Lewis Pass, Ada Pass, Waiau Pass to Blue LakeRoute Guide

Published byDepartment of ConservationPrivate Bag 4715ChristchurchFebruary 2007

©Crown Copyright

Protect plants and animals

Remove rubbish

Bury toilet waste

Keep streams and lakes clean

Take care with fires

Camp carefully

Keep to the track

Respect our cultural heritage

Enjoy your visit

Toitu te whenua(Leave the land undisturbed)

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General information

Waiau Pass is an alpine crossing suitable for experienced parties only. Snow craft experience is required and equipment taken should include at least an ice axe.

Weather conditions can deteriorate rapidly and icy snow conditions can be experienced at any time of the year.

NZMS 260 map series: M30 and M31

Lewis Pass to Ada Pass

Note: True right and left banks of a river are determined when facing down stream.

Time:

3 hours 30 minutes from Lewis Pass to Cannibal Gorge Hut (7 km)

5 hours Lewis Pass to Ada Pass Hut (10 km)

The huts sleep 20 people each, and are equipped with wood stoves and firewood.

It is recommended that you also carry a gas cooker.

The track begins from Tarn Nature Walk, across a natural bog, then enters the bush, descending 150 m in a steep zigzag to Cannibal Gorge and the Maruia River.

A swing bridge crosses Cannibal Gorge to the true right bank.

From here it is about 6 km to Cannibal Gorge Hut.

Past the hut, the track follows an easy grade alongside the Maruia River, through beech forest and open alpine fields (prone to avalanches) to Ada Pass Hut.

Ada Pass to Christopher Hut

This section of the track is on St James Station.

Time: 4 hours 30 minutes (10.5 km)

From the hut, the track leads through bush over Ada Pass and into Ada Valley.

Beech forest opens to areas of tussock with patches of mountain beech.

Yellow-orange discs at the clearing edge indicate the track through bush areas, following the true right of Ada River.

At the junction of the Ada and Christopher Rivers, the track passes an historic Forest Service hut. Christopher Hut is a 10–15 -minute walk from this point, close to the edge of the bush. The hut sleeps 20 and has a wood stove.

Christopher Hut to Caroline Bivvy

Time: 7 hours 30 minutes (20 km)

Cross the Ada River below Christopher Hut and follow the 4WD track into the Waiau Valley.

This area is private property (St James Station). Please leave gates as you found them and keep away from Ada Homestead.

Follow up the Waiau River on the true right bank over mainly broad, grassy flats. Two old, bush-covered terminal moraines are crossed further up the Waiau as the valley starts to narrow.

As this crosses private land, permissions must be obtained from the owner of St James Station.

Caroline Bivvy to Upper Waiau Forks

Time: Approx. 3 hours. (5 km)

Continue up the true right of the Waiau River until it veers left near the forks. Take care as the track may be overgrown in places. Cross the river and follow up a natural open area and past a good camping spot in the last stand of beech, before emerging into an area of mixed scrub.

Upper Waiau Forks to Waiau Pass

Time: Approx. 3 – 5 hours (depending on snow) (2 km)

The track now crosses the east branch of the river, then climbs through scrub, where a few cairns and remnants of track lead well up the valley of the west branch to atussock ridge. Climb this to reach the foot of low bluffs.Ascend up easy ledges and tracks, then cross several tussock terraces, still climbing until spaced steel marker poles lead the way up a steep rocky ridge.At the top the route leads left on easy going to Waiau Pass.

Waiau Pass to Blue Lake Hut

Time: Approx. 3 Hours. (5 km)

Follow the poles down the pass, then turn right along a prominent terrace before descending scree slopes to Lake Constance.

Bluffs on the left (west) side of the lake block your route, so climb steeply for 150 metres before edging above these bluffs.

Stay at the same altitude until near the lower end of the lake where you can descend onto rubble slopes.

From here you will soon pick up a track crossing the vegetated moraine wall. This descends to Blue Lake Hut a short distance below.

Further information

To find out more, or purchase maps contact:

Waimakariri Area Office15 Albert StreetRangioraPh 03 313 0820waimakariri@doc.govt.nz