Mt Fyffe-Kowhai Saddle circuitIntermediate - Experienced

Description

A sporty and spectacular outing with a good mix of terrain. From the car park grind your way up the 4wd road to the hut (usually water) and then to the summit of Mt Fyffe (total~1.5 hours) at 1602 m.

From here it's a superb run north (see pic), following occasional markers along the undulating tops towards Gable where a short steep scree/broken rock descent leads to a prominent level narrow col with scree runs on both sides (follow markers). Traverse this to where the descent to Kowhai Saddle starts. This is a fast descent – mostly on scree, following occasional markers – drops you to the Kowhai Saddle (alt. 1153m) where you pick up the tramping trail that leads from the Hapuku valley into the Kowhai.

This next downhill section (670m descent) is slow in places, and requires a bit of route finding down the bouldery river bed, with steep scrub/bush, compounded by the 2016 Kaikoura earthquakes (DOC have since remarked some parts of this track since then). Relief comes in the form of two lengthy sections of track through bush on the true left of the stream, which have been re-marked. As the valley starts to flatten out, navigation is less clear but eventually you will pick up a trail that leads from a dry/slightly overgrown stream across the main stream onto a trail on the right, and after a few minutes you'll arrive at the main Kowhai river which flows out of a huge gorge.

Cross the river and climb onto a opposite terrace where the track soon arrives at the Kowhai Hut (alt. 480m) From here it's a very cruisy 1+ hour run down valley – follow the trail from the hut and cross the river, then follow an obvious track through bush on the true left. Further leads on the true left eventually pass the sign to ‘Spaniard Spur’ track up to the hut; instead continue down towards where the valley closes into a gorge. From here you are in and out of the river criss-crossing the gorge (trails allow you to take a fairly straight line). The riverbed after here is easy running (with some 4WD trails or shortcuts through the bush). At the corner where the valley finally opens out, and past the bluff on the left, make sure you’re on the true left and run towards the open scrub beside the hill - here you will pick up a track (marked) that leads onto a 4WD drive tack and brings you back to the car park.

Features of interest

Great views of the high peaks of the Seaward Kaikouras, and on a clear day views far north, south and out to sea.

Make Up of Run

Untracked / Route only: 5%

Technical Single Track: 20%

Moderate Single Track: 25%

Easy Single Track: 20%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 30%

Route Data