Onamalutu Reserve to Mt Sunday Bivvy

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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From the saddle on Kiwi Road a good benched packtrack from mining days sidles gently towards the main range. It's an easy walk / cycle on a rock/dirt benched track. The track hits the main range at Forsters Clearing. A signpost here marks the turnoff to Forsters Hut 0 500m to the east.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Forsters Hut, return 500m to the main track, and then follow it south to the roadend. This is a good benched packtrack from mining days sidling gently down fromthe main range. It's an easy walk / cycle.

From Butcher Flat camp site, follow the Wakamarina Track on a well benched track to Devils Creek Hut. The track starts out as a 4WD track & sidles along the 100m contour. Cross Doom Creek via the bridge & beyond the site of the former Doom Creek Hut, the track gradually climbs to the 280m contour. It crosses three un-named side creeks, & shortly before Devils Creek Hut, the track drops 80m to cross the last of these un-named side creeks. Beyond this creek the track climbs 40m to the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Devils Creek Hut drop to the un-named side creek. Once across, the track climbs steeply to the 280m contour, before gradually dropping to the 100m contour at the Doom Creek bridge. Beyond here, follow the 4WD track to the Butchers Flat camp site.

From the car park where the 4WD road fords Pine Valley Stream, head up the true right on a track. Cross two consecutive bridges, with the second bridge crossing to the true left at the Mill Flat camp site. Continue climbing gently up to the site of the former Pine Valley Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the site of the former Pine Valley hut, head downstream along a track on the true left to the Mill Flat camp site. Cross to the the true right via a bridge, & continue downstream to the car park.

From the site of the former Pine Valley Hut, continue upstream on the true left. At the major set of forks, a steep unrelenting track, climbs from the 300m contour, all the way up to pt. 831. Beyond this point, the gradient eases but continues to climb; firstly to pt. 976, then 1248. Just beyond the 1300m contour the bush edge is reached & the track leaves the ridge & sidles across an old slip face to the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

The track crosses an old slip just below the hut before joining the ridge, which it descends at a moderate grade, over pt. 1248. Below this point, the track steepens, easing again before pt. 976. Beyond pt. 831, the track zig-zag's steeply down to the major forks. Once on the true left side of the forks, the track continues gently down to the site of the former Pine Valley Hut.

Those with a 4WD vehicle can save two hours walking up Jackson Creek Road by fording Top Valley Stream & driving up Jackson Creek Road to the car park. From the car park a marked route climbs up the main ridge, over pt. 715, before climbing more steeply to pt. 1088. Beyond this, the gradient eases & 120m below pt. 1416, the track sidles north across the eastern faces of the ridge to Richmond Saddle & the 8-bunk hut, one hour below the summit of Mt Richmond.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Richmond Saddle sidle south across the eastern faces of the ridge, which it joins at the 1280m contour. The track then descends along the ridge, over pts 1088 & 715, before reaching the car park. Those with a 4WD vehicle can save two hours walk down Jackson Creek Road to the lower car park at the Top Valley Stream ford.

An easy-moderate marked tramping track, with a 500m climb / descent over Mt Richmond.

From Mt Fell Hut, regain the ridgeline W of the hut. A poled track sidles S up the east face of Johnson Peak before swinging due W at a col before the summit, to climb moderately steep scree faces to Mt Richmond itself. It’s a 500m climb from the hut to Mt Richmond summit, the highest point in the range. Amazing views are guaranteed – so long as it’s not cloudy, raining or snowing. A stone corral has been built on the summit and provides shelter to wait out the next gap in the weather. From Mt Richmond summit the poled track swings NW along a broad rocky ridge, before dropping W to Richmond Saddle, where the hut may be visible below. It’s a steep, 550m descent – but the rocks are stable and going isn’t as bad as it looks.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Richmond Saddle Hut, a poled route climbs steeply east to gain the summit ridge of Mt Richmond. The climb is on rock and scree, and is steep but stable,

Once on the summit ridge the gradient lessens and a gentler walk follow to the peak. A rock wall has been built here and provide a sheltered spot for smoko.

