The Richmond Alpine Track is rugged and, though well marked, is unformed in places. The summits are consistently above 1,500 metres and the track has many steep, exposed sections and stream crossings. It's only suitable for fit, experienced, and well-equipped trampers but the landscapes are superb, amongst the very finest along Te Araroa.
The track is within the Mt Richmond Forest Park. Below the tree line, the forest contains a mixed variety of beech and podocarp forest. The summits and higher ridges often have rocky approaches. Towards its end the track traverses the flanks of the Red Hills. These hills, formed from mineral rich ultramafic rock, are barren and the vegetation that can survive upon them is sparse and stunted.
Anyone attempting the Pelorus RiverTrack and Richmond Alpine Track together as a single section should prepare for at least a nine day tramp, the first 3 of which would be on the Pelorus River Track.
Note that the Doc brochure available through the link on this page relates only to the northern portion of this Te Araroa section.
For trampers continuing on from the Pelorus River Track, Hacket Hut is a 15 minute walk from the sign-posted junction at Hacket Creek.
For those starting afresh, access to Hacket Junction is from the Hacket Picnic Area, about 12 km from Hope up Aniseed Valley Road. From the picnic area cross the Roding River foot bridge and continue on the formed track towards Browning Hut. There is a Te Araroa marked sign after 5.7 km. This is at Hacket Junction. Take the 1.3 km track from here towards Hacket Hut as indicated. Alternatively, trampers can remove 20 minutes from this section by taking the first sign-posted track to Hacket Hut off the track up from the Hacket Picnic Area.
Hacket Hut to Starveall Hut – 4 hours
The track continues up Hacket Creek with numerous crossings. The track then departs the river and embarks on a 900 m climb, initially towards Pyramid Rock, and them on towards Starveall Hut (6 bunks). The hut is located just above the tree line.
Starveall Hut to Slaty Hut – 2.5 hours
Water can be scarce between Starveall and Mid Wairoa Huts so carry at least enough to last through to the next hut and resupply point.
The track follows poles up towards Mt Starveall and summiting is an attractive possibility on fine days. The main track, however, descends into the forest and follows the ridgeline towards Slaty Peak. A sidle across the peak’s northern face brings you to Slaty Hut (6 bunks).
Slaty Hut to Old Man Hut – 10 km, 5 hours
This section is predominantly above the tree line and is marked with poles. Old Man Hut (5 bunks) is located in a clearing and is accessed via a marked side trail.
Old Man Hut to Rintoul Hut – 4.5 km, 5 hours
This section is rocky and exposed. It involves some scrambling and is the most difficult portion of the Richmond Alpine Track. Particular care needs to be taken here and trampers should be prepared to wait out adverse weather.
From the head of the Old Man Hut access track the main track climbs through bush and then above the bushline to the summit of Little Rintoul (1643 m). It then descends 250 m following poles to a saddle before climbing steeply again to the summit of Mt Rintoul (1731 m), the highest point on the Richmond Alpine Track.
Beyond Mt Rintoul’s summit the poled route traverses the ridgeline before dropping steeply down scree slopes to the bushline. From here a marked track leads to Rintoul Hut (six bunks).
Rintoul Hut to Tarn Hut – 8 km, 4.5 hours
The track follows a bush clad ridge to Purple Top, the only significant open section on route. Follow poles up and over rocks here to return to the bush. There is a sign-posted junction beyond Bishop’s Cap. The left-hand track leads to Tarn Hut (5 bunks).
Tarn Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut – 6.5 km, 4 hours
The track continues along the ridge to a sign-posted junction before Bushy Top.Take the right hand track from here down towards the Left Branch Wairoa River and Mid Wairoa Hut. The final descent to the river is steep. The hut is reached across the river via a swing bridge.
Mid Wairoa Hut to Top Wairoa Hut – 7 km, 4.5 hours
The track from Mid Wairoa Hut follows the river. It involves a lot of sidling, at times on steep terrain, and numerous river crossings. Some trampers will find this section challenging. 1.5 km below Top Wairoa, there's a river crossing on a rock chute just above a 4m waterfall. Unless the river flow is low, this is a tricky crossing. The water is flowing fast down the chute and if you lose footing, you go over the waterfall. We recommend that you go upstream some 50 metres from here - there's already a rough informal track beaten in by southbound trampers - and cross there. Even so, this is a tricky crossing.
Top Wairoa Hut to Hunters Hut - 10.5 km, 5 hours
Beyond the hut Te Araroa enters Red Hills country and a landscape transformed. The track, which is often indistinct on the ground, follows markers and climbs away from the hut to a saddle at 1374 m.
Beyond the saddle the track veers northward and sidles, first on a high and exposed ridge and then westward below Mt Ellis towards another ridge. The marker poles on this section are distant but are still visible in clear weather from one to the next. Once over the ridge's shoulder the track descends and passes through a lightly forested section.
Below the forest the track veers southwest and down towards Motueka River Left Branch. Cross the river where marked and continue down the true right bank.
Ford the river again where marked and, from the true left side, the track climbs up towards Hunters Hut (8 bunks).
Hunters Hut opened in 1997 and is a memorial to Department of Conservation staff members Russell Griebel and Bob Waldie, both of whom died on duty when Bush Edge Hut was destroyed in a flash flood. Remnants of the old hut are still visible as you cross the river and then make the 15 minute climb up to the new hut site.
Hunters Hut to Porters Creek Hut - 9 km, 4 hours
The track undulates south and crosses a number of open boulder fields and streams on its way to Porters Creek Hut (6 bunks).
Porters Hut to Red Hills Hut - 10.5 km, 5 hours
The track curves around to the Motueka River Right Branch and, once there, sidles above the true right bank to a crossing near the Maitland Creek confluence. The track then climbs and sidles above Maitland Creek's true right bank towards Red Hills Hut (6 bunks), which opened late in 2009 and replaced an older hut.
Red Hills Hut to SH63 – 5.5 km, 1.5 hours
Follow the 4 wheel drive track down to a marked foot track which departs on the right near a cluster of derelict buildings. This track takes trampers out to a car park on SH63. From here it is an 10.6 km (2.5 -3 hour) walk on the road shoulder to St Arnaud.
