Arthur's Pass National Park - Julia Hut
Time: 2-4 days return
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, side stream crossings
Huts: Dillon Hut (10 bunks), Mid-Taipo Hut (6 bunks), Julia Hut (6 bunks)
Features: River valley, Whio, hot-spring
Route Guides: Harman Pass - Taipo River (1.6MB)
Location: This route starts from SH73, about 41km west of Arthur's Pass village (9.7km west of Jackson's Retreat Motor Camp). The carpark is not marked off the highway, but is opposite a farmhouse about 3km from the Rocky Point Reserve eastern end.
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, side stream crossings
Huts: Dillon Hut (10 bunks), Mid-Taipo Hut (6 bunks), Julia Hut (6 bunks)
Features: River valley, Whio, hot-spring
Route Guides: Harman Pass - Taipo River (1.6MB)
Location: This route starts from SH73, about 41km west of Arthur's Pass village (9.7km west of Jackson's Retreat Motor Camp). The carpark is not marked off the highway, but is opposite a farmhouse about 3km from the Rocky Point Reserve eastern end.
Note: This route is suitable for trampers with good backcountry experience. In recent years flooding has taken away large sections of track making the route slow-going, particularly between Dillon hut and Mid-Taipo hut. The route is now very difficult to complete in a 2 day (44km) round trip, with most trampers have another overnight at one of the intermediate huts, or camping. This route should only be undertaken in good weather conditions, as the Taipo River, Seven Mile, Dunns and Hura Creeks can flood badly stopping progress.
SH73 to Dillon Hut (2-3 hours one way)
From the carpark on SH73 follow the 4WD road up the hill for 2km, where it then descends to the Taipo River. Driving this road requires a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. There is no space for parking on the road itself, and it can commonly be washed out as you reach the Taipo riverflats. This road crosses private farming land.
Continue following the road along the flats, ocassionally climbing the hillside through broom and gorse to avoid the Taipo River washouts. The road then crosses Seven Mile Creek, this creek can be difficult to cross if swift, and impossible in flood. You will pass the old Dillon's homestead (this can be used), and about 800m from the Seven Mile crossing Dillon hut sits in a grassy clearing.
Dillon Hut to Mid-Taipo Hut (3-5 hours one way)
From Dillon hut follow the track upstream for just over 2km to the new Scotties 3 wire bridge (the Taipo River is rarely crossable on foot). Cross the bridge to the true-left bank, then climb steeply to the bushed terrace above, the track continues upstream along the terrace before dropping down steeply through an active landslide area back to the Taipo River bank. In recent years the track that used to be on the low terrace above the river has been washed away, meaning a lot of the time you are travelling upstream directly beside the Taipo River on very bouldery terrain; it can be slow-going.
About 2.5km upstream the route crosses Dunns Creek, continues along the easier riverflats before climbing onto a bush track above the Taipo River for about 700m. Before Hura Creek it again drops onto the Taipo riverflats. Hura Creek has been deeply scoured out by flooding and can be a difficult crossing. A marked and cut track leads to the Mid-Taipo hut about 500m further on. Note: Both Hura & Dunns Creek can be very dangerous crossings if they are running high.
Mid-Taipo Hut to Julia Hut (3-5 hours one way)
From Mid Taipo Hut head upstream for about 1.5km to the Mid Taipo Swing Bridge. Cross the bridge to the true right bank and continue up river. From this point on the track crosses various side streams and alternates between riverbed and bush travel. A three wire bridge gives access across Tumbledown Creek. The old Julia Hut (an open fireplace and loads of character) is in a clearing on a terrace just upstream of a large tarn.
The larger, and definitely newer Julia hut is only a few minutes further along the track, on a lower terrace overlooking the river.
The Julia hotspring is located about 450 m downstream on the true-right of the Taipo River, a short track leads from the hut to the river. You may need to dig them out to create a pool. In recent years the pool has been known to "erupt" spewing out very hot water. In most cases you may need to divert part of the Taipo into the pool so you can comfortably use it. Do not put your head under the water as there is a risk of contracting amoebic meningitis.
SH73 to Dillon Hut (2-3 hours one way)
From the carpark on SH73 follow the 4WD road up the hill for 2km, where it then descends to the Taipo River. Driving this road requires a high clearance four wheel drive vehicle. There is no space for parking on the road itself, and it can commonly be washed out as you reach the Taipo riverflats. This road crosses private farming land.
Continue following the road along the flats, ocassionally climbing the hillside through broom and gorse to avoid the Taipo River washouts. The road then crosses Seven Mile Creek, this creek can be difficult to cross if swift, and impossible in flood. You will pass the old Dillon's homestead (this can be used), and about 800m from the Seven Mile crossing Dillon hut sits in a grassy clearing.
Dillon Hut to Mid-Taipo Hut (3-5 hours one way)
From Dillon hut follow the track upstream for just over 2km to the new Scotties 3 wire bridge (the Taipo River is rarely crossable on foot). Cross the bridge to the true-left bank, then climb steeply to the bushed terrace above, the track continues upstream along the terrace before dropping down steeply through an active landslide area back to the Taipo River bank. In recent years the track that used to be on the low terrace above the river has been washed away, meaning a lot of the time you are travelling upstream directly beside the Taipo River on very bouldery terrain; it can be slow-going.
About 2.5km upstream the route crosses Dunns Creek, continues along the easier riverflats before climbing onto a bush track above the Taipo River for about 700m. Before Hura Creek it again drops onto the Taipo riverflats. Hura Creek has been deeply scoured out by flooding and can be a difficult crossing. A marked and cut track leads to the Mid-Taipo hut about 500m further on. Note: Both Hura & Dunns Creek can be very dangerous crossings if they are running high.
Mid-Taipo Hut to Julia Hut (3-5 hours one way)
From Mid Taipo Hut head upstream for about 1.5km to the Mid Taipo Swing Bridge. Cross the bridge to the true right bank and continue up river. From this point on the track crosses various side streams and alternates between riverbed and bush travel. A three wire bridge gives access across Tumbledown Creek. The old Julia Hut (an open fireplace and loads of character) is in a clearing on a terrace just upstream of a large tarn.
The larger, and definitely newer Julia hut is only a few minutes further along the track, on a lower terrace overlooking the river.
The Julia hotspring is located about 450 m downstream on the true-right of the Taipo River, a short track leads from the hut to the river. You may need to dig them out to create a pool. In recent years the pool has been known to "erupt" spewing out very hot water. In most cases you may need to divert part of the Taipo into the pool so you can comfortably use it. Do not put your head under the water as there is a risk of contracting amoebic meningitis.