Tarn Hut

Rintoul Hut to Tarn Hut

Time: 5 hr

From Rintoul Hut the Alpine Route leads through mountain beech forest to climb the scree and rock faces of Purple Top (1532 m), before descending down the main summit ridge. The route then sidles across the southern face of Bishops Cap (1425 m) to join the main forested spur to the south. Tarn Hut is located at the edge of a small tarn, to the east of the main ridge, and is reached on a sign-posted access track.

Two options to exit the route

There are two options from Tarn Hut to leave Alpine Route:

Tarn Hut to Wairoa road end

Time: 6–8 hr

A sign-posted access track leads back to the main ridge. From here, the track leads down the ridge to a sign-posted junction shortly before Bushy Top, with the right-hand track leading to the Wairoa road end. The track sidles on the western side of the ridge, eventually reaching a prominent spur which is followed to the left branch of the Wairoa River. The final descent to the river is particularly steep. At this point, you arrive at Mid Wairoa Hut.

Tarn Hut to Goulter road end

Time: 5-6 hr

At the sign-posted junction shortly before Bushy Top (see above), the left-hand branch leads to the Goulter road end. The track climbs over Bushy Top (1257 m) before descending down a prominent spur to the Goulter River opposite the Lower Goulter Hut. The river is not bridged and no attempts should be made to cross it while in flood. From the hut, the track carries on for 45 minutes to a 4WD road end. It is a further two hours to Tiphead Stream, which is generally accessible to two-wheel drive vehicles. Check the status of this road if you plan to use this exit. As of July 2023, the road was shut from Patriarch Station due to multiple washouts. It is approximately 14 km from the Goulter car park back to the gate at Patriarch station. Walkers should allow an extra one to two hours if starting the trip from the Goulter.

Mt Rintoul Hut to Tarn Hut

Time: 5 hr

From Rintoul Hut, the Richmond Ranges Te Araroa Track leads through mountain beech forest to climb the scree and rock faces of Purple Top (1532 m), before descending down the main summit ridge. The route then sidles across the southern face of Bishops Cap (1425 m) to join the main forested spur to the south. Tarn Hut is located at the edge of a small tarn, to the east of the main ridge, and is reached on a sign-posted access track. Tarn Hut

Tarn Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut

Time: 4 hr

A sign-posted access track leads back to the main ridge. From there, the track leads down the ridge to a sign-posted junction shortly before Bushy Top, with the right-hand track leading to the Wairoa River Left Branch and Mid Wairoa Hut. The track sidles on the western side of the ridge, eventually reaching a prominent spur which is followed to the left branch of the Wairoa River. The final descent to the river is particularly steep. At this point, you arrive at Mid Wairoa Hut. If you are finding the trip too difficult, are running out of supplies, or if bad weather is coming, you have two options to exit the track. Mid Wairoa Hut