Te Araroa Take care visiting natural areas

Te Kahui
This park includes part of Te Araroa, a walking
trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff: www.teararoa.org.nz. River crossings
Kaupeka
Caution: The section of track between Bush Stream and
Coal River is mostly unformed and requires backcountry experience,
• Always treat rivers with respect
• Never cross a dirty or flooded river Conservation
Park
river crossing and navigational skills. The last section of Te Araroa • River currents are often stronger than they appear
follows the Richmond Trail down to Lake Tekapo.
•W
 ater levels can rise rapidly due to rain in the headwaters; it does
Remember – your safety is your responsibility not need to be raining at the crossing place
Follow these five simple rules to help you plan and prepare before • Braids of the river can shift and there may be soft, sinking sand
engaging in outdoor activities:
South Canterbury
• If in doubt, stay put until conditions improve or turn back
1. Plan your trip
Avalanche
2. Tell someone
Be aware of avalanche run-out zones from June to November.
3. Be aware of the weather We recommend carrying avalanche transceivers 457khz, and
4. Know your limits probes and shovels in avalanche terrain.
5. Take sufficient supplies
Communication
Visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz
rte Cellphone coverage cannot be relied on in the park. The use
to learn more and to log your intentions -E
lw
Pho aun of satellite phones, mountain radios or personal locator beacons
with your trusted contact. to: Gottlieb Br
can all provide increased personal safety.

Check, Leave no trace Further information

Clean, Dry • Plan ahead and prepare
If you need any further information or to report any incidents, issues
Stop the • Be considerate of others or sightings of conservation interest, contact the DOC office at either
spread of • Respect wildlife Twizel or Geraldine.
didymo and and farm animals
Te Manahuna/Twizel Office
other aquatic pests. • Travel and camp Phone +64 3 435 0802
Remember to Check, on durable ground
Raukapuka/Geraldine Office
Clean, Dry all items before • Leave what you find
Phone +64 3 693 1010
entering, and when moving • Dispose of waste properly
between, waterways. • Minimise the effects of fire Dial 111 in an emergency

Published by:
Department of Conservation
Te Manahuna/Twizel Office
Private Bag, Twizel 7944
New Zealand
May 2014

Editing and design:

Publishing Team, DOC National Office

This publication is produced using paper sourced from

well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests.

