The start of the track is signposted off the Lewis Pass near Palmer Lodge. A good cut marked track crosses the Lewis River on a swingbridge and heads up the north side of the Nina. After 3-4km a second swingbridge crosses to the south bank (TR) - the track to Lucretia biv continues on the TL. The new Nina Hut is 4km further along the south bank on a small knob overlooking the valley.

It is also possible to continue up the north side (TL) of the river from the 2nd swingbridge, cross Lucretia Stream (now no walkwire), continue on the old Nina track on the TL and cross Duchess Stream (now no walkwire) at the confluence of Nina and Duchess and pick up the track up to the new Nina Hut.

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From Nina hut, follow the good cut marked track down the true right of the Nina River. After 4km cross the swingbridge to the north bank and continue another 3-4km down the track to the bridge over the Lewis. The Lewis Pass highway is just beyond.

Expect snow/ice above bushedge. Climb from bush to saddle was gentle so crampons probably not required.

A marked, cut (2018) tramping track follows terraces west from Nina hut before climbing steeply into Blind Creek. A further sidle & climbs follow until the creek rises to join the track. The old Devils Den Biv (2007) was located on the bushedge by the creek - a dark, cold spot, but the new hut has been built further up on the saddle itself. The climb to the saddle from the bushedge is poled, over low tussock but with some large holes. Significant windfall (2018) made this a slower trip

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From Devilskin Saddle, follow poles NE down to Blind Creek and pick up the track on the true right at the bushedge. A marked cut track (2018) initially sidles away from the Creek then drops steeply back to it. More sidle & descent until finally turning away from Blind Ck onto terraces in the Nina. Several side creeks might cause concern in heavy rain but the final creek crossing would be a major hazard. Nina hut is 1km further along the track. Significant windfall (2018) made this a slower trip

Walked this with 2-3' of fresh soft powder snow present (in mid-march!). Slopes were gentle so ice-axe / crampons not required, but axe did come in handy for support.

A poled route over tussock leads south down Devilskin Stream to the bushedge where the marked, cut track starts. My notes just say "A very long sidle down the true left of Devilskin Stream to the Doubtful". Broad shingle flats with a track on the south side. Crossing was knee deep with some snowmelt present - small river in a big riverbed so clearly floods at times.

Doubtful hut is a few hundred meters downstream on the south bank.

(3hrs in deep snow.)

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A good track, in and out of the bush. Several side-creeks to cross on the valley flats, but none were significant in light snowmelt conditions. Turnoff to Lake Mann was signposted 'Bivvy, 2hrs' just west of the Kedron River crossing. (1-2hrs).

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A good track, in and out of the bush. Several side-creeks to cross on the valley flats, but none were significant in light snowmelt conditions.. Doubtful Hut is reached a few hundred meters past the Devilskin Stream confluence. (1-2hrs)

A steep climb on a cut / marked tramping track on the true left of the Kedron River, followed by a tedious sidle in to the head of the valley and Lake Man Bivouac. The stream must be crossed below the biv. (Note: older topomaps show the track wrongly either on the true right, or climbing to the tops on the true left) (1.5-3 hrs)

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A stream crossing followed by a long sidle at the height of the biv down the true left of the Kedron River, followed by a steep descent to the Doubtful. Cut / marked track. (1.5-3hrs)

(Note: older topomaps show the track wrongly either on the true right, or climbing to the tops on the true left)

Tops were flat and ice-axe / crampons were not required when crossing in deep, soft snow.

From Lake Man Biv a track climbs south to the bushedge. A good poled route crosses the exposed saddle and drops down the spur into Pussy Stream. River walk down Pussy Stream - a mix of in-river wet feet and beech-forest-bashing on the banks - there are no gravel flats to walk on. Once out on grassy flats, follow the Pussy Stream to the confluence with the Hope where a waist-deep crossing was required in slow-moderate flowing water to cross with moderate snow-melt occurring. This crossing could easily become impassable after heavy rain but sidling the true left down to the swingbridge at the Kiwi confluence looked easy enough. (2-4hrs)

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Cross the Hope river at the confluence - waist-deep crossing in slow-moderate flowing water with moderate snow-melt occurring. This crossing could easily become impassable after heavy rain but sidling the true left from the swingbridge at the Kiwi confluence looked easy enough.

Head up the true left (east) of Pussy Stream from the confluence and continue 2km up the Pussy valley to the first major forks: a river walk up Pussy Stream - a mix of in-river wet feet and beech-forest-bashing on the banks - there are no gravel flats to walk on. Take the western (true right) fork and continue 100m to the next forks where a marked track starts between the two creeks.

