History Higher up, the open tussock country provides plenty of marvellous vistas. At your feet, there are tiny cushion The Motatapu valley was used extensively by Māori from plants and alpine flowers, along with by a host of coastal settlements, travelling between lakes and invertebrate life. Wakatipu. Wanaka was important for māhika kai – gathering The Motatapu food in summer, including eel/tuna, weka and other items. The falcon/kārearea is often seen circling Māori also had large gardens near the Motatapu rivermouth, the higher ridges. Lower down, the forest species include now the Matakitaki Conservation Area. fantail/pīwakawaka, korimako/bellbird, grey warbler/ Track riroriro, rifleman/tītitipounamu, tomtit/miromiro and The hills and the river had particular significance for the brown creeper/pīpipi. local Māori. The river’s early name was Mate-tapu, because Alpine tramping track linking of the urupā/cemetery in the hills nearby. The urupā was General safety Wanaka and near Nehenehe, a small, semi-permanent kāika/village. It was important until 1836, when the settlement was devastated by Read the DOC Publication Planning a trip in the a war party sent south by Ngāti Toa chief Te Rauparaha to backcountry before you start. subdue Māori. The residents of Nehenehe were Please choose a track that suits your level of fitness and taken by surprise and few escaped with their lives. Wanaka’s experience. seasonal settlements, like Nehenehe, were then abandoned. Follow the Outdoor Safety Code: The first European to see Lake Wanaka was Nathaniel • Plan your trip Chalmers in 1853. Together with Kāi Tahu guides Reko and Kaikoura, he walked from Tuturau in Southland via the • Tell someone and returned by a daring raft ride down the • Be aware of the weather Clutha/Mata-Au River. In 1859, two surveyors, Jollie and • Know your limits Young, climbed a peak (probably Mount Motatapu) and saw • Take sufficient supplies Mount Aspiring/Tititea gleaming in the distance. It is alleged Visit www.adventuresmart.org.nz for more information. that at the top, Jollie said ‘I think we’ll call this mountain, Perspiring.’ Aspiring had received its English name 2 years No fires permitted. earlier when J.T. ‘Mr Surveyor’ Thomson climbed Mount Your safety is your responsibility. For specific warnings Grandview in the Upper Clutha Valley. relating to the Motatapu Track, see the WARNING By 1861, there were several sheep stations at the southern section in this brochure. end of Lake Wanaka, and gold mining was in full swing. By the mid-1860s, gold mining had expanded, particularly in the Further information and Arrow areas, where alluvial gold was recovered Tititea/Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre with relative ease. As a result, a government-funded pack Ardmore Street, PO Box 93, Wanaka 9343 track was formed to link Arrowtown with Lake Wanaka, and Phone: 03 443 7660 | Email: [email protected] the Motatapu Track follows sections of that route. Whakatipu-wai-Māori/Queenstown Visitor Centre Flora and fauna 50 Stanley Street, Queenstown 9300 Phone: (03) 442 7935 | Email: [email protected] Highlights include a significant, remnant stand of red beech/tawhairaunui along the Fern Burn, and other pockets of regenerating mixed beech forest and high country tussockland. Published by: The tree and shrub species include three beech species, Department of Conservation tree daisies (Olearia spp.), mountain ribbonwood/houhi, Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre PO Box 93, Wanaka 9343 broadleaf/kāpuka, koromiko, kōwhai and occasionally the New Zealand threatened yellow mistletoe/pirita. November 2015 Editing and design: Publishing Team, DOC National Office The Motatapu Track Fern Burn car park to Fern Burn Hut Roses Hut to Macetown 3–4 hr, 7 km 4–6 hr, 10 km This demanding 34-km 3–4 day journey for experienced trampers crosses Motatapu and Soho stations, passing The track meanders along the true right of Fern Burn, Cross the small creek to the old pack track that climbs through significant remnant beech/tawhai forest and passing shrubland and grassy flats. It then climbs into the main 1270 m ridge above Roses Saddle (asl 1188 m). golden tussocklands. remnant beech forest: mountain/tawhairauriki, silver/ At the crossover point between the Motatapu and Arrow tawhai and red/tawhairaunui. Here the Fern Burn catchments, the ridge descends to the Arrow River. During The Motatapu Track can be completed in either direction. narrows, featuring cascades and waterfalls. An hour from low and normal river levels it’s quicker to wade in and out Access to either end is by foot, shuttle or vehicle. From the car park, the track briefly enters the 4144 ha Stack of the river down to Macetown passing the remains of Arrowtown, the vehicle needs to be a 4WD as the track Conservation Area, which also provides access from/to old gold workings along the way. For those with limited start/finish at Macetown, 15 km and 22 river crossings the Spotts Creek and tracks. Experienced parties river crossing skills or if the river is high or discoloured, away. Macetown itself, once a thriving, isolated gold can make their way through this conservation area to link a track sidles above the river to join an old water race to mining settlement, is well worth exploring; there is a fully in with the Spotts Creek/Roys Peak routes. The Motatapu Macetown, passing several small dams and other relics. interpreted walk. The Fern Burn car park is 12 km from Track continues to the bush edge, then on to upland Cross Arrow River at Macetown. Wanaka. Take Motatapu Road south off Wanaka–Mount tussock country and the Fern Burn Hut (asl 720 m). Aspiring Road. Macetown to Arrowtown Fern Burn Hut to Highland Creek Hut 3–4 hr, 15 km In 2004, the Motatapu and Soho station leases were sold to 3–5 hr, 6 km Soho Property Ltd, who agreed to create a public tramping From Macetown, a 15-km 4WD road winds to track linking Wanaka with the Arrow valley. The tracks and This more arduous leg continues along Upper Fern Burn Arrowtown. In good conditions, numerous river facilities were built by Soho Properties and gifted to the through tussock before reaching Jack Halls Saddle at crossings may be negotiated by 4WD vehicles or 1275 m—the saddle and nearby creek were named after a Crown in their entirety – the Motatapu Track. In 2015 Soho trampers with care. If the river is too high you are local shepherd. Next is a steep descent into a creek bed, Properties protected much of the landscape surrounding advised to wait. Alternatively, about 20 minutes from the track through a covenant with the Queen Elizabeth II before navigating another two ridges and descending to Highland Creek. Highland Creek Hut (asl 850 m) nestles in Macetown, walkers can follow the ‘Macetown Miner’s National Trust. This is the largest private land covenant Trail’ to Eight Mile Creek. in New Zealand, covering 53,000 ha of the iconic natural a spectacular, upland basin. landscape. The protection of this large tract of magnificent Highland Creek Hut to Roses Hut From Eight Mile Creek junction either follow the Macetown Road or use the Big Hill Track (4–5 hr). high country would not have been possible without the 6–8 hr, 11 km vision and generosity of the land’s owner, Robert ‘Mutt’ Lange. Although the hill track avoids some of the larger river After crossing Highland Creek, the marked track sidles and crossings, it is not recommended in adverse weather. climbs above another unnamed creek onto a prominent In fine conditions, it repays the effort with views over spur. A highlight of this section is the stunning view across WARNING Motatapu valley. Continue up this spur before negotiating the and beyond. If continuing from • The Motatapu Track is suitable for experienced several long sidles over steep, tussock-covered terrain; care Eight Mile Creek Junction along the lower Macetown trampers only, due to its exposed and challenging and concentration is necessary on this section. Descend Road, for higher views head up Sawpit Gully at the terrain. steeply into a gully, cross the creek, pass through a patch of Irrigation Pipe Bridge (1 hr 30 min – 2 hr). remnant beech forest, and climb out onto the leading south- • Several steep sidles require care–increase your west ridge of Knuckle Peak. The terrain climbs steeply travel times if not confident in this type of country. Huts and camping again before sidling and dropping down another ridge to All three huts have 12 bunks, mattresses, a water supply • Rivers and streams can rise rapidly. Never cross the Motatapu River. The Roses Hut (asl 681 m) is a short and toilets. Hut tickets must be pre-purchased from DOC a flooded river, wait or turn back if conditions are tramp across the open flats. offices. The huts do not have fireplaces and you will need unsafe for crossing. to carry your own cooker. You should leave huts clean and • In summer, carry plenty of water as water sources tidy with windows and doors closed securely. There are no are limited, and have adequate sun protection. rubbish disposal facilities—please carry out all rubbish. • Wintry conditions can occur at any time of Check, Clean, Dry Camping is permitted in the vicinity of the huts and the year, with higher country subject to snow Stop the spread of didymo and other at the Macetown end of the track. No camping or fires especially during winter. freshwater pests. Remember to Check, Clean, are permitted in the historic buildings. Camping is not • Carry NZTopo50 maps: CB11 Arrowtown and CB12 Dry all items before entering, and when permitted at the Fern Burn car park – Cardrona. moving between, waterways. Camping Ground is the closest. LAKE to Matukituki Valley WANAKA to Wanaka Glendhu Te Araroa Station Glendhu Bay The Motatapu Track is part of End Peak Camping Ground the Te Araroa Trail “The Long Burn Pathway”. This length-of-the- 2100m country project is being Roys Peak developed by Te Araroa Trust to to traverse New Zealand from 1581m Wanaka Cape Reinga to Bluff. See www.teararoa.org.nz x

Fern Mt Alpha Private road from this point 1630m No public access permitted.

The Stack Mt Motatapu Conservation Area 2030m River Fern Burn All these tracks either cross or border Hut private land. Please respect landowners’ stock and property and leave gates as you Motatapu find them, and where provided, use stiles. Highland

Creek ) Jack Hall ( Saddle Middle Peak 1837m

Highland Creek Hut to Wanaka River Knuckle Peak 1804m

Arrow 89 River Roses Hut

Cardrona

Motatapu Track Mt Cardrona 1936m Other tracks linking Te Araroa Golspie Track grade: Mt Soho Tramping track: mostly 1752m Burn unformed but with track directional markers, poles MACETOWN Cardrona or cairns. Ski Field Backcountry skills and experience required Arrow

89 2-wheel drive vehicle road River 4-wheel drive vehicle road

Public conservation area

Creek Mahu Whenua QEII National Trust Covenants Soho Parking 0 2 Mt Sale Hut kilometres

1708m ROAD Historic site 89

ALLEY NOTE: This diagram should not be used for navigational purposes. It is recommended a V topographical maps covering this area (CB11 and CB12) be purchased from a ARROWTOWN DOC Visitor Centre. Basemap image supplied by Geographyx (NZ) Ltd to CARDRONA to

Queenstown to Queenstown Queenstown Nov 2015