31 March to 4 April 2025

Leader: Peter Davis

Harpers Pass is an historic route from Arthurs Pass to Lewis Pass - it was the main pathway to and from the West Coast for Maori when trading pounamu. It is now part of the Te Araroa Trail.

We were planning on doing this trail east to west, starting at Windy Point (Lewis Pass) and finishing at Aickens Carpark (Arthurs Pass) however heavy rain was forecast for the end of the week so Peter reversed the trip to avoid getting stuck by rising rivers and we tramped west to east which was definitely preferable.

Day 1 (Monday 31st March) We left Hanmer Springs early (after a lovely weekend of R and R) with clean clothes and fresh food and shuttled (via Reefton Bakery) to the start of our tramp at Aickens Carpark (SH73). We started walking late morning and safely crossed the Otira, Otehaha and Taramakau Rivers then detoured slightly from the track to bag a couple of private huts and have lunch. Our next stop was Kiwi Hut, a very comfortable hut which we shared with two Te Araroa walkers (and they thought they were going to have a quiet night!).

Day 2 (Tuesday 1st April) Today was an early start. We were ready to walk as soon as it was light enough, because we had a big day ahead of us, climbing the pass and a bit of distance to make up. Our first stop was Locke Stream Hut for morning tea. After the hut the track travels up the Taramakau River for a bit then leaves the river and begins to climb towards the pass. The track is quite steep and rough (but nothing compared with the D’Urville Pass which we had climbed the previous week!).

We stopped at the top for lunch. From the top of the pass the track drops into the headwaters of the Hurunui. Next stop was the lovely Harpers Pass Bivvy then onward via grass sections and beech forest to Camerons Hut, an old and basic four bunk hut. Then finally on to Hurunui No 3 Hut. We were pleased to arrive - it had been a long day. That evening we could hear the stags roaring and the moreporks calling. There were cattle around the hut, as we were now in Lake Sumner Station land.

Day 3 (Wednesday 2nd April) This morning the rain was just starting, so for the first time since we left home ten days ago we had our raincoats on as we left Hurunui No 3 Hut. We passed the turnoff to the hot pools, but in the rain they weren't very appealing. We could see a private hut in the distance where Jacqui’s sons were staying on a hunting trip. We called in hoping for a hot cuppa but nobody was home, so we carried on and arrived at Hurunui Hut about lunchtime, wet! It is a lovely fifteen bunk hut and we could just see Lake Sumner in the distance. There was talk of going on to Three Mile Stream Hut, but it was decided to stay at Hurunui Hut, light the fire, dry our gear and relax. Which is just what we did! We played all the usual card games plus extras! We played Spoons (not for the faint-hearted) and 24 (if you think you are good at maths, challenge June to a game of 24!). We shared the hut with some hunters.

Day 4 (Thursday 3rd April) Hurunui Hut to Hope Kiwi Lodge. We had our raincoats on again, but it wasn't too wet. From Hurunui Hut the track descends to the swingbridge across the Hurunui River. We headed across the Matagouri River flats and then on into the forest at the headwaters of Lake Sumner. The track climbs steadily to Kiwi Saddle and then descends to the swampy grassland of Kiwi Valley. Soon we could see Hope Kiwi Lodge in the distance but it took forever to get there as the track deviates to avoid the bog.

We shared this lodge with some hunters. It is a very unusual Lockwood hut with red lino tiles on the floor! It rained ALL night, but by the morning it had stopped. We had an early start to make sure we reached Windy Point for our 2pm shuttle pickup. It was a gorgeous walk out with the raindrops glittering on the trees and a stop at Hope Halfway Hut for morning tea.

Thanks to Peter Davis for organising and leading the trip.

Those on the trip were:

Elisabeth Hynes, Jacqui Marshall, Julie James, June Shelton, Paula Richardson, Peter Davis, Rob Dey

Currently there is no photo album for this trip.