South Island Pack Tracks

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South Island Pack Tracks

Postby E.G. » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 10:40 am

Hi,

I've decided to branch out from walking exclusively in Tasmania and visit NZ in October. I enjoy following old pack tracks with all their gentle grades and formed tracks. Can anyone suggest any pack tracks on the South Island that would be good to visit? They don't have to be long or remote but just nice examples of these old routes.

Thanks E.G.
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby Strider » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 11:20 am

What is a pack track?
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby wayno » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 11:49 am

heres one
http://buller.co.nz/southisland-newzeal ... ack-track/

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recrea ... sus-track/

theres a few around cenral otago from the old gold mining days. but not necessarily called pack tracks or have that much publicity

http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recrea ... ng-tracks/

theres the flora saddle track in kahurangi that goes through to the cobb dam with a few options..

pelorus to nelson over maungatapu saddle track
from the land of the long white clouds...
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby RonK » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 1:43 pm

Strider wrote:What is a pack track?

A packhorse track.
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby E.G. » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 2:10 pm

Thanks greatly Wayno. The Croesus Track looks brilliant. Looking forward to it and some of the others.

Yes park horse (or bridle) tracks. They are made with gentle grades and well made track bed (benching). Much gentler experience than bushwalkers (trampers?) tracks. Mainly from early mining times. Tassie west coast is full of them and it looks like the same in NZ.
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby madpom » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 2:51 pm

Stxy - arahura inland from Hokitika is another pack track if you want a multiday trip.

Theres also the haast-paringa cattle track. 2-3days.
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South Island Pack Tracks

Postby RonK » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 4:43 pm

Perhaps some of the many Central Otago water races, for example the Mt Ida water race?
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby DaveNoble » Wed 01 Jun, 2016 5:30 pm

Perhaps the Wangapecka track?
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby madpom » Thu 02 Jun, 2016 4:49 am

Walked the western half of the Wangapeka as part of a coast-to-coast trip last month - definately fits the bill. But be warned that Cyclone Ita destroyed much of the original track west of Wangapeka Saddle. Its been recut / rerouted but that section is now a pretty standard rough tramping track rather than a benched pack track.
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby E.G. » Fri 03 Jun, 2016 8:55 am

Great, thanks all. Time to follow up the details, buy some maps. Central Otago, wine and tracks?
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Re: South Island Pack Tracks

Postby E.G. » Wed 09 Nov, 2016 6:01 am

Thanks again to everyone for the suggestions. There just wasn't time to take in all of them.

Croesus Track was very interesting. From the Blackball side there was some amazing stone work at the zig zags above the second hotel site. The track was well made until it reached the ridgeline. Coming Barrytown was well made and climbed steadily. Still in great shape apart from the numerous small land slips.

The Inland Pack Track between the Punakaiki - Pororari rivers is well graded but the benching has been modified/improved. Nice walk though.

Britannia Track near Waimangaroa is such a nice old track and again in great condition (the tracks are all so well maintained!). It climbs from farmland through rainforest and higher to an old mine site. The track is beautifully graded and the benching in great condition. Really enjoyed that one.

Even the Denniston Bridle Path was great despite being closed after a few kilometres. Again a nice well graded track in very original condition.

It was great to get a taste of the tracks. Next time some of the longer ones. Never got to Otago but those Nelson wines are nice. As a partner friendly option we walked part of the Abel Tasman Track and the Queen Charlotte Track. Not much we can say, other than wow what scenery.
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