TRIP HUB

The Otehake hotpools can be found in Arthurs Pass and make a great overnighter. They're about 7 hours drive from Dunedin which is a bit of a bummer, but if you're around Christchurch they're a lot closer. The track starts by the Taramakau River, which in normal conditions is easily fordable. A flood bridge exists upstream but it will add an hour or two onto the walk. The beginning of the track crosses easy-going farmland for an hour before turning off up towards Lake Kaurapataki via the dry looking Pfiefer Creek. The track eventually goes into the bush before passing by the lake and some nice campsites. It then follows the lake shore around, then cutting up and over a spur and down to the Otehake river. On the spur there is a signpost to the old bridge, from here it is an hour or so to the hotpools up river. The descent to the river involves a bit of cliff scrambling and a section that turns into a waterfall in heavy rain. Once beside the river it is another k and a half before the hotpools can be found hidden in a bend in the river on the other side. This involves another river crossing and so it is important to be aware of the weather forecast as to not get stuck. There is amble camping spots on the river side of the hotpools. All in all it takes around 3 hours to walk to the hot pools and maybe half that to get back to the carpark.

Follow the great track to above the bushline. The track & markers continue past the bush. line until the prominent east ridge is in site. For easy access to Shrimpton, DONT follow the ridge on the right (as you are walking up) to the top. Traversing across the top is possible but requires some confident scrambling. Sidle left (as you are walking up), below the prominent east ridge, across to the basin of Shrimpton. Many variations of getting to the basin are possible, don't sidle too high or you may get bluffed out. From the basin, there is easy access to the top. When ascending, stay closer to the prominent east peak side. Return same way.

Start up the falls creek route to the river south of the F letter in Falls on the topo map. The track can be poor and overgrown at times. There is a sections after the initial climb where a "track" clearly continues forward though an orange arrow is marked to go left. This follows by a vague arrow and track that points to go right roughly 20 meters later. Enter the bush on the far side of the river and climb to above the treeline. Easy bush bashing with few bluffs. Once above the treeline, climb another 250 vertical meters and sidle around easy river gullies to point 1309. Continue up the northeast arm of consolation and sidle around to the upper saddle heading down to mistake creek at ~ 1640 meters. Lighten packs and climb a scree gully on the northwest side to the true summit south of the false summit. Return the same way, follow the river down to the start of the bush bashing & waterfall. Sidle 100 meters south of the waterfall (to avoid bluffs) and enter the treeline. Once across mistake creek, there is a vague track on the true left of the river (looking down from the valley, so your right.). Once at the waterfall, either climb it directly or the recommended route is to follow the clear and big gully on the true left (your right) until you reach a 5m steepish chimney climb. Once passed that and above the bluff, traverse across easy tussock back to the waterfall and then shuffle around the next bluff to the base of U-pass. Climb up and down the pass into hut creek. There is a large orange triangle in the first bushline heading down the valley but AVOID IT and continue following the river. You will down climb some of the smoothest, most beautiful and unique granite boulders in NZ. You will also pass a cave in the river where a boulder has fallen on another. Once out of the "Grace of Granite", follow the river until you come to the proper bushline. The large orange triangle starts close to the northern mountain side of the valley, quite far from the river. Exit with a river crossing and mud pool haven close to the car park.