Leslie–Karamea Track Kahurangi National Park Introduction Leslie–Karamea Track The Leslie–Karamea Track is one of the region’s The track is described here as it is most commonly premier semi-wilderness experiences, situated in the walked: from Flora Car Park to the eastern end of the middle of Kahurangi National Park. It is a 3–4 day link Wangapeka Track. Around Trevor Carter Hut there through the earthquake-torn Karamea Valley, between are several options, but river levels may cause delays Flora Car Park and the Wangapeka Track; 6–9 days are or dictate which option you take. Please read the track needed to get from road end to road end. description and safety information thoroughly before The Leslie–Karamea is classified as a tramping track. your trip. Other options for starting the track and the It is marked but not benched, and quite rough in exit to the West Coast are described below. places. Many of the streams along the track are not A Backcountry Hut Pass or Backcountry Hut Tickets bridged and flood-prone. Strong footwear, backcountry are required to stay in the huts. All are standard huts experience and a good level of fitness are required for requiring one ticket per night, except Salisbury Lodge any trip into this area. which is a serviced hut (three tickets). There is no charge for Thor Hut, Cecil Kings Hut or the Stag Flat How to get there and Flora Valley Shelters. Flora Car Park to Salisbury Lodge Flora Car Park 4 h 30 min, 13.2 km Roads from Nelson and Motueka From the car park at the road end (36 km from meet the Motueka River at Takaka Motueka), the track leads over Flora Saddle, past Flora Ngatimoti where a bridge Motueka Hut (12 bunks) and up to Salisbury Lodge (22 bunks) on crosses to West Bank Road. The the Tableland. Just beyond the lodge is the sign where unsealed Graham Valley Road Nelson the Leslie–Karamea track itself begins. climbs steeply to Flora Car Karamea Park where there is a toilet and Salisbury Lodge to Karamea Bend Hut information shelter. 6 h, 18 km Wangapeka Track (eastern end) From the sign, a line of poles runs to the bush edge at the top of Leslie Hill and begins descending to the From Tapawera follow the signposts west to the Leslie River. After about one hour downhill, Splugeons Wangapeka Valley. While there is a swingbridge for Rock Shelter (5 bunks) is reached. foot traffic, the Dart River may not be passable by vehicles after heavy rain. There is an information kiosk Beyond the shelter the track drops steeply to the Leslie and public telephone at Prices Creek, just before the River and crosses it on a swingbridge. It then follows the track entrance. true left bank down to Karamea Bend Hut (22 bunks). Wangapeka Track (western end) Karamea Bend Hut to Crow Hut 3 h 30 min, 9.7 km From the West Coast road, turn off at Little Wanganui and drive inland on Wangapeka Road to the car park The track heads up the Karamea on the true right where the track begins. bank, crossing Slippery Creek and a clearing, the Little Backwash and the Big Backwash. Just over the Crow River swingbridge is Crow Hut (12 bunks). When the Karamea River is low, it is possible to follow the riverbed from Karamea Bend almost to the Crow. Published by: Department of Conservation, Nelson/Marlborough Conservancy, Private Bag 5, Nelson 7042 | June 2012 To Takaka r and Nelson ve Ri o ar To Motueka ing 60 State highway Wa and Nelson Sealed road Sylvester r Asbestos Cottage (4) i o Hut (12) v Lodestone 1462 m Unsealed road r � Fenella Hut (12) e s Flora Hut (12) e R Upper Gridiron Hut (3) Cob b b River b Tramping track Cobb River Co Cobb Hut (4) Campsite Route Trilobite Hut (12) P Myttons Hut (4) Mt Arthur earse River Balloon Hut (8) Footbridge Lake Peel Hut (14) Salisbury R oa Lodge (22) rin � g Tableland � Li Mt Arthur To Motueka Serviced hut on 1260 m 1795 m and Nelson Ri P ve e Standard hut r e Ellis Hut (6) l S The Twins t r Splugeons Hut (5) Basic hut/bivvy e �1809 m a � m 1796 m m Shelter a e r A t E S ll R is Standard campsite b R u T iv C r e e H r Basic campsite iv R U e li R s Car park e L Baton Saddle 1730 m B Information shelter aton River Information Karamea Bend r e Hut (22) Flanagans Hut (8) iv Toilet R Karam t ea River e R e Public phone k Roaring Lion Hut (5) A S r e N v Sandy Peak i G R � E 1377 m w Mt Olive o r � C 1445 m e l t t Creek i mine L lver Si ow River Cr C r o 0 5 Pyramid w � Crow Hut (12) R 1460m i v kilometres e Creek r turn Sa To Tapawera Creek iter Venus Hut (12) and Nelson up Chumm This map is a guide only. J ie K Cr a ee For more information ra k ek m m re a C consult Topo50 maps Venus e e John Reid k a r e t e BP24 Takaka, BQ23 r R S Hut (6) C i y v r r o Wangapeka Saddle, e u l r rc y and BQ24 Tapawera. e Thor Hut (6) a Siberia Flat T M Campsite Kiwi Saddle Hut (6) Moonstone Mt Luna Mt Patriarch er � Lake � � iv K ak Mt Kendall 1630m 1701 m R apo ka Courthouse e Riv K 1762m p er en a Flat Campsite d g all n C a re r ek W e v Trevor Carter i Mt Herbert R Kakapo Stone Hut (10) � Hut (12) g in Hut (4) 1507 m ll To Karamea o Kings Creek R and Westport � Wangapeka W Hut (20) Little Wanganui an r Biggs Tops Saddle g Saddle 1087 m e N ap v 1384 m o e Cecil Kings Hut Bell Town i er 1009 m rt k R iv h a historic (4) a R Br R Manunui Hut (10) Taipo Hut (16) o rame an iv ip Ka c er Wangapeka a h Bivvy (4) T Wanganui River Helicopter Flat Hut (10) le Stag Flat Shelter Base data supplied by Geographx Ltd � copyright reserved Litt Serviced huts have mattresses, water supply, toilets, hand Standard campsites have a limited range of facilities and washing facilities and heating with fuel available. They may have services. Toilets (usually composting or pit variety) water supply cooking facilities with fuel and a warden. The Backcountry Hut (tap, stream, or lake) and vehicle or boat access. Wood barbeques Pass or Backcountry Hut Tickets are required. and fireplaces, showers (cold), picnic tables, a cooking shelter Standard huts have mattresses, water supply and toilet. Wood and rubbish bins may be provided. heaters are provided at huts below the bush line. The Back- Basic campsites have very limited facilities so you need to be country Hut Pass or Back country Hut Tickets are required. fully self-sufficient. There are basic toilets and water from a tank, Basic huts provide very basic shelter with limited facilities. stream or lake. No charge. Leslie–Karamea Track, Kahurangi National Park | 2 www.doc.govt.nz Crow Hut to Venus Hut, 2 h, 5.9 km Lastly, a marked route leads from Trevor Carter Hut over Biggs Tops, joining the Wangapeka The track continues on the true right bank for about Track at Wangapeka Saddle (Trevor Carter Hut to one hour to a bridge across the Karamea River. Across Wangapeka Saddle, 5 h). on the left bank the track sometimes scrambles around the riverside but mostly stays on forested terraces alongside the river to Venus Hut (12 bunks). Tramping track Venus Hut to Thor Hut, 2 h, 5.7 km • Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking. This section follows the river terraces, sometimes • Track is mostly unformed with steep, rough or muddy sections. merging with the riverside and riverbed. Mercury • Suitable for people with good fitness. Moderate to high-level Creek, about 30 minutes above Venus Hut, is a major backcountry skills and experience (including navigation and side stream spanned by a swingbridge. Near Atlas survival skills) required. Creek the track hugs the cliffs above the river and • Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged is fairly narrow. Thor Hut (6 bunks) is just across stream and river crossings. Thor Creek, on the edge of a slip caused by the • Tramping/hiking boots required. 1929 Murchison Earthquake. Route Thor Hut to Trevor Carter Hut • Challenging day or multi-day tramping/hiking. 3 h 30 min, 9.5 km • Track unformed and natural, rough, muddy or very steep. • Suitable for people with above average fitness. High-level Upriver from Thor Hut the track climbs and makes a backcountry skills and experience (including navigation and long sidle, crossing several earthquake-triggered slips survival skills) required. where care is needed. One of these slips, which came • Complete self-sufficiency required. down Apollo Creek from Mt Kendall (1762 m), dammed • Track has markers, poles or rock cairns. Expect unbridged the Karamea River forming Moonstone Lake. The lake stream and river crossings. backs up for almost three kilometres and some of the • Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required. trees drowned during its formation still stand as naked trunks. At the head of the lake continue on the true left of the Karamea River to Kendall Creek, which divides into several streams near its mouth and is dangerous when in flood.