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By Ray Salisbury
2024-02-12T13:08:59.457Z • Tasman, New Zealand / Aotearoa

6-Day Traverse of the Haupiri Range

Few folk follow this overgrown stock route. During the 1890s-1930s, John Flowers, his men and a dozen dogs drove a thousand sheep along these tops. The only sheep we saw there were vegetable sheep! We began climbing Parapara Peak, tramped along Haupiri Range to Boulder Lake Hut. We exited on the Brown Cow track down to Bainham.

Hike
1
Hike

Day One

Beginning in heavy rain, we climbed 1200m up the marked track to Parapara Peak. DOC generously allowed us to stay in the staff hut nearby. We were soaked to the skin, and this 2-man bivvy was a life-saver.
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Jim in Staff Hut
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Three men on easy ridgeline ramble along to Parapara Peak
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Trampers reach the trip atop Parapara Peak (1249m)
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Trig station on Parapara Peak (1249m). Huapiri Range is beyond

2
Hike

Day 2

We delighted in an easy ridge ramble along to the trig, with stunning views. We did not delight in difficult bush-bashing along Walker Ridge. Our progress was slowed, and we were forced to camp at Cedar Saddle. Water was fetched by dropping down into a tributary of Slate River.
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Bright and bushy-tailed on Day 2.
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Start of the bush-bashing along Walker Ridge. Not nice.
3
Hike

Day 3

More ups and downs. More scratchy manuka. Lunch at The Devils Dip, then an arduous ascent onto the Haupiri Range proper. Over Christmas and Paradise peaks, then down to camp at Paradise Basin - a long, hot, 12-hour day with no water en route.
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Jim leads us down to refuge of Paradise Basin. Dragons Teeth visible top right
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Idyllic campsite in Paradise Basic. Cool clear water from a stream. Bleating goat, screeching weka. Slate River Peak looms above.
4
Hike

Day 4

Climb of Slate River Peak, then traverse around to Caesar Knob. Tricky scree and bush-bash down to Boulder Lake Hut for 2 nights. Wash in Suspicion Creek waterfall. Recce to old dam site at lake outflow.
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On Day 4 a steep ascent was made to regain the ridge.
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Malcolm poses above Boulder Lake. The barren Lead Hills lie beyond
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A vestige of comfort in Boulder Lake Hut. Good to be back here for the 3rd time!
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Ray's photo montage shot from his campsite above Boulder Lake. Dragons Teeth top right.
5
Hike

Day 6

Up over Brown Cow, and 9-hour descent to James Rd, Bainham. We jumped in the Aorere River to cool off. We were scratched, burnt and grinning :-)
Full route description: https://tramper.nz/17285/haupiri-range-traverse-kahurangi/
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Tapping out above Boulder Lake. In the background, the Dragons Teeth show their gnarly incisors.
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Topo 50 map, showing our 51km route.
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Elevation profile of the trip