CURRENT ALERT
Thieves breaking into vehicles
Thieves have been breaking into cars and motor-homes at various car-parks and some camp-sites along SH.73 on a regular basis (day & night). They have been stealing passports, credit cards, money, electronic devices and recreation equipment. Take your absolute valuables with you on the walks, and don't leave other valuable items in plain sight in your vehicle. Report any suspicious activity to Police '111', and note down registration plates of vehicles!
Thieves breaking into vehicles
Thieves have been breaking into cars and motor-homes at various car-parks and some camp-sites along SH.73 on a regular basis (day & night). They have been stealing passports, credit cards, money, electronic devices and recreation equipment. Take your absolute valuables with you on the walks, and don't leave other valuable items in plain sight in your vehicle. Report any suspicious activity to Police '111', and note down registration plates of vehicles!
Arthur's Pass National Park - Carrington Hut
Time: 2 days return
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, river crossings
Huts: Anti Crow Hut (6 bunks), Carrington Hut (36 bunks)
Features: Braided river, beech forest, high mountains
Location: There are two possible routes to Carrington Hut.
Difficulty: Marked track, some unmarked route sections, river crossings
Huts: Anti Crow Hut (6 bunks), Carrington Hut (36 bunks)
Features: Braided river, beech forest, high mountains
Location: There are two possible routes to Carrington Hut.
- O'Malley Track - this track starts on the south side of the Bealey road bridge over the Waimakariri River, about 10km from Arthur's Pass village.
- Waimakariri Riverbed - this route starts at Klondyke Corner, about 8km from Arthur's Pass Village
State Highway 73 – Carrington Hut, O'Malley's Track (4–6 hours)
Note: When the Waimakariri River is difficult to cross: This route now requires a crossing of the Waimakariri River above the Anti Crow River area, and therefore is not possible when the rivers are high! The terms "true-left & right" are used in this description, they refer to side of valley always looking downstream or down hill.
Leave State Highway 73 on the true-right of the Waimakariri River, immediately south of the road bridge over the river. A well-marked track (known as O’Malley Track) passes above bluffs to Turkey Flat by Jordan Stream. From here follow pole markers across the flats, staying high to avoid the thorny native matagouri shrubs lower down. Once past the flats, follow the bush edge to Anti Crow Hut (6 bunks). A 400-metre section of track leading to the hut from the end of the flats can be used when the river has pushed into the bluff here. Jordan and Anti Crow streams can be dangerous crossings after very heavy rain.
Continue along the track behind Anti Crow Hut through beech forest. The track crosses a small stream near the foundations of the original Anti Crow Hut. As you reach Anti Crow River, look for a safe place to cross.
The hard rocky knolls you cross are called roche moutonnée (French for sheep's back). Thousands of years ago, when glaciers covered this area, the moving ice of the glacier sculpted these outcrops of hard rock. The track drops down to the Waimakariri riverbed. The Waimakariri has changed course here cutting off access to both ends of the next track section. Find a safe crossing of the river. Do not attempt to cross the river if it is high. Continue following the true-left of the river upstream for about 900 metres, looking for another safe crossing to re-join the track in the river flats prior to Greenlaw Creek, past the bluffs. Follow the track, crossing Greenlaw Creek and Harper Creeks, both are dangerous crossings when they are high. If you are unsure about any of the crossings in this area, it is safest to wait for river levels to drop. Camp or return to the nearest hut if it is safe to do so.
The track beyond Harper Creek is well marked.
As you get closer to Carrington Hut, keep an eye out for the serrated top of Carrington Peak. Just before White River joins the Waimakariri, a short section of marked track leads to Carrington Hut, marked by a large cairn and orange marker.
State Highway 73 – Carrington Hut, via riverbed (4–6 hours)
Note: This route can only be attempted when the Waimakariri River is low.
From the western side of Klondyke Corner a 2 km gravel road leads to the riverbed. The quickest way to Carrington Hut is to head straight up the Waimakariri valley from this point, cutting corners and crossing the river where necessary. Aim for the lower edges of Turkey Flat. From there, either continue up the riverbed, or pick up the track behind Anti Crow Hut or at Anti Crow River.
If you prefer to continue up the riverbed, head towards the high embankment of the Anti Crow River fan, climbing through a rubble filled gully to its top, head north into more open ground, then west, crossing the Anti Crow River before dropping down another steep embankment to the Waimakariri River. Cross the Waimakariri to its true left, aiming upstream towards the two jutting headlands (1.4km). Cross the Waimakariri back to its true-right, and continue towards Greenlaw Creek, picking up the poled track in the river flats beyond. Follow the marked track to Carrington Hut.
Note: When the Waimakariri River is difficult to cross: This route now requires a crossing of the Waimakariri River above the Anti Crow River area, and therefore is not possible when the rivers are high! The terms "true-left & right" are used in this description, they refer to side of valley always looking downstream or down hill.
Leave State Highway 73 on the true-right of the Waimakariri River, immediately south of the road bridge over the river. A well-marked track (known as O’Malley Track) passes above bluffs to Turkey Flat by Jordan Stream. From here follow pole markers across the flats, staying high to avoid the thorny native matagouri shrubs lower down. Once past the flats, follow the bush edge to Anti Crow Hut (6 bunks). A 400-metre section of track leading to the hut from the end of the flats can be used when the river has pushed into the bluff here. Jordan and Anti Crow streams can be dangerous crossings after very heavy rain.
Continue along the track behind Anti Crow Hut through beech forest. The track crosses a small stream near the foundations of the original Anti Crow Hut. As you reach Anti Crow River, look for a safe place to cross.
The hard rocky knolls you cross are called roche moutonnée (French for sheep's back). Thousands of years ago, when glaciers covered this area, the moving ice of the glacier sculpted these outcrops of hard rock. The track drops down to the Waimakariri riverbed. The Waimakariri has changed course here cutting off access to both ends of the next track section. Find a safe crossing of the river. Do not attempt to cross the river if it is high. Continue following the true-left of the river upstream for about 900 metres, looking for another safe crossing to re-join the track in the river flats prior to Greenlaw Creek, past the bluffs. Follow the track, crossing Greenlaw Creek and Harper Creeks, both are dangerous crossings when they are high. If you are unsure about any of the crossings in this area, it is safest to wait for river levels to drop. Camp or return to the nearest hut if it is safe to do so.
The track beyond Harper Creek is well marked.
As you get closer to Carrington Hut, keep an eye out for the serrated top of Carrington Peak. Just before White River joins the Waimakariri, a short section of marked track leads to Carrington Hut, marked by a large cairn and orange marker.
State Highway 73 – Carrington Hut, via riverbed (4–6 hours)
Note: This route can only be attempted when the Waimakariri River is low.
From the western side of Klondyke Corner a 2 km gravel road leads to the riverbed. The quickest way to Carrington Hut is to head straight up the Waimakariri valley from this point, cutting corners and crossing the river where necessary. Aim for the lower edges of Turkey Flat. From there, either continue up the riverbed, or pick up the track behind Anti Crow Hut or at Anti Crow River.
If you prefer to continue up the riverbed, head towards the high embankment of the Anti Crow River fan, climbing through a rubble filled gully to its top, head north into more open ground, then west, crossing the Anti Crow River before dropping down another steep embankment to the Waimakariri River. Cross the Waimakariri to its true left, aiming upstream towards the two jutting headlands (1.4km). Cross the Waimakariri back to its true-right, and continue towards Greenlaw Creek, picking up the poled track in the river flats beyond. Follow the marked track to Carrington Hut.