This Te Araroa section, from the Rakaia River to the Hakatere Heron Road, starts on a public access easement over Glenariffe Station. It then crosses the 60 000 hectare Hakatere Conservation Park before finishing in the Heron Basin on a paper road that runs through Castle Ridge Station.
It’s an area rich in high country history dating back to 1857 when Clent Hills Station was first farmed as a 20,000 hectare run under licence from the Crown. Over the years the station has survived many incarnations the most recent being the Nature Heritage Fund purchase of 10,000 hectares, which reduced the station to a rump of 2000 hectares within the Heron Basin.
The Clent Hills pastoral lease was in the Buick family from 1923 to 1982. The first 3 years of this tenure was spent eradicating rabbits before stock could be reintroduced to the property.
Glenrock Stream to Comyns Hut - 15.7 km (4-5 hours)
From the DOC sign notifying “Access to North Branch Ashburton Stream” the track follows markers through farm land up the true right side of Glenrock Stream. At the 1.7 km mark the track crosses the stream and then merges with a farm track that begins to climb towards the Conservation Park boundary. Along the way the track passes a stand of Kowhai trees. No camping is permissible until inside the Conservation Park boundary.
From the Conservation Park boundary the route zig-zags up an old farm track to Turtons Saddle (1120m). Beyond the saddle travel remains on the farm track and is initially east and upwards but soon turns south sidling then descending towards the Turtons Stream’s true left bank. The A-Frame Hut toilet becomes visible in the lower portions of the descent.
After 8.7 km the track reaches Turtons Stream, which is the first water source en route that is both reliable and potable. The track remains on the true left and crosses Ensor Stream 1.5 km before A-Frame Hut, a tidy 3-bunk hut near the Comyns Stream’s confluence with Turtons Stream., It takes about an hour from the saddle to reach this hut.
Beyond A-Frame Hut the track continues down the true left of Turtons Stream for about 2 km. This is to the first of 4 river crossings in close succession. The track then climbs and descends into Mutton Gully. Once out of this gully, Turtons Stream is forded a final time. It's then an easy 700 m walk to Comyns Hut (8 bunks).
The current Comyns Hut was built in 1957 to replace the original and derelict hut, which was built in the 1890s and still stands nearby. The ‘new’ hut is basic but was improved following restoration work in 2008. The hut door and walls act as an informal and historic register and make interesting reading.
Comyns Hut to Double Hut junction – 16 km (6 – 8 hours)
This part of the track is rough and unformed. Trampers are required to pick their own route between markers which, in poor weather, may not be visible from one to the next. The physical and navigational challenges rise accordingly.
A marker behind the hut shows the route heading west up the North Branch Ashburton River towards Round Hill Creek. Travel quickly becomes confined to the stream bed and involves frequent river crossings. These are straightforward in normal flows.
Round Hill Creek joins North Branch Ashburton as the latter heads north towards Petticoat Lane. From this confluence Te Araroa continues up Round Hill Creek, past Logan Stream, and then departs to begin theascent towards Clent Hills Saddle (1480m). On a clear day the saddle affords great views of the Longman Range, Ricki Spur and the wider Lake Heron Basin.
Care needs to be taken to ascertain the correct route beyond the saddle. Do not descend. Instead continue to the right along the saddle and link to the upper-most track crossing a large scree slope. On the far side of the scree the route continues to sidle through tussock to the next ridge. Marker poles become evident again along the way.
From the ridge the poles lead down and to the right, diagonally away from the Swin. Eventually, after crossing 3 further scree slopes, the track reaches a dilapidated fence along another ridge line.
Follow the fence line down the ridge to a rock cairn and arrow, which indicate the way down and to the right towards the next pole and ultimately to an unnamed stream, which is a tributary to the Swin River. Once across this stream the final climb begins towards the Mellish Saddle.
The route down from the saddle becomes easier and remains above the true left bank of Mellish Stream. It emerges into the wider Heron Basin and passes a sign-posted junction with a side trail out to the road end at Lake Heron. Continue on the main track for about 1 km to another junction near the Swin River, which is crossed on foot but seldom an issue. From here Double Hut (6 bunks) is 1 km away on another side trail. Double Hut has 6 bunks and is in reasonable condition.
Double Hut junction to Hakatere Heron Rd (via Manuka Hut) - 14 km (3 - 4 hours)
The track continues south for 6.4 km across grassy and gravel flats passing the Seagull and Manuka Lakes along the way. This is to a junction from where Manuka Hut (6 bunks) is hidden 300 upstream and to the left.
Note: The next reliable water source on Te Araroa beyond Manuka Hut is on the Clearwater Track and 17.3 km distant.
Beyond the Manuka Hut junction Te Araroa continues south for a little over 2 km and then turns west to climb to the ridge on Emily Hill’s south flank. The poled track line then sidles down through matagouri and spear grass to the flats. From here it's easier going across to a carpark at Lake Emily. At this point the track leaves the Hakatere Conservation Park and joins with a marked paper road that bisects Castle Ridge Station. Trampers should take care to follow the markers to avoid straying onto private property.
Its 5 km from Manuka Hut to the Lake Emily carpark and then another 3.2 km on the Castle Ridge paper road to Hakatere Heron Rd. This is where the Clent Hills Track ends. There is a farm gate across the paper road about 600m before the finish point. This gate should be left open or closed as it is found.
For trampers continuing south, turn left onto Hakatere Heron Road and walk 4.4 km to the Clearwater Track trail head. This is on the right hand side of the road just beyond Buicks Bridge. |
