Arthur's Pass National Park - Townsend Hut
Time: 2 days return
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, river crossings
Huts: Townsend Hut (4 bunks)
Features: Podocarp forest, wide alpine views, access to Mt Koeti
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: Townsend Hut (4 bunks)
Features: Podocarp forest, wide alpine views, access to Mt Koeti
Location: This route starts at the Aickens car park beside SH73, 23 km west of Arthur's Pass village.
Aickens to Townsend Hut (4-5 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.
The route continues along the true-left of the Taramakau, but you may be forced into a crossing of the river prior to the Otehake confluence, depending where the river lies in its bed on the day. At any rate, cross the Taramakau to the true-right where it is safe to do so. A vehicle track leading to the private hut opposite the Otehake may provide the best option. Continue upstream, avoiding the private lands around the hut. A sign-post adjacent the the river indicates the turn-off to Kiwi hut about 1.8km west of the Otehake junction. Continue past this turn-off, using the river flats on the true-right. About 1.9km up river a sign indicates the turn-off to Townsend hut. Find a suitable crossing of the Taramakau to its true-left (normally just upstream of the Michael Creek confluence).
Continue going upstream in the Taramakau for about 400m where a large shingle fan meets the river. There should be a large orange triangle here. Markers lead up through the fan, amongst dead tree spars, and regenerating forest, leading to the creekbed. Continue up the creek, passing a small fork tributary on the true-right. Shortly the track enters the bush and ascends the spur between the creeks on the true-right. The marked track continues to climb very steeply for about 1.2km, before breaking tree-line at 100m into alpine herbfields and scrub. The hut is located about 200m southwest along the terrace.
Side Trip: Townsend Hut to Mt Koeti (1786m) (1-2 hours one way)
Note: Do not attempt this route when there is deep, loose snow on the slopes above the hut, it represents a high avalanche risk.
From the hut ascend the scrub and tussock slopes directly above the hut until the 1400m contour is reached. Sidle upwards diagonally south towards the saddle between the 1713m point and Mt Koeti. Once the ridge is gained it is a fairly straightforward ascent up Koeti's northeast ridge to the summit. Mt Koeti affords spectacular views into the head of the Poulter River, and north to the Kaimata Range. Return the same 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.
The route continues along the true-left of the Taramakau, but you may be forced into a crossing of the river prior to the Otehake confluence, depending where the river lies in its bed on the day. At any rate, cross the Taramakau to the true-right where it is safe to do so. A vehicle track leading to the private hut opposite the Otehake may provide the best option. Continue upstream, avoiding the private lands around the hut. A sign-post adjacent the the river indicates the turn-off to Kiwi hut about 1.8km west of the Otehake junction. Continue past this turn-off, using the river flats on the true-right. About 1.9km up river a sign indicates the turn-off to Townsend hut. Find a suitable crossing of the Taramakau to its true-left (normally just upstream of the Michael Creek confluence).
Continue going upstream in the Taramakau for about 400m where a large shingle fan meets the river. There should be a large orange triangle here. Markers lead up through the fan, amongst dead tree spars, and regenerating forest, leading to the creekbed. Continue up the creek, passing a small fork tributary on the true-right. Shortly the track enters the bush and ascends the spur between the creeks on the true-right. The marked track continues to climb very steeply for about 1.2km, before breaking tree-line at 100m into alpine herbfields and scrub. The hut is located about 200m southwest along the terrace.
Side Trip: Townsend Hut to Mt Koeti (1786m) (1-2 hours one way)
Note: Do not attempt this route when there is deep, loose snow on the slopes above the hut, it represents a high avalanche risk.
From the hut ascend the scrub and tussock slopes directly above the hut until the 1400m contour is reached. Sidle upwards diagonally south towards the saddle between the 1713m point and Mt Koeti. Once the ridge is gained it is a fairly straightforward ascent up Koeti's northeast ridge to the summit. Mt Koeti affords spectacular views into the head of the Poulter River, and north to the Kaimata Range. Return the same way.