This new track is marked, sign-posted, and reasonably straightforward. However, a GPS may come in handy at the Merrivale Rd end and across the tops as the ground trail is not always obvious here.
Merrivale Rd end to Bald Hill - 2 hours (4.3 km)
From the road end a short 4WD track leads off to the start of the Longwood Forest Track.The first orange track markers are encountered a little further along.
The track climbs gradually for 2.5 km to a clearing but soon re-enters the forest. From here it’s only 500m to the tree line from where the transmission tower is visible on clear days. The track is marked by poles across the open tops to the transmission tower at a road end upon Bald Hill.
Bald Hill to Martin's Hut - 7 hours
Descend the road from the transmission tower. Water may be available from small streams draining from the left. This is in the vicinity of the gates which cross the road. Fill up here as there is no other easily available water source for some distance.
Continue down the road to the old quarry from where the track departs on the right near a square steel plate sign.
The track within the forest is well marked and easy to follow through increasingly stunted forest. In open sections, however, the route is lightly marked with poles. Continue through forest and shrub lands to the main Longwood ridge. The track from here is often indistinct but follows markers to and beyond the Longwood trig. The descent on the marked track is fairly steep and through forest to historic Martin’s Hut.
Martin‘s Hut is compact with 3 sack lined bunks. It would provide welcome shelter in poor weather. The water source at Martin’s Hut is small stream off on an unmarked side track between the toilet and the hut. This is off to the left as you are facing downhill. Water also becomes more readily available on the main track lower down.
Martin's Hut to Round Hill Carpark - 9 hours
Below Martin’s Hut the track continues down to a forestry road. Turn right here and 10 minutes later turn left onto Cascade Rd.
Follow Cascade Rd for about a kilometre to the Ports Water Race Track, which starts at a small but obvious foot bridge on the right (south) side of the road.
The track then follows the Port’s water race, which was constructed to supply water for gold mining at Round Hill. While the race was abandoned in the 1950s it remains largely intact. This track has had recent maintenance work and is well marked. It hugs a steady contour line beside the water race as it winds its way through gullies and across the hill side.
The area comprises regenerating podocarp forest. The water race margins, however, were exempt from milling and retain a number of mature rimu, kamahi, and totara trees.
At the end of the Port’s Water Race the track joins the Long Hilly Track. Turn left here and follow the track down past a number of sign-posted historic gold mining sites to the car park on Round Hill Rd. |
