Hump Ridge Guided Walk

Accommodation | Departure Dates | Getting There | Fitness Level | Prices

Guided Walk Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrive in Tuatapere

Check in to The Waiau Hotel, recently voted New Zealand's top country hotel. Around 5pm wander along the road to the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track office to meet your guide and make plans for the next few days. Dine with the guide at 7.30 pm.
Shuttles are available from Queenstown (9am), Invercargill (2pm) and Te Anau (7.30am) .

DAY 2: Track transport Tuatapere to Track Burn. Walk to Okaka Hut
Walk 5 - 7 hours / 13km

Track Transport departs Tuatapere 7.30am for Bluecliffs Beach and the Track Burn. The track follows the coast before heading inland at Flat Creek. Climbing steadily up to the Hump Ridge, bush gives way to sub alpine tussock grasses and finally the Okaka Hut ( 890m ). Take the Loop Track for awesome panoramic views, amid massive sandstone tors and mountain tarns.

Percy Burn Viaduct
DAY 3: Okaka Hut, Percy Burn Viaduct, Port Craig Village
Walk 7 - 9 hours / 19km

Traversing along the Hump Ridge, descend through ancient marine terraces of beech and podocarp forest to the coastal track near the Edwin Burn viaduct.
An old logging tramway leads across the massive Percy Burn viaduct, the highest remaining wooden structure of its kind in the world, to Port Craig Village.

DAY 4: Port Craig Village to Track Burn. Drive to Tuatapere
Walk 3 - 5 hours / 11km

Explore this pioneering village with a chance to see the rare Hector dolphin by the old wharf. Walk coastal forest tracks and beach sections back to Track Burn where you can catch the Track Transport to Tuatapere.

Accommodation
Accommodation is based on share twin and a single supplement is available. In Tuatapere we stay at the Waiau Hotel with twin share and double rooms with ensuite.
Okaka Hut and Port Craig Village are modern back country huts featuring gas heating and cooking, solar lighting, flush toilets and drying rooms. All crockery and cooking equipment are provided and your track guide will even cook you porridge for breakfast! Rooms are twin single or super king with shared toilet facilities.
A self contained cabin with ensuite and kitchen are available as an upgrade option. Hot showers are available. All linen is provided.

Departure Dates
From November to April we have regular guaranteed departures. Other departures are available on request with a minimum of three people or for less than three a surcharge applies. We do not typically operate during the winter.... however if you are keen and have a group of 3 or more it is always worth asking! The dates listed below are "Day 1" or the first night in Tuatapere. We depart at 7.30am on "Day 2".

2007/2008		2008/2009
Nov 2007	2, 26	Nov 2008	6, 13
Dec 2007	6, 21, 27	Dec 2008	7, 12, 19, 23
Jan 2008	8, 14, 20, 25	Jan 2009	3, 9, 19, 23
Feb 2008	3, 14, 21, 26	Feb 2009	3, 9, 19, 27
Mar 2008	6, 15, 19	Mar 2009	5, 19
Apr 2008	3, 12	Apr 2009	2, 16

Getting There
Tuatapere is 86km from Invercargill and 100km from Te Anau on the Southern Scenic Route. The track office and Tuatapere Information Centre is at 31 Orawia Road. Pop in here for updates on weather and track conditions, browse the shop for all your tramping needs or check out the Bushman's Museum.
Scenic Shuttle operates a daily service departing Invercargill 2pm (pick up from 1.30pm) and Te Anau at 7:30am (pick up from 7:15am). Shuttles from Queenstown depart at 9am and connect via Invercargill. These shuttles are an extra cost and we are happy to book them for you.
On the completion of your walk we can arrange a same day shuttle to Te Anau and Queenstown. If you require transport to Invercargill you will need to stay an extra night in Tuatapere with Scenic Shuttles departing at 9.30am.
Shuttles to and from Tuatapere are included in the package. Feel free to contact us to help arrange transfers from other locations.

Fitness Level
A moderate to high level of fitness is required. To enjoy your walk you need to be able to walk for 6 – 8 hours over 11 – 19km ( 7 - 11 miles ) each day. The first day on the trail you climb over 800m. The second day you go down again ! The track is a mixture of boardwalk and steps, natural tracks and remains of the old tramline. The descent from the Hump Ridge is steep and can be muddy at times. Track transport and helipacking options are included and will help ease the load.

Prices
Your Guided Walk package includes 3 nights accommodation, all meals,track transport from Tuatapere, helipacking, concession and guiding fees, all equipment and maps. The trips are usually 4 - 6 people with a maximum of twelve.
The price per person is fromNZ$1 295 including GST. Children 10 to 15 subtract NZ$150. We do not recommend the track for children under 10. Prices are valid to 1 November 2009.

Stewart Island | Hump Ridge | Waitutu | Dusky

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track Map

Get On Track
News, views and information on Stewart Island and Fiordland National Parks. Emailed quarterly from the sausage capital Tuatapere. All subscribers go in the draw for a free "Hump Ridge Track" t-shirt drawn very month.
To subscribe click here!