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.

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.

A well-marked and sustained climb from the valley floor up to pt 900 through significantly wasp-infested beech forest. The chain ladder sections leading to pt 1496 provide reassurance on straightforward but relatively exposed sections. Chains and bolts were in good condition and looked to have been quite recently replaced, in 2018. Just below the peak of pt 1496, a rain-filling water barrel with a spigot has been thoughtfully left: the 1300 m climb out of the Pelorus will very likely have drained your supplies. The ridge walk south over Mt Fell has great views through to Mt Richmond. Note that Mt Fell Hut has been moved a couple of hundred metres south from the location still shown on topo maps.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description

A well-marked and sustained climb from the valley floor up to pt 900 through significantly wasp-infested beech forest. The chain ladder sections leading to pt 1496 provide reassurance on straightforward but relatively exposed sections. Chains and bolts were in good condition and looked to have been quite recently replaced, in 2018. Just below the peak of pt 1496, a rain-filling water barrel with a spigot has been thoughtfully left: the 1300 m climb out of the Pelorus will very likely have drained your supplies. The ridge walk south over Mt Fell has great views through to Mt Richmond. Note that Mt Fell Hut has been moved a couple of hundred metres south from the location still shown on topo maps.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description

From the Roebuck Junction, Te Araroa trail makes a brief steep descent to just above the river, before following a spur east, finally dropping to cross the Pelorus on a long swingbridge. Middy Hut is 100m downriver on the far bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Middy Hut, the Te Araroa trail heads upriver 100m before crossing on a long swingbridge. After a short section along a flat spur, the track start to climb steeply. 1km from the hut a signposted track junction is reached marking the turnoff of the sidle track to Roebuck Hut.

From the Roebuck Junction, Te Araroa trail makes a brief steep descent to just above the river, before following a spur east, finally dropping to cross the Pelorus on a long swingbridge. Middy Hut is 100m downriver on the far bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Middy Hut, the Te Araroa trail heads upriver 100m before crossing on a long swingbridge. After a short section along a flat spur, the track start to climb steeply. 1km from the hut a signposted track junction is reached marking the turnoff of the sidle track to Roebuck Hut.

The sidle track to Roebuck is a standard sidling tramping track - we are no longer on Te Araroa. The track is cut, but not benched and traverses steep faces as it heads upriver. Climbing and falling repeatedly it crosses two main side creeks and 3 more minor ones. Windfall was a minor issue when I visited - maybe half a dozen scrambles round large fallen trees.

Sidecreeks are not bridged and whilst small could become impassable after extreme rainfall.

Finally the track drops to the river upstream of Roebuck Hut, and crosses both branches on bridges before returning downriver to the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Roebuck Hut, the track heads briefly upriver to the swingbridge, crossing the Pelorus, then returning downriver to cross Roebuck Creek on a second bridge. From here it becomes a standard sidle track: climbing and falling repeatedly to cross 2 major sidecreeks and minor ones as it heads downriver, The track crosses steep faces and is not benched, but only cut and marked. Windfall is a minor problem with several large fallen trees requiring scrambling round (2015).

Sidecreeks are not bridged and whilst small could become impassable after extreme rainfall.

The sidle track to Roebuck is a standard sidling tramping track - we are no longer on Te Araroa. The track is cut, but not benched and traverses steep faces as it heads upriver. Climbing and falling repeatedly it crosses two main side creeks and 3 more minor ones. Windfall was a minor issue when I visited - maybe half a dozen scrambles round large fallen trees.

Sidecreeks are not bridged and whilst small could become impassable after extreme rainfall.

Finally the track drops to the river upstream of Roebuck Hut, and crosses both branches on bridges before returning downriver to the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Roebuck Hut, the track heads briefly upriver to the swingbridge, crossing the Pelorus, then returning downriver to cross Roebuck Creek on a second bridge. From here it becomes a standard sidle track: climbing and falling repeatedly to cross 2 major sidecreeks and minor ones as it heads downriver, The track crosses steep faces and is not benched, but only cut and marked. Windfall is a minor problem with several large fallen trees requiring scrambling round (2015).

Sidecreeks are not bridged and whilst small could become impassable after extreme rainfall.

Track

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description

Track

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description

From the easternmost of the two Hacket Junctions, the track to Browning Hut head upriver, soon crossing to the northern bank (creek must be forded, ankle deep but could flood). An old benched track runs along the northern valleyside, but after 100m it has slipped away and you must either drop to the riverbed for 200m (4 crossing required), or climb a high, rough bypass route.

After passing the slipped section, the benched, cut, marked track returns to sidle the northern valleyside. Crossing the north fork of the creek, the track starts to climb steadily. A further 1.5km steady climb takes you to Browning Hut, in a large clearing on the northern form of Browning Stream.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Browning Hut, a cut, marked, benched track heads west, dropping steadily to the forks in the Browning Creek. From here it crosses and sidles the northern face. A 200m section has slipped away and you must either drop to the riverbed for 200m (4 crossing required), or climb a high, rough bypass route.

After the slipped section the benched track returns on the northern face for 100m, before zigzagging back down to the river (ignoring an old disused benched ytrack continuing straight on). Cross the creek (ankle deep normally but can flood) and head 50 down the northern bank to where a signpost marks the junction of the pack-track to HAcket Hut and the route onwards down the Browning,

From the easternmost of the two Hacket Junctions, the track to Browning Hut head upriver, soon crossing to the northern bank (creek must be forded, ankle deep but could flood). An old benched track runs along the northern valleyside, but after 100m it has slipped away and you must either drop to the riverbed for 200m (4 crossing required), or climb a high, rough bypass route.

After passing the slipped section, the benched, cut, marked track returns to sidle the northern valleyside. Crossing the north fork of the creek, the track starts to climb steadily. A further 1.5km steady climb takes you to Browning Hut, in a large clearing on the northern form of Browning Stream.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Browning Hut, a cut, marked, benched track heads west, dropping steadily to the forks in the Browning Creek. From here it crosses and sidles the northern face. A 200m section has slipped away and you must either drop to the riverbed for 200m (4 crossing required), or climb a high, rough bypass route.

After the slipped section the benched track returns on the northern face for 100m, before zigzagging back down to the river (ignoring an old disused benched ytrack continuing straight on). Cross the creek (ankle deep normally but can flood) and head 50 down the northern bank to where a signpost marks the junction of the pack-track to HAcket Hut and the route onwards down the Browning,

An old mining pack-track heads over a low saddle east of Hacket Hut to the Browning. Follow the cut, benched, marked track down the eastern bank of the Hacket Creek from the hut, soon swinging east up a side creek and zigzagging to a saddle. The track drops in further zigzags to the Browning Stream, where a signposted track junction on the southern bank (not northern as shown on maps) marks the junction with the track up to Browning,

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track junction, the old pack-track to hacket zigzags up the southern face of the Browning to a low saddle, before zigzagging east down the far side to the Hacket, just north of Hacket Hut. The track is benched and well marked.

An old mining pack-track heads over a low saddle east of Hacket Hut to the Browning. Follow the cut, benched, marked track down the eastern bank of the Hacket Creek from the hut, soon swinging east up a side creek and zigzagging to a saddle. The track drops in further zigzags to the Browning Stream, where a signposted track junction on the southern bank (not northern as shown on maps) marks the junction with the track up to Browning,

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the signposted track junction, the old pack-track to hacket zigzags up the southern face of the Browning to a low saddle, before zigzagging east down the far side to the Hacket, just north of Hacket Hut. The track is benched and well marked.

A signposted track drops north from Starveall Hut, zigzagging down the face and paralleling the stream north. After about 4.5km the track drops into the Hacket Creek riverbed and ends. A further kilometer walking down the riverbed follows with 8-or-so mandatory crossings. Crossings were knee-deep with moderate snow-melt, but hut book reports the creek flooding in rain,

100m above Hacket Hut, a fixed bridge is reached, crossing the creek. A track runs down the true-right of the river from here to Hacket Hut, which stands in a large clearing on the eastern bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Hacket Hut, head upriver to the bridge, cross, and then drop into the riverbed. A kilometer of riverbed walking follows upriver, with 8-or-so mandatory crossings. Crossings were knee-deep with moderate snow-melt, but hut book reports the creek flooding in rain,

After 1km, DOC trianlges on the true left (western) bank mark the start of the Starveall Track. The track climbs onto a spur, and then follows it, and later a branch of the creek up to Starveall Hut. The last section is moderately steep, but the track is well marked and cut.

A signposted track drops north from Starveall Hut, zigzagging down the face and paralleling the stream north. After about 4.5km the track drops into the Hacket Creek riverbed and ends. A further kilometer walking down the riverbed follows with 8-or-so mandatory crossings. Crossings were knee-deep with moderate snow-melt, but hut book reports the creek flooding in rain,

100m above Hacket Hut, a fixed bridge is reached, crossing the creek. A track runs down the true-right of the river from here to Hacket Hut, which stands in a large clearing on the eastern bank.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Hacket Hut, head upriver to the bridge, cross, and then drop into the riverbed. A kilometer of riverbed walking follows upriver, with 8-or-so mandatory crossings. Crossings were knee-deep with moderate snow-melt, but hut book reports the creek flooding in rain,

After 1km, DOC trianlges on the true left (western) bank mark the start of the Starveall Track. The track climbs onto a spur, and then follows it, and later a branch of the creek up to Starveall Hut. The last section is moderately steep, but the track is well marked and cut.

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,

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 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.

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.