On the Harpers Pass Track
I have done a couple of trips into Hope Kiwi Hut in Lake Sumner Forest Park, this is a part of the Harpers Pass crossing of the Southern Alps between Windy Point on SH 7 and Aickens on the Otira River.
Note this post has an amalgam of photos from different trips.
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| The Boyle river swing-bridge, Hope-Kiwi track, Lake Sumner Forest Park |
This is just day one of a longer 3-5 day trip, I am hoping to finish the rest of this section over the summer 2018/2019. I have had three attempts to do the whole Harpers Pass crossing all of them scuppered by bad weather and flooded rivers.
Windy Point to Hope Kiwi Hut: 6-7 hours approx. 17 km's
The Lake Sumner Forest Park starts at the fence line surrounding the Windy Point shelter, this is the pick up point for the bus running between Westport and Christchurch. If you have resupplied in Hanmer this is the best location to re enter the Te Araroa Trail.
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| The bus shelter at Windy Point, Lake Sumner Forest Park |
The shelter is very basic: three sided with no toilet or water so no god for camping. The track ascends the river terraces visible directly ahead and then sidles around the side of the Doubtful Range for the two-three hour walk to Hope Halfway Hut.
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| The Hope Kiwi Track: first section from Windy Point to near Hope Halfway Hut |
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| Start of the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| DOC sign at the start of the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
After walking 15 minutes up the gravel road you will see a turn off for the swing-bridge over the Boyle River, it is clearly marked so it is not difficult to navigate. You drop down to the crossing point and cross the river on the high swing-bridge suspended over the Boyle River Gorge.
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| Turn off to the Boyle River swing-bridge, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Jon waking down to the Boyle River swing-bridge |
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| Boyle River swing-bridge, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
On the far-side of the river you climb to the top of the old river terraces on a farm 4 W/D track, towards the top you cross through a strange little gate in the deer fencing, the only one of its kind I have ever seen in 20 years of tramping.
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| DOC park map of this end of Lake Sumner FP, Hope Kiwi Track |
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| Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP, on the old farm track |
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| The hatch in the deer fence on the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| The Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP continues along the right of the deer fence |
The turn off to the Tui Track (which links with the Boyle River section of the TA) is about 500 meters up the track from the deer fence.
Hey NOBO's, if you follow Tui Track it will eventually dump you out on SH 7 near the Boyle Outdoor Education Centre. Be aware that it crosses two un-bridged and dangerous rivers en route.
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| Turn off to Tui Track, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Tui Track leading off to the Doubtful River, from the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
To start with you cruise through some regenerating Manuka/Kanuka bush before hitting the beech forest about 1.5 kilometres along the Hope-Kiwi Track.
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| 4 W/D track leading to edge of bush, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
Don't drink the water in this tarn as there are stock about so it will be contaminated...
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| An interesting tarn near the start of the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Track through the Manuka, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
Eventually you arrive at the beech forest after walking for 45 minutes, from here you are in forest for the rest of the way to Hope Halfway Hut some 5 odd kilometres away. The track is quite nice...not overly muddy, flat and usually well maintained it makes for swift walking.
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| Into the beech forest on the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP, a wind fall tree from recent storms |
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| The Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP: an easy flat track |
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| A mire or alpine swamp on the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
Here is some pig sign I spotted along the track, wild pigs turn the earth looking for roots, grubs and other insects to eat. Lake Sumner has some of the best pig hunting areas in the whole of Canterbury.
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| Pig rooting sign on the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
About an hour up the Hope Valley you break out onto an open area so you can see up and down the valley. All the land on the far-side of the river is a high country sheep and cattle station.
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| Looking across the Hope River to the Glynn Wye range and a sheep farm |
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| Looking up the Hope Valley from the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
You cross a number of streams and rivers as you close in on Hope Halfway Hut, most are easy to cross. However, Boundary Stream close to Hope Halfway Hut can be a problem in heavy rain as it is prone to flooding.
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| One of several side streams you need to cross, the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Boundary Stream on the Hope Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
After about three hours you finally arrive at
Hope Halfway Hut, just past the mid way point to Hope Kiwi Hut. The hut is officially a shelter but it has had six bunks (plus mattresses) and a bench added to it by the NZDA so you can now sleep there. There is a toilet but no water tank so you have to fetch water from a nearby stream.
This hut is not the Ritz so be aware if you are thinking of staying here, you will be roughing it a bit.
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| Hope Half Way Hut in its clearing, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Close view of the small Hope Halfway Hut, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Side view of Hope Halfway Hut, Lake Sumner FP |
Past Hope Halfway Hut you have another seven kilometres to cover before you get to Hope Kiwi Hut. It is a mixture of forest and river flat travel, there is one short climb to access the swing-bridge over the Hope River but apart from that it is flat.
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| In the open forest beyond Hope Halfway Hut, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Map: Hope Halfway Hut to Hope Kiwi Lodge, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Looking down the Hope Valley from past Hope Half Way Hut |
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| On the river flats mid reaches of the Hope River on the Hope Kiwi Track |
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| View of the Hope River, the Hope Kiwi confluence is just visible in the distance |
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| DOC sign, Hope Kiwi Lodge on the Hope-Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
As you approach the Hope River swing-bridge you climb over a small wooded spur, then descend down to the river. This was really the only climb on this whole section of the Hope Kiwi Track.
The Hope River passes through a gorge here, it is really beautiful with the deep Turquoise water, the swing-bridge and the forest.
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| Climbing up to the Hope River swing-bridge, Hope-Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Hope River Gorge, from the Hope River swing-bridge |
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| Hope River swing-bridge from the Harpers Pass side of the river |
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| Closer view of the Hope River swing-bridge |
Once over the swing bridge it is about 30-40 minutes walk to
Hope Kiwi Lodge through easy forest and grasslands. The Hope Kiwi Lodge is a real beauty: a Lockwood design so lots of exposed wood, nice living space and two bedrooms with 10 bunks apiece.
It is really larger than the pre Te Araroa Trail traffic warranted, prior to 2010 only 10-12 parties a year went across Harpers Pass. Now the hut is often filled to capacity over the main summer tramping season (December to March).
There is a volunteer DOC hut warden here over the Summer.
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| First view of Hope Kiwi Lodge from the Hope-Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
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| Hope Kiwi Lodge, Hope-Kiwi Track, Lake Sumner FP |
Here are a couple of photos of the inside of Hope Kiwi Hut, a strange thing...this hut has linoleum on the floor the only DOC hut I have ever seen with this feature. This would be a great hut to stop for a zero day.
From here SOBO's would set out for Hurunui Hut near Lake Sumner or possibly Hurunui No.3 if you walk fast and leave early. NOBO's would follow my path back to Windy Point and from there to Boyle Outdoor Education Centre or Hanmer to resupply.
To be continued:
Access: SOBO from Arthurs Pass via Harpers Pass Track. NOBO from Windy Point on SH7, on the Hope Kiwi Track
Track Times: 17 km's or 6-7 hours Windy Point to Hope Kiwi Lodge
Hut Details: Hope Halfway Hut: basic, 6 bunks, toilet, water from stream; Hope Kiwi Lodge: serviced,
20 bunks, wood burner, woodshed, water tank, toilets, Hut Warden December to March
Miscellaneous:High alpine conditions over winter, watch weather in region, rivers flood easily in heavy rain.
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