Arthur's Pass National Park - Lake Kaurapataka
Time: 2 days return
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, river crossings
Huts: Nil
Features: Beautiful lake, possible side trip to hot spring
Location: This route starts at the Aickens car park beside SH73, 23 km west of Arthur's Pass village.
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, river crossings
Huts: Nil
Features: Beautiful lake, possible side trip to hot spring
Location: This route starts at the Aickens car park beside SH73, 23 km west of Arthur's Pass village.
Aickens to Lake Kaurapataka (3-4 hours one way)
Note: This route has multiple river crossings! If there is heavy rainfall or rivers are high postpone your trip. The "flood track" shown on some maps from the Morrison footbridge (Deception River) to Aickens is not viable when the rivers are running high, as it also can be cut-off. The terms "true-left & right" are used in this description, they refer to side of valley always looking downstream or down hill.
If the Otira River is safe to cross, start from the Aickens car park, cross the stile and follow the fence line to the river. After crossing the Otira, make for the end of the band of tall trees immediately opposite (marked by an orange triangle).
A track leads through scrub and gorse to grassy flats. Continue walking along these grassy flats to Pfeifer Creek. There is a signposted turn-off to Lake Kaurapataka. Sometimes it is possible to miss this turn-off because you are following a farm track closer the Taramakau River, try to stay near the bush edge if going to Kaurapataka.
Follow the streambed of Pfeifer Creek upstream for about 100 metres to the start of the track on the true-right. The track passes through attractive tawhairaunui / red beech forest to the confluence of Pfeifer Creek and the stream draining Lake Kaurapataka. It crosses the stream and continues up the true-left to the lake. The return trip from Aickens to the lake via this route can be done in a day. As you approach the eastern end of the lake there are several good campsites on the lake edge. Look for the rock cairns that mark where to leave the track to the campsites.
Note: Lake Kaurapataka is home to very large Long-finned freshwater eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii). These are fully protected, and cannot be harmed or fished for. There have been incidents in the past where trampers have been attacked by these eels whilst swimming in the lake, or being by the lake edge simply washing hands or dishes (fingers have been degloved). These incidents have mostly occurred at dusk or night.
Side Trip: Lake Kaurapataka to Otehake Hot Spring (1-2 hours one way)
The Otehake River hotspring is worth a visit if the Otehake River is running low. It is situated about 2.4km from the normal Kaurapatake campsites upstream in the Otehake River. From the camppsite continue following the track to the eastern head of the lake. At the T-junction, turn right upstream in the Otehake Valley. This track is marked, but dives up and down steeply and can easily be lost. After about 900m it descends steeply to the Otehake River, continue following the river upstream on the true-left beside the river. After about 800m you will probably smell sulfur wafting down the river. The river ahead appears to narrow with rapids. Cross to the true-right, and continue upstream into a dry side channel, the hot spring is situated in this dry flood channel. Camping is possible on the island. This is the best hot spring in the Park. When bathing in the spring DO NOT submerge your ears, as nearly all NZ natural hot springs can carry amoebic meningitis!
Note: This route has multiple river crossings! If there is heavy rainfall or rivers are high postpone your trip. The "flood track" shown on some maps from the Morrison footbridge (Deception River) to Aickens is not viable when the rivers are running high, as it also can be cut-off. The terms "true-left & right" are used in this description, they refer to side of valley always looking downstream or down hill.
If the Otira River is safe to cross, start from the Aickens car park, cross the stile and follow the fence line to the river. After crossing the Otira, make for the end of the band of tall trees immediately opposite (marked by an orange triangle).
A track leads through scrub and gorse to grassy flats. Continue walking along these grassy flats to Pfeifer Creek. There is a signposted turn-off to Lake Kaurapataka. Sometimes it is possible to miss this turn-off because you are following a farm track closer the Taramakau River, try to stay near the bush edge if going to Kaurapataka.
Follow the streambed of Pfeifer Creek upstream for about 100 metres to the start of the track on the true-right. The track passes through attractive tawhairaunui / red beech forest to the confluence of Pfeifer Creek and the stream draining Lake Kaurapataka. It crosses the stream and continues up the true-left to the lake. The return trip from Aickens to the lake via this route can be done in a day. As you approach the eastern end of the lake there are several good campsites on the lake edge. Look for the rock cairns that mark where to leave the track to the campsites.
Note: Lake Kaurapataka is home to very large Long-finned freshwater eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii). These are fully protected, and cannot be harmed or fished for. There have been incidents in the past where trampers have been attacked by these eels whilst swimming in the lake, or being by the lake edge simply washing hands or dishes (fingers have been degloved). These incidents have mostly occurred at dusk or night.
Side Trip: Lake Kaurapataka to Otehake Hot Spring (1-2 hours one way)
The Otehake River hotspring is worth a visit if the Otehake River is running low. It is situated about 2.4km from the normal Kaurapatake campsites upstream in the Otehake River. From the camppsite continue following the track to the eastern head of the lake. At the T-junction, turn right upstream in the Otehake Valley. This track is marked, but dives up and down steeply and can easily be lost. After about 900m it descends steeply to the Otehake River, continue following the river upstream on the true-left beside the river. After about 800m you will probably smell sulfur wafting down the river. The river ahead appears to narrow with rapids. Cross to the true-right, and continue upstream into a dry side channel, the hot spring is situated in this dry flood channel. Camping is possible on the island. This is the best hot spring in the Park. When bathing in the spring DO NOT submerge your ears, as nearly all NZ natural hot springs can carry amoebic meningitis!