From the summit, follow the poled route east to the next saddle, swing round the east side of pt 1613 and follow the ridgeline north, descending gently. A signposted track junction just beyond the next saddle marks the turnoff east to Mt Fell Hut on the busheline below.

An easy-moderate marked tramping track, with a 500m climb / descent over Mt Richmond.

From Mt Fell Hut, regain the ridgeline W of the hut. A poled track sidles S up the east face of Johnson Peak before swinging due W at a col before the summit, to climb moderately steep scree faces to Mt Richmond itself. It’s a 500m climb from the hut to Mt Richmond summit, the highest point in the range. Amazing views are guaranteed – so long as it’s not cloudy, raining or snowing. A stone corral has been built on the summit and provides shelter to wait out the next gap in the weather. From Mt Richmond summit the poled track swings NW along a broad rocky ridge, before dropping W to Richmond Saddle, where the hut may be visible below. It’s a steep, 550m descent – but the rocks are stable and going isn’t as bad as it looks.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Richmond Saddle Hut, a poled route climbs steeply east to gain the summit ridge of Mt Richmond. The climb is on rock and scree, and is steep but stable,

Once on the summit ridge the gradient lessens and a gentler walk follow to the peak. A rock wall has been built here and provide a sheltered spot for smoko.

From the summit, follow the poled route east to the next saddle, swing round the east side of pt 1613 and follow the ridgeline north, descending gently. A signposted track junction just beyond the next saddle marks the turnoff east to Mt Fell Hut on the busheline below.

From the car park a benched tramping track sidles down to Lake Chalice Hut crossing three un-named streams in the process, the third of which is immediately beside the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Lake Chalice Hut, cross the un-named stream & climb gently to the car park, crossing two un-named creeks during the climb.

From Lake Chalice Hut follow the eastern side of the lake for 15 minutes to the Old Man Track junction on the true right of the stream that head waters originate between pt 1369 & 1522. The climb begins from the 780m contour & gradually climbs to the 1380m contour as the track weaves its way in & out of gullies, crossing two un-named streams in the process. From the 1380m contour climb in a northeast direction to the bushline & sidle across the northwest faces of pt. 1522. The track then drops 260m into a bush saddle, before a gentle climb up to pt. 1309 & the track junction.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction, drop gently into a bush saddle before climbing nearly 300m to the open northwest faces of pt. 1522, which the track sidles across in a southwest direction. At the 1380m contour the track leaves the ridge & drops through the bush in a southeast direction, through numerous gullies & crosses two un-named creeks. The gradient becomes gentle when the track hits the valley floor at the 780m contour. It is then a simple 15 minute stroll around the eastern side of the lake to Lake Chalice Hut.

Descend south from the high point of 'Old Man' to the bush line. Continue heading south along the ridge to the track junction that heads due east to 'The Forks' on Top Valley Stream.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction head north along the ridge to the bush line. From this point, climb due north to the high point of 'Old Man'.

The poled route (‘The Alpine Route’) heads south over Ada Flat, and descends to a saddle where a cut track swings SSW to Old Man. There is a water tank on the summit of Old Man – very welcome in the dry ranges. A signpost marks the track junction.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Old Man summit a poled route heads north, dropping towards a saddle where it becomes a cut track through the bush. Climbing again the poled route resumes across the flat tops of Ada Flat. A ridgeline joins from the east here - the main Richmond Range with a rough, hard route along it to Richmond Saddle.

From Ada flat the Alpine Route heads north across tussock tops, dropping to a bushy saddle before climbing to the open pt1538, topped by a crown of rock. Here a major spur joins from the NE (a rough route down to Roebuck Hut), and the Alpine Route swings WNW towards Slaty Peak. The route continues poled along an obvious ridgeline until just prior to Slaty PEak, where it cuts across the steep eastern tussock face (far higher than shown on the map) before descending to Slaty Hut.

The track is poled, and well used.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Slaty Hut, follow the poled route which sidles the eastern face of Slaty PEak before regaining the ridgeline and crossing a slight saddle to pt1538. From pt1538 the route drops to a low bushy saddle, before returning to tussock and low scrub on Ada Flat - the unmarked junction with the main Richmond Range,

From Slaty Hut, the poled route climbs slightly before sidling east to join the spur north of Slaty Peak at the bushline. A well marked, cut track drops through the bush, passing two low saddles with an intermediate peak, before climbing steeply to Mt Starveall. The bushedge is reached a few meters below the flat summit is attained. A poled route heads north across the flat top, before dropping steeply NNW down the spur towards Starveall Hut. A few minor scrambles down rocky sections of ridgeline are required, which make an ice-axe advisable if covered in ice.

