1 hr 30 min from Christchurch | 25 min from Arthur’s Pass

Hawdon Valley Route begins at the Hawdon Valley Camping Area. From Christchurch, follow SH73 to Cass, and shortly after make the signposted righthand turn onto Mt White Road. Cross the one-way Mt White Bridge over the Waimakariri River, and turn left onto the gravel road that leads to the Hawdon Valley Shelter and Camping Area.

Note that Hawdon Valley Route requires the Hawdon River to be crossed several times, and therefore will be impassable when the river is running high.

The route begins in beech forest on the true left of the Hawdon River, then steps down onto the riverbed where a stop bank trains the river westward. Cross the river where the bed has been compacted by 4WD vehicles crossing, and follow the vehicle track to a stile in the livestock fence that crosses the valley floor. From here, the route crosses Sudden Valley Stream, then enters beech forest on the western edge of the valley floor, through which it continues for the next 2.5 km. The route emerges onto the river flats, where it crosses the river back to the true left and picks up the vehicle track that heads along the eastern side of the valley floor until just before the confluence with East Hawdon Stream.

The route crosses East Hawdon just upstream of its confluence with Hawdon River; this is also the confluence of the East Hawdon and main Hawdon valleys, the route following the latter to the northwest. Hawdon River is crossed again, with the route now on the true right as the valley floor narrows, with the beech forest now right at the river’s edge. The spectacular, yet unnamed peak 1742 m looms ahead as you travel further up the valley, the route alternating between forest and short sections of river bed. Several sides streams are crossed, including two boulder-strewn fans, the larger of which, Discovery Stream, is just before Hawdon Hut.

Hawdon Hut is positioned on a terrace about 10 m above the river. Built in 2007, the hut enjoys views up to the head of the Hawdon Valley, to Rugged Peak and Trudge Col.

Hawdon Valley has an extensive predator trapping network, with many kilometres of traplines throughout the valley. This has been critical for protecting the native bird population, and you are now likely to encounter bellbirds/korimako, South Island robin/kakaruai and rifleman/titipounamu. Kea, South Island kākā and falcon/kārearea may occasionally be seen, and kiwi heard at night. The valley is special in that it was home to one of the last remaining populations of orange-fronted parakeet/kākāriki karaka. The species naturally inhabits alpine beech forest areas of the South Island, and following predation and habitat loss, they were at one point restricted to only three small areas; Hawdon Valley, Hurunui South Branch (about 25 km northeast of Hawdon Valley), and the D’Urville Valley of Nelson Lakes National Park. Though the natural Hawdon Valley population dwindled following heavy predation in beech mast years, several releases of birds bred in captivity has allowed the population to be re-established, with the birds now breeding in the valley once more. Whio and yellowhead/mohua have also been released to the valley with mixed success.

Beyond Hawdon Hut

Edwards-Hawdon Route continues northwest beyond Hawdon Hut, with the climb to Walker Pass beginning less than a kilometre from the hut. This route crosses Walker Pass, drops into the headwaters of the Otehake East Branch River, before climbing again over Tarn Col, and into the head of Edwards Valley at Taruahuna Pass. