Brodrick Pass Landsborough Trek & Raft

NZ$ exchange rate

Included:

• IFMGA/NZMGA certified mountain guides
• NZRA certified rafting guides
• National Park/Conservation Area fees & hut fees
• Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
• Free transport (4WD Tekapo to Monument Hut; van/car Clark Bluff to Tekapo)
• ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
• ALL camping equipment
• ALL mountaineering and trekking equipment
• ALL rafting equipment

Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included.

Green : Minimum reached - guaranteed departure.
Orange : Only 4 or fewer places available.
Red : No availability.

Trekking Fitness & Endurance

Participants need to have a high level of fitness and be able to hike or climb at least 8 hours in a day without difficulty.

You need to be sure-footed, well-coordinated, have good balance and be capable of sustained walking over steep, rugged, untracked and exposed terrain. Extensive hiking, tramping or bushwalking experience is required.

Trekkers must carry a lightweight sleeping bag and mat, personal gear and a share of the group equipment (lightweight tent/fly, food, stove, fuel, cooking utensils - all provided by Alpine Recreation).

This trip demands a high level of fitness, multi-day hiking/trekking experience and an understanding of the changing weather conditions. Much of the time will be spent walking off tracks and over rough, high mountainous terrain. We strongly recommend completing the Ball Pass Summit Trek or Ball Pass Crossing with Alpine Recreation before undertaking this trip.

Rafting Experience

While it is not required to have previous rafting experience, you do need to be able to swim! A moderate swimming ability is the minimum prerequisite.

Day 0: Arrivval in Tekapo

8pm arrival in Tekapo Village and meet for evening gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo.

You will need to overnight in Tekapo Village. We strongly recommend booking your accommodation well in advance. Alpine Recreation can provide accommodation at Edelweiss Lodge; if you wish to book a bed, please specifiy this on your enrolment form at the time of booking.

Day 1: TREK Monument Hut - Forks Hut - Brodrick Hut

7am departure from Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. 4WD up the Hopkins Valley to Monument Hut.

Trek up the Huxley Valley, across grassy river flats and through beech forest with some stream crossings, to Forks Hut.
Time: 3 hours | Distance: 9km | Altitude: 600m to 735m | Gain: 135m

Continue up the North Branch of the Huxley River to Brodrick Hut. The route is partly along narrow tracks through native beech forest, partly through river bed, with some boulder-hopping. Occasionally there are places where the riverbank has been eroded and you have to climb up and around to avoid the slips. This section requires good balance and no fear of heights. It can be quite demanding, especially towards the end of the day, when careful foot placement and full concentration are required.
Time: 4+ hours | Distance: 4km | Altitude: 735m to 1000m | Gain: 300m

Total: up to 8 hours trekking, depending on river levels.

Day 2: TREK Brodrick Hut - Brodrick Pass - Creswicke Flat (Landsborough Valley)

Climb up to Brodrick Pass and continue down a rough valley and steep descent to Creswicke Flat. Enjoy spectacular views down into the Landsborough Valley and Landsborough Wilderness Area.

Up to Brodrick Pass is reasonably straightforward, but steep, requiring good aerobic fitness. On the other side of the pass it is more demanding, requiring agility moving over loose rock for the descent into Mackenzie Creek. After 1-2 hours a climb of about 200m is necessary to avoid a waterfall. Once the ridge is gained at about 1150m the route follows a steep spur down through trees, dropping down to about 700m, before joining the western branch of Mackenzie Creek. From here you have to negotiate riverbed with some river crossings before the main Landsborough River Valley is reached. The descent is the more demanding part of this day, and is longer than the descent from Ball Pass. People with any knee problems should not attempt this trek.

Time: 10-12 hours | Distance: 8.2km | Altitude: 1000mm to 1640m | Gain: 840m | Loss: 1500m

Day 3: RAFT Creswicke Flat - Harper Bluff

Swap trekking gear for rafting gear, don wetsuits and raft to Harper Bluff Camp. The rapids vary greatly from insignificant Grade 2 through to Grade 4, which requires good manoeuvering and team work. For the more timid rafter, there is the option to walk around and watch your team mates navigate their way through the rapids!

Spend the night camped by the river, taking the opportunity to really absorb your surroundings in a truly amazing setting. Get away from modern distractions and share the experience with like-minded people: both out on the river and around the campfire in the evening.

Day 4: RAFT Harper Bluff - Clark Bluff

Complete the raft to the take out at Clark Bluff on the Haast Highway finishing around lunchtime. Drive back to Tekapo.

Alternatively, we can arrange for the rafting guides to relocate your personal vehicle (containing any spare gear you didn't take on the trek) to Clark Bluff. From there it is 30 minutes drive to the township of Haast; 1 hour 20 minutes to Wanaka or 2 hours 30 minutes to Queenstown.

Note that signifcant adverse weather may require the rafting to be completed in one long day or a contingency program to be implemented. Your trekking and rafting guides will make this decision before/during the trip as required.