All photos, unless otherwise

credited, are copyright DOC.
Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park encompasses
spectacular scenery of ice-steepened mountains
and broad glaciated valleys in the Two Thumb
Range. These separate the upper Rangitata River
from the Godley River catchments. The Two Thumb
Range starts in the central Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri
o te Moana icefields, running south to end in the
mountains of Burkes Pass.
Tangata whenua – the first people of the land
Rākaihaitū migrated with his people from Hawaiki, their waka
landing in Whakatū/Nelson. From here the Waitaha people explored,
inhabited and named the land.
Te Kahui Kaupeka / D’Archiac takes its name from the ‘gathering
place of the waters’. From the mountain the rivers flow in all
directions. Two of those rivers, the Rangitata and Waitaki, form
the boundary of Aoraki.
The lakes, mountains
and rivers are under
the guardianship
of Kāti Huirapa.
On Takapo/Lake Tekapo
the island Motuariki is
important to Kāti Huirapa
as it is the site of a kāika/
village built in the times
of Rākaihaitū.
European history
Pastoral farming dominates the more recent land history and
a number of ‘retired’ high country runs have helped form the park.
One of the runs, Mesopotamia, was first occupied by Samuel
Butler, author of Erewhon. Spending the winter of 1860 in the upper
Rangitata before stocking his run he wrote, ‘We fear it may be snowy
… but shall have to see it though next winter before we can safely put
sheep upon it.’
Butler built his original hut at the confluence of Forest Creek
and Butlers Creek, before moving to the site of the present-day
Mesopotamia Station.
Drowning was so common in early colonial times it was known as
‘the New Zealand death’. One victim was Dr Andrew Sinclair who
was exploring with Dr Julius von Haast. Sinclair drowned crossing
the Rangitata and is buried on Rangitata Flats (see map).
Native plants you might see Activities
The pre-human vegetation was likely to have been mountain tōtara The park caters for a wide range of recreational activities including
and mountain beech/tawhairauriki at lower altitudes with tall tussock tramping, fishing, skiing (two ski areas in the park), ski touring,
grasslands and boulderfield species at higher altitudes. Burning has mountaineering, hunting, and mountain biking. For more detailed
reduced most of the forest cover and the park is now largely covered information check with the DOC offices at Twizel or Geraldine.
in spectacular tall snow-tussock grasslands which create its distinctive
golden landscape. Hunting
Forest remnants of mountain beech/ tawhairauriki and occasionally Recreational hunting is allowed on public conservation land within
red and yellow mistletoe/pikirangi occur in the steeper valleys on the Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park. A DOC permit must be carried
eastern side of the Sinclair Range. Other remnants, particularly in the at all times. Tahr are the main hunting opportunity, though red and
upper catchments of the Rangitata, seem more typical of the fallow deer, chamois, pig and Bennett’s wallaby are present in low
West Coast forest with mountain tōtara, celery pine/ numbers. Information on hunting on public conservation land and
mountain toatoa and cedar/pāhautea. hunting permits is available at www.doc.govt.nz /canterbury-hunting.
The park provides habitat for the locally endemic Dogs
Dobson’s speargrass/taramea (Aciphylla dobsonii) Dogs are permitted in Te Kahui Kaupeka Conservation Park.
and Hebe buchananii. Please be responsible for your dog – do not let them roam, disturb
other users or enter huts.
… and native animals
Many native birds once lived in this area, including Access
Haast’s eagle/pouākai, moa, takahē, South Island goose,
kākāpō and adzebill. Many are now extinct. A mix of exotic Eastern – Mesopotamia
and native birds remains spread through the mosaic of habitat types Access to the eastern side of the park is via Rangitata Gorge Road.
ranging from alpine peaks to the braided rivers bordering the park. Four-wheel drive access is possible beyond Bush Stream car park,
Notable birds include black stilt/kakī, blue duck/whio (in the tributaries up the Rangitata and Havelock rivers.
of the upper Rangitata River), New Zealand falcon/kārearea, rock wren/ Note: Drivers must take great care on these demanding rivers as the
pīwauwau, wrybill/ngutu pare and kea. track is not marked or defined. River-crossing and four-wheel driving
skills are essential.
Three species of lizard/ngārara known in the park are the common
skink, McCann’s skink and the Southern Alps gecko. Western – Two Thumb Range and Sibbald Range
There are eight species of grasshoppers/kōwhitiwhiti in the Two Lilybank Road from Lake Tekapo provides access to Boundary
Thumbs Range, including New Zealand’s largest grasshopper, the Stream, Roundhill Ski Area road and Coal River. From the
rare Sigaus villosus. Lilybank Road end, four-wheel drive
Two species of wētā occur, the large mountain stone wētā (Hemideina is needed to access the Macaulay
maori) and the alpine scree wētā (Deinacrida sp.). and Godley riverbeds.
Southern – North Opuha
From Fairlie follow Clayton Road
towards Fox Peak ski field for easy
access onto the tops.
Public access easements
Please:
• Stay on the marked track
• Leave gates as you find them
• Do not disturb stock
 A
N
A

CL
O
M

OU
TE

TWO
O

DY
I St Winifred Hut
T IR 9 bunks (CMC)
RI
TI

PE
KA
Mt McMillan

THUM

AK
1883
/
PS RK
Mistake Flat Hut Curtis Memorial Hut

Cly
AL PA 6 bunks
7 4 bunks
L r

R
A

de
RN N Mt D’Archiac/ i ve

AN
Hav
R

B
E IO es
TH T
Te Kahui Kaupeka
Gl F orb

Riv
G
U
NA
2875 e s
Forb Murphys
SO

E
Forbes

elo
RAN
South
Biv 2 bunks Biv 2 bunks

er
K
O

ck
Godley Hut
O Carneys R
C 8 bunks (NZ Alpine Club) 2 bivs 4 bunks iv e

GE
T am e r

k
M Stre Mt Forbes
Cr
e
I/ S e pa r a ti o n 2583 Carneys
K

/ T
Eade Memorial Hut
A

e Growler Hut
m

k
C a m p Cre
R

4 bunks (NZDA)
ea

E
r 8 bunks
St Ra
AO

c Ki
nn
on 11 n

AR
wl

er
Red Stag Hut M
4 bunks Gro
The

gi
UH
(NZ Deerstalkers Assoc)

ta
m
trea Private
aS

ta
hut
lm

E
Mt Sibbald Alma A
2811 2510

Ri
A C K MOUN
2450 B L TA
PO
IN

ve
Achilles
SIBBALD

Mt Chevalier 2540 R
A

r
Dog Kennel
R
2404 N
G
A Tantalus
Biv 2 bunks
Black
E
Macaulay Hut 2454 Birch
14 bunks Cre
The Thumbs ek
ch