A steep climb on a good cut marked track leads to the bushedge, from where a poled route crosses the exposed flat pass and drops back into bush above Lake Man Bivvy.

An old farm track heads down the grass-and-matagouri flats of the Hope. St Jacobs Hut is visible to the west of the track. (45min-1.5hrs)

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An old farm track heads up the grass-and-matagouri flats of the Hope. Pussy Stream is the first major confluence from the north (true left). The turnoff to Lake Man is at the confluence, and was not signposted (2007). (45min-1.5hrs)

An old farm track runs down the Hope River flats from St Jacobs Hut to the Hope / Kiwi confluence. The junction with the Hope-Kiwi track is signposted. (0.45-1.5hrs)

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An old farm track heads up the true right (west) of the Hope River on flats from the confluence to St Jacobs Hut. The hut is to the left of the track and is visible from it. (0.45-1.5hrs)

Good track on valley flats. 15-30mins.

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Good track on valley flats. The junction with the Hope Pass track is signposted just before the swingbridge over the Hope river. 15-30 mins

An unmakred route leads up the broad flats of the Kiwi valley from Hope Kiwi loidge - basically I just followed old tire marks up the flats (2007). Newer maps show a track weaving the valley floor so it may since have been marked.

The marked track started on the western bushedge at the end of the clear flats. A good cut marked track ran 1km to the signposted track junction on the low ridge above Lake Marion. (1hr15-2.5hrs)

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From the Marion Stream track junction a the cut marked track continues 1km to the bushedge at the start of broad, flat clearings in the Kiwi. The route down the kiwi was unmarked (2007) but easy going on grassy flats. Hope Kiwi lodge is clearly visible on flats on the true left at the confluence of the first major valley from the west. (1hr15-2.5hrs)

A good cut marked track runs along terraces on the north side of Lake Sumner. 1.5km after the Marion turnoff a short track is signposted on the south side of the main track to an 'observation point' where partial views of Lake Sumner are present through increasingly tall bush.

The crossing of Three Mile Stream was unbridged in 2007, but new topomaps (2015) show a bridge present, so it may since have been rebuilt - check with DOC. This is a large stream in a confined bed and could easily flood after rain, though easily crossable in normal flows. The turnoff to Three Mile Stream hut, up Three Mile stream is signposted on the western bank.

(1-2hrs)

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The crossing of Three Mile Stream was unbridged in 2007, but new topomaps (2015) show a bridge present, so it may since have been rebuilt - check with DOC. This is a large stream in a confined bed and could easily flood after rain, though easily crossable in normal flows.

A good cut marked track runs along terraces on the north side of Lake Sumner. 2.5km after Three Mile Stream, a short track is signposted on the south side of the main track to an 'observation point' where partial views of Lake Sumner are increasingly being swamped by growing bush. 1.5km later a signpost marks the junction with a track down Marion Stream leading down the Hurunui valley.

(1-2hrs)

Easy flat going on a cut track though bush / vague poled route across farmland. Hurunui River is crossed on a swingbridge and the junction with the Harper Pass track is beyond. (1.5-3hrs)

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Cross the Hurunui on a swingbridge. A vague poled route across farmland.leads to a cut / marked track through the bush leading east to Three Mile Stream. Easy flat going. A signpost marks the junction with the Three Mile Stream route. (1.5-3hrs)

An old 4wd track leads along the south bank of the Hurunui. 1km upstream of the swingbridge a tramping track turns off left (south)_ and sidles gently up to Hurunui Hut on terraces above. 20-30mins

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A track drops gently east to meet the old 4WD track on the riverbank. This follows the riverbank east a further 1km to the signposted track junction at the Hurunui swingbridge. 20-30mins

An easy walk along a mixture of bush tracks and grassy flats to No. 3 Hut, which is located beside the track. 2-4hrs

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An easy walk along a mixture of bush tracks and grassy flats to Hurunui Hut. 1km before the hut a tramping track branches south off the riverbank track climbing gently to the hut. 2-4hrs

An easy walk up old farm tracks and grassy flats between No. 3 and Camerons Hut. Cameron Stream was a dry-feet crossing in light drizzly conditions, but could flood. Maps show a walkwire which I did not sight. Both huts are located on the track. (45mins-1.5hrs)

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An easy walk along old farm tracks and grassy flats between No. 3 and Camerons Hut. Cameron Stream was a dry-feet crossing in light drizzly conditions, but could flood. Maps show a walkwire which I did not sight. Both huts are located on the track. (45 mins-1.5hrs)

