The St Arnaud Range Track walk is quite hard, it’s uphill all the way through lovely beech forest to 1650m! It’ll take you around 5 hours to complete.
This peak is the eighth wonder of New Zealand. On a clear day you can see for miles.
Quick Facts about this walk
- Location: Northern end South Island
- Distance: 5.55 kms
- Time needed: 5 Hours
- Difficulty: Hard
- Wheelchair Access: No
- Route: Double back
- Elevation: 1787m
- Wet Feet: No
- Toilets: Yes
- Dogs: No
- Mobile Coverage: Yes
- Last Updated: November, 2019
We’ve partnered with Macpac outdoor walking & hiking gear to bring you the very best products designed exclusively for our New Zealand climate. They’ll ship for FREE within NZ on orders over $100 (if under $100 it’s only $5). Worldwide international shipping is available except to the USA. Bulky orders will be $20.
Summary points about this walk
Points of interest along the walk
Point 1: St Arnaud Range Walk – Start
First photo
1. Kerr Bay, start of the walk.
2. The main entrance to the campground.
Second photo
1. Parachute Rock
2. St Arnaud Range. 1683m
3. Best views. 1787m
At the start of the track there is a good information board for you to study. Follow the sign saying to more tracks.
Point 2: St Arnaud Range Walk
What can you say, the jewel of NZ. A beautiful alpine glacier lake, cool in the winter and hot in the summer. Take your pick of tramping, hunting, fishing, climbing, mountain biking, yachting and kayaking and that’s just in the summer time. Plus snowboarding and alpine climbing in the winter. Too much to do in one life time.
Point 3: St Arnaud Range Walk
Walk along the lake edge and up a slight incline to the first junction. Take the left hand track. You will have to look around the corner to see the next sign. St Arnaud range track and the honey dew loop track.
Point 4: St Arnaud Range Walk
At around 3 minutes you will be at the second junction. The sign pointing to the left will read, St Arnaud Range Track and Loop Track so take the track to the left. The track to the right is the honey dew track. From here its straight forward. Follow the orange triangular markers or tape nailed to the trees, this section of track was quite muddy in places. Mind you, it did rain all day yesterday.
Point 5: St Arnaud Range Walk
In about 20 minutes, you should meet up with the loop track which runs off to the right. The sign post was lying on the ground when we walked past. The next 100 m is a little confusing. Just followe the well worn track which runs up the right hand side of this stony creek and then across the Borlase stream. Once across the creek, the bush opens out and is very pleasant to walk. The track is very good to walk on. Not a lot of markers to follow, But you don’t really need then, this track is so well worn. You will know when you are getting close to the top. You might notice the change in the height of the trees. And the soft white moss hanging from the branches.
Point 6: St Arnaud Range Walk
2 hours 10 minutes, out onto the snow line. If you think this is a fantastic view, you ant seen nothing yet.
The bad news is, the next 20 minutes gets a little harder till you reach the top the St Arnaud Range.
There are a couple of track poles to follow, but just stick to the ridge line and you will be OK. I walked up here the day before thinking the rain will stop when I reach the top, yeah right! I had my head in the clouds while drinking my hot coffee. What a big difference it is today.
Point 7: St Arnaud Range Walk
About time, the outstanding view at the top will make you forget the aching muscles. It worked for me. I knew I brought my old bush jacket for a good reason, even if it is a little heavy. The St Arnaud ridge is very exposed to the cold southerly wind. I almost got blown off my feet on one of the narrow rocky sections.
Point 8: St Arnaud Range Walk
If you still have some steam left, you must walk further on up the St Arnaud ridge for another 15 minutes. There are no markers to follow but you don’t need them, just follow the ridge upto the next peak at 1787m. This peak is the eighth wonder of New Zealand. On a clear day you can see for miles. After another hot coffee and an energy bar, one large slice of chocolate mud cake, it’s off again. Yes, downhill all the way, fantastic! I started my walk back at 1300 hours and was enjoying a rejuvenating hot shower at 1730 hours, what a perfect day.