(Mackenzie 2545 A BAZON RANG

an

Alpine Trust) BR E
Br

Mt Brabazon
rt h
No 1792
1
Stream

Crooked Spur
13
PO NG m
am

Hut
/
RANG

12
R A Strea
RA E
8 bunks TE ARAROA Bush
re

Stream
rge

Dr Sinclairs
St

a
Lilybank Stati

ek m
b

grave
hu
Go

W
Mt Erebus T Mt Sinclair Mesopotamia
o
2311 Tw
E

2065
st
Riv e r

RA
Ea

NG
RANGE
MB
rt h

IT
No
A

AT
on

G
O
RG
RUH
THU

E
RO
la y

AD
au

ly
TE A
Li

ban Stone Hut

k Station
LAI
ac

8 bunks

ek
M
TWO

re
8 st
C
NC

re
3 Fo
Go

SI

Stag Saddle
dley

1925 Royal Hut Bullock Bow Private

8 bunks Saddle hut
1692

4
River

OA

Private
AR

hut
5 Historic Richmond
AR

reek

TE Shelter
Track times E
s C

Emergency G
Te Araroa – 2–3 days: shelter &
Camp Stream

N
le r

private
ut

B
R

1 Bush Stream car park to hut

D

Crooked Spur Hut – 4 hours

O
LE

2 Crooked Spur Hut

E

MC
G

to Stone Hut – 5 hours

N

BEN
RA

3 Stone Hut to Royal Hut

Camp Stream Hut Mt Musgrave
Co

– 2 hours 2251
6 bunks
al

(Mackenzie Alpine Trust)

Ri

4 Royal Hut to Stag Saddle er

D

Spurs Hut
v

OO

– 3–4 hours 4 bunks

Roundhill
5 Stag Saddle to Camp 6
SHERW

Ski Area
Stream Hut – 4 hours
PORA

6 Camp Stream Hut to skifield

L
ND TRAI

road car park – 3 hours Mt Misery Fox Peak

G

2305 Ski Area

N
NK ROAD

9
A
R

7 Havelock River
H MO

UHE

to Murphy’s Biv
ON
RIC

– 1 hour 30 min Te Kahui Kaupeka

Y BA

HM

10 Conservation Park
LIL

AR

8 Forest Creek Road

RIC

junction to Te Araroa
N o rt h

Other public
m
junction – 10 hours Strea conservation land
E

ndary South Opuha Hut

/ T

Bou 6 bunks
Op

9 North Opuha car (Mackenzie Alpine Trust) ha

Walking track
u

park to Spurs Hut Lake ADVANCED

Rive
r
E

– 2 hours 30 min
Tekapo
NG

Tramping track
10  ichmond Trail
R
D
RA

OA

– 3–4 hours, 13 km Route

Motuariki
N R

4WD routes Mt Dobson

CLAYTO

Mountain bike track

B

Ski Area ADVANCED

 ush Stream car park to

B
UM

11
N
Mistake Flat Hut – 25 km 4WD route
Private
TH

12  acaulay car park to

M road

Macaulay Hut – 17 km
0 1 2 3
Car park
Lake
O

13  acaulay car park to

M kilometres
Opuha Toilets
TW

Red Stag Hut – 22 km

Map background Geographx

Track grades Mountain bike trail Hut grades

Walking track – well-formed easy walks Route – Challenging tramping/hiking. Advanced – A mixture of long Standard hut – bunks or sleeping
from a few minutes to a day. Complete self-sufficiency required as well as steep climbs, narrow tracks, poor platforms with mattresses. Toilet and water
high-level backcountry skills and experience, traction and difficult objects to avoid supply. 1 hut ticket per adult per night.
Tramping track – Challenging day or multi- including navigation and survival skills. or jump over. Generally exposed at
day tramping/hiking. Moderate to high-level the track outside edge. Most riders Basic hut – basic shelter with limited
backcountry skills and experience required, will find some sections easier to walk. facilities and services. Free.
including navigation and survival skills.