A clear, cut marked track runs alongside the river through beech and grassy clearings, climbing to the pass. Easy going and a change from the open flats lower down. 1.5km before the pass the lone remaining Harper Pass Biv (2 bunks) sits in a clearing to the right of the track.(1.5-3hrs)

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A clear, cut marked track runs alongside the river through beech and grassy clearings, descending to the Hurunui river flats. Camerons Hut is located 1km after the open flats start, and is on the track. (1.5-3hrs)

An old pack-track climbs the valley floor towards the pass, later sidling the northern face - cut through subalpine scrub and fuschia bush. The descent of the western side is steeper - the pack track descending through first scrub then fuschia and finally reaching mature bush at the swingbridge.

The track stopped at the bridge (2007) and an unmarked route followed the southern riverbank the remaining 3km to No. 4 hut. Markers marked the start of the short track to No. 4 hut from the river. (2.5-4.5hrs)

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Follow the southern riverbank upriver from No.4 hut to the swingbridge, 3km upstream. Crossing the bridge an old pack-horse track runs up the northern bank for 1km before climbing a spur to reach the saddle. Mature bush is left at the swingbridge, replaced first by fuschia and later low subalpine scrub,. The reverse process is repeated as you descend the pack-track down the eastern side of the pass, sidling the northern face through scrub and hitting patchy fuschia-bush in the valley. The single remaining Harper Pass Bivvy is 1.5km beyond the pass in a clearing to the south of the stream and is located in the track. (2.5-4.5hrs)

No permanent track exists down the Taramakau - this is a riverbed route. The shingle flats are continuously changing and route may differ from that described here.

I walked down the Taramakau in persistent rain. It is probably possible to complete the entire trip on the southern bank (missing Kiwi Hut) but steep faces upstream of Yeo Creek mean that crossing even minor side-creeks is tricky in high-water conditions, and so if the main Taramakau is not fordable below Locke Stream you are probably best sitting it out at the hut.

Head down the river flats from Locke Stream Hut, crossing as required. Below Yeo Creek it is possible to remain on the southern bank all the way to Otira. Townsend Creek reportedly floods badly, but was a thigh-deep, viable crossing when I visited.

The turnoff to Townsend Hut is not marked and is 400m upstream of the Michael Creek confluence.

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A braided section of the Taramakau exists below the Michael Creek confluence, but was impassable on my visit so I never made it to Kiwi Hut. A large doc triangle on the bushedge on the northern bank marks the start of the short track to the hut. (2.5-4.5hrs)

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I traveled this section on the southern bank, as the Taramakau was in flood and uncrossable. Other routes may exist on the north side avoiding the Otehake crossing but crossing the combiner rivers downstream. The Otehake is a major river the can carry a lot of water - but carries less sediment than the Taramakau - so judging conditions is easier. The combined river below the forks was huge and fast when I visited and not an option. I do not recommend taking any risks in crossing. If in doubt, wait it out or change your plans. The swingbridge shown 3km upriver has been removed by DOC so is not a fallback option, and reportedly travel up the first 1km on the true right is not viable anyway.

Good travel on grass flats and shingle banks exists down the southern side of the Taramakau from opposite Kiwi Hut to the Otehake confluence. I found a good long pool of slowish-moving water with good gravel fans in the runout a one to two hundred meters upstream of the confluence which allowed a safe swim to to other bank.

An old 4WD track starts to become visible below the confluence on the southern bank, and becomes increasingly followable as you continue down the large shingle flats of the Taramakau. Pfeifer Creek is reached 4km beyond the Otehake, and will not prove problematic except in extreme conditions. The junction with the Lake Kaurapataka Track is on the western bank of the Pfeifer.

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An old 4WD track leads down the Taramakau flats from the Pfeifer confluence on the southern bank. Hugging the base of the hill to the south, look out foir a signposted / marked track to Morrisons Bridge, cutting east of a low rise 500m before the Otira River.

The wet-weather track sidles the east side of the Otira until it reaches flats 1km below the swingbridge. This section is subject to bad windfall and can be slow going. Follow the unmarked route up the eastern bank of the Otira to the major footbridge which crosses at Morrisons.

DOC warn that several sections of the wet weather track can flood in extreme conditions - but the track was out of the river after 2 days of persistent rain when I visited. In low flows it is also possible to ford the Otria directly to Aitkins at the Otira / Taramakau confluence without using the wet weather track.

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