Reaching a saddle, the track sidles scree on the southern face of pt1243 before arriving at the saddle where Starveall Hut is located.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Starveall Hut, follow the poled route as it sidles the southern face of pt1243 to the saddle east of the highpoint. From here a sharp, defined spur climbs steeply to Mt Starveall - a few scrambles are required on rocky sections and an ice-axe is advisable in icy conditions.

On reaching the flat top of Starveall, the poled route heads south, sticking close to the eastern escarpment, before swinging east and dropping into bush. A good cut marked track crosses two low saddles to reach open tops again 100m below Slaty Peak. A poled route sidles the face eastwards, rounding a sput and then dropping south to the bushedge on the eastern face of Staty Peak where Slaty Hut is visible.

From Slaty Hut, the poled route climbs slightly before sidling east to join the spur north of Slaty Peak at the bushline. A well marked, cut track drops through the bush, passing two low saddles with an intermediate peak, before climbing steeply to Mt Starveall. The bushedge is reached a few meters below the flat summit is attained. A poled route heads north across the flat top, before dropping steeply NNW down the spur towards Starveall Hut. A few minor scrambles down rocky sections of ridgeline are required, which make an ice-axe advisable if covered in ice.

Reaching a saddle, the track sidles scree on the southern face of pt1243 before arriving at the saddle where Starveall Hut is located.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Starveall Hut, follow the poled route as it sidles the southern face of pt1243 to the saddle east of the highpoint. From here a sharp, defined spur climbs steeply to Mt Starveall - a few scrambles are required on rocky sections and an ice-axe is advisable in icy conditions.

On reaching the flat top of Starveall, the poled route heads south, sticking close to the eastern escarpment, before swinging east and dropping into bush. A good cut marked track crosses two low saddles to reach open tops again 100m below Slaty Peak. A poled route sidles the face eastwards, rounding a sput and then dropping south to the bushedge on the eastern face of Staty Peak where Slaty Hut is visible.

From Ada flat the Alpine Route heads north across tussock tops, dropping to a bushy saddle before climbing to the open pt1538, topped by a crown of rock. Here a major spur joins from the NE (a rough route down to Roebuck Hut), and the Alpine Route swings WNW towards Slaty Peak. The route continues poled along an obvious ridgeline until just prior to Slaty PEak, where it cuts across the steep eastern tussock face (far higher than shown on the map) before descending to Slaty Hut.

The track is poled, and well used.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Slaty Hut, follow the poled route which sidles the eastern face of Slaty PEak before regaining the ridgeline and crossing a slight saddle to pt1538. From pt1538 the route drops to a low bushy saddle, before returning to tussock and low scrub on Ada Flat - the unmarked junction with the main Richmond Range,

The poled route (‘The Alpine Route’) heads south over Ada Flat, and descends to a saddle where a cut track swings SSW to Old Man. There is a water tank on the summit of Old Man – very welcome in the dry ranges. A signpost marks the track junction.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Old Man summit a poled route heads north, dropping towards a saddle where it becomes a cut track through the bush. Climbing again the poled route resumes across the flat tops of Ada Flat. A ridgeline joins from the east here - the main Richmond Range with a rough, hard route along it to Richmond Saddle.

From the junction at Old Man summit the track west along the ridgeline to Old Man Hut and Mt Rintoul is signposted and well maintained. A signpost points marks the junction of the Alpine Route and the track down to Old man Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the junction above Old Man Hut the track east along the ridgeline to Old Man summit is signposted and well maintained. The track junction on Old Man Summit is marked by a signpost and a water tank.

From the junction, it’s a 1km, 250m descent through steep beech to clearings and a stream where the 6 bed Old Man Hut is located.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Old Man Hut, it’s a 1km, 250m climb up steep beech to the ridgeline via either one of the two tracks.