Starting from the end of Maungatapu Road, the Pelorus River Track is a long established DOC tramping track with a good hut system. The track joins directly with Te Araroa’s next section, the Richmond Range Alpine Track, at Hacket Junction. Both these tracks are within the 165 946 ha Mt Richmond Forest Park and for logistical reasons many trampers will prefer to walk them consecutively as a single 9 or more day tramp. This is a major undertaking for which fit trampers should come well prepared.

The larger rivers are bridged but the tramp involves many stream crossings that may be impassable after rain. 

Mt Richmond Forest Park contains a mixed variety of beech and podocarp forest, including the finest rimu along Te Araroa.

The track follows the Pelorus River for about an 1 hour to the Emerald Pool picnic area. From here the track climbs upwards. It leaves the river, sidles, and then returns to the river. The 6 bunk Captain Creek Hut is still about 30 minutes further upstream from here.

This undulating section crosses Captain Creek soon after leaving the hut near its confluence with the Pelorus River. This crossing can be difficult after even moderate rain. Beyond Captain Creek swingbridges take trampers across the Pelorus River, and later Fishtail Stream.

Beyond Fishtail Stream the track leaves the Pelorus River then returns to it for the final stretch to Middy Hut (6 bunks).

This is a rough but enjoyable section on a rocky and root bound track. There are streams to ford and a number of steep climbs and descents.

The track climbs away from Pelorus River then sidles high above Roebuck Creek for some distance. The track climbs to Totara Saddle and then descends steeply to Browning Hut (8 bunks).

Trampers throughout this section benefit from the track reconstruction and windfall clearance work that was carried out in 2009 to repair the carnage caused during a major storm.

This is a straightforward section with all intersections well signposted. There is a high/low water track option at one point but this is a bit meaningless as you'll get wet boots in subsequent stream crossings which ever route you take. At Hacket Junction trampers have the option of continuing on the next Te Araroa section to Hacket Hut and beyond or finishing their tramp at the Hacket Picnic Area. Private transport arrangements are best made in advance if you wish to end your tramp here. Failing which it is a 12 km road walk down Aniseed Valley Rd to Hope where a bus can be caught into Nelson. See links attached for timetable possibilities.