hut. Continuing southwards the Pyke is rejoined near the Diorite Stream branches, impassible after rain. Its on down through bush to finally reach the Olivine River. The river is fordable under low flows, otherwise an old hand cranked cable car spans the river and provides a final upper body workout after your grueling 9 hour slog down the Pyke. Olivine Hut is just beside the true left side of the cable way.