Doubtful Valley Track

Doubtful Valley Track begins at the confluence of the Boyle and Doubtful Rivers. Access is via Tui Track, which follows the Boyle River between Boyle Village and Windy Point. Although the start of Doubtful Valley Track lies close to SH7, it is located on the opposite side of the Boyle River. The most straightforward and reliable access is therefore from Windy Point, where Tui Track crosses the river via a bridge.

The main and safest way to access Doubtful Valley Track is from Windy Point. Alternative access is possible from Boyle Village or from SH7 near Engineers Camp, but both require fording the Boyle River. When river levels are elevated, Windy Point is the only practical access point as it is the only bridged crossing of the Boyle River in the area.

The Windy Point car park is on the northbound side of SH7, 2 mins drive south of Engineers Camp. A swing bridge crosses the Boyle River and Tui Track begins on the other side, heading upstream on the true right of the Boyle River to the confluence of the Boyle and Doubtful Rivers.

The shortest way to access Doubtful Valley Track is directly from SH7, 1 min north of Engineers Camp. There is a small area available for parking beside the northbound lane. This option requires you to ford the Boyle River; if the river is running high, you will not be able to use this route.

The northern end of Tui Track begins at Boyle Village. There is an open DOC car park here, and secure parking is available for purchase at Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre. Using Tui Track to access Doubtful Valley requires you to ford the Boyle River 2 km downstream of Boyle Village, and the Doubtful River several kilometres later. If either river is running high, you will not be able to use this route.

Beginning at the Windy Point car park, cross the swing bridge over the Boyle River and turn right onto Tui Track. The track gains a little elevation as it traverses the base of the Doubtful Range, passing through sections of grassland, mānuka and beech forest. It reaches the edge of a paddock and follows the fence around its outer edge before leaving it and descending to cross an unnamed creek. Beyond here, the track drops to the true right bank of the Boyle River, passing through patchy mānuka, bracken and open meadows. As the valley widens, the track skirts the edge of the Boyle River floodplain before reaching the junction with Doubtful Valley Track, on a river terrace just downstream of the confluence of the Boyle and Doubtful Rivers.

From the junction, Doubtful Valley Track heads west up the valley on a grassed river terrace on the true right of Doubtful River. After 2 km the track crosses an unnamed tributary that may be difficult to cross in high flow. The valley floor narrows and the track passes above a short section of gorge, then reaches the 2-bunk Basic Hut, Doubtful Hut. The river flat around Doubtful Hut is known as ‘The Reserve’, as it was once fenced and held cattle before they were driven over Amuri Pass. This flat was also known as ‘Clump Tree Flat’. This is where the route to Nina Valley (via Devilskin Saddle) connects; Nina Hut is 5 hr away.

The track continues up the valley across grassy river-flat meadows and scrub, spending progressively more time in beech forest as the valley narrows upstream. At Kedron River, you will reach the junction with Lake Man Route (Lake Man Bivvy is 2 hr away). A short while later the track crosses Doubtful River just upstream of its confluence with Doubtless River, and Doubtless Hut is located on the other side.

Doubtless Hut is positioned in a small clearing a few metres from the true left of the Doubtless River. It was refurbished in March 2022 through the efforts of volunteers from the Backcountry Hut Trust.

There are multiple possible routes that can be taken from Doubtless Hut.

The Amuri Pass (993 m) was sometimes used by east coast Māori for accessing the Arahura greenstone field. It also features a historic pack track built by European settlers in the 1860s for driving stock between Canterbury and the West Coast.

From the hut, cross the Doubtless River and follow the track for about 10 minutes to a junction, then turn right and head upstream along the Doubtful River. The track heads west up the valley, largely through beech forest, and crosses Phantom Flat, climbing through subalpine scrub to the pass. On the western side of the pass, in the Waiheke River catchment, the route drops through beech forest to the valley floor. Sections of the old pack track still remain through here. Once on the valley floor next to the Waiheke River, it’s 7 km to Slaty Creek Hut.

Lake Man Route branches off Doubtful Valley Track on the western side of the Kedron River. The route climbs the Kedron River Valley to Lake Man Bivouac (2 hr from the Doubtful Valley Track turnoff), situated at 1145 m elevation. From here, you can make a side trip to visit the hut and route’s namesake, Lake Man and Mt Lakeman (1782 m). The route crosses the Doubtful Range and descends to connect with the Hope Pass Track, on the Hope Valley floor roughly halfway between Top Hope Hut and St Jacob’s Hut. Once on this track, you can return to Windy Point (refer to map).

The absence of bridges means river crossings pose a serious danger. Never attempt to cross a river if it is running high, or if you lack the experience to do so safely.

See the Mountain Safety Council website for useful information on preparing for the outdoors.