40 min from Springs Junction (Windy Point)

There are three ways to start the Doubtful Valley Track; Windy Point, SH7 just north of the Engineers Camp, and Boyle Village. If Boyle River is running high, Windy Point is the only option, as the other two are unbridged and require the river to be forded.

Windy Point

The Windy Point car park is on the northbound lane side of SH7, 2 min drive south of the Engineers Camp. A swing bridge crosses 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.

State Highway 7

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

Boyle Village

The northern end of Tui Track begins at Boyle Village. Here there is an open DOC car park here, and secure parking you can 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.

The track heads up the valley on a grassed terrace on the true right of Doubtful River. 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 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’. Classed as a basic hut, the hut is in a poor state, and a tent would likely be preferable unless the weather is really poor. This is where 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, skirting in and out of beech forest. 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 volunteer effort by the Backcountry Hut Trust.

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

Amuri Pass

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 Europeans settlers in the 1860s, from driving stock between Canterbury and the West Coast.

From the hut, cross the Doubtless River and follow the track for about 10 minutes to the track junction, and turn right to head upstream along the Doubtful River. The track crosses to the true right. The track follows the river and crosses Phantom Flat, climbing through subalpine scrub to the pass. On the western side, the Waiheke River cat6chment, 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

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 Bivvy, 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.