Fern Burn HutBeginner - Intermediate
Submitted by Mal Law
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, some big hills
Native bushRiversideOpen farmlandsOpen tussock/grasslands
Beginner - Intermediate
3:00 (Slow)
2:15 (Moderate)
1:30 (Fast)
-12.6%
+12.6%
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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Description
The first 2.7k is a nice warm up on easy single track following the marker poles. Once through the second deer fence you enter the beech forest and undulate alongside Fern Burn to reach a footbridge. Once over the bridge the gradient steepens dramatically and the trail gets very technical in places.
Once above the bush you enter tussock country within a gorged section of Fern Burn. The final couple of kms sidle above the stream, mostly climbing but sometimes descending to reach Fern Burn Hut.
Once you've taken a breather on the deck of this beautifully positioned hut and drunk in the views start re-tracing your steps and enjoy the mostly downhill run back to your car.
Trail Community
Features of interest
A beautiful section of native beech forest, open tussock country and great views.
Make Up of Run
Technical Single Track: 45%
Moderate Single Track: 35%
Easy Single Track: 20%
Route Data
Reviews:
Overlapping Runs
The following trails overlap with this run to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate Strava activity for each
Photos:
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Access
Start of the Motatapu Track, a couple of kms up Motatapu Rd (off Wanaka - Mt. Aspiring Road just through Glendhu Bay when driving out from Wanaka)
Plenty of parking on opposite side of road to trailhead. Also a toilet and information board.
15 km
16 minutes
No
No
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Staying Safe
Moderate.
Make navigation of this route super-easy by using the Capra app on your phone. View on Capra .
The trail is generally well marked, just keep a close eye out for the red triangle markers on trees in the bush section
Very patchy.
Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions).
The water in Fern Burn is fine once in the bush or higher up. Also water at the hut.
Muddy after heavy rain, can be icy in winter particularly if starting early.
Nothing more than the usual hazards associated with technical trail. Take care if not confident on root/rocky stuff.
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See other runs nearby:
Motatapu River Track
Ironside Hill
Rock Peak Track
Deans Bank Loop
Minaret Burn Track (short)
Wanaka Skyline Trail
Rocky Diamond
Upper Clutha River Loop
Rob Roy Glacier Track
Motatapu Track - Full Monty
Wanaka LRMI (Lake, River, Mt. Iron)
Rock of Ages
Run Rabbit Run
Roy's Peak
Isthmus Peak
Luggate to Albert Town
Cardrona to Meg Hut
Jack Hall's Saddle
Little Criffel from the Larches
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High on Hikuwai
French Ridge hut
Little Criffle A to B
Lindis Peak Track
Mt Pisa via Kirtle Burn Track
Butterfields Wetlands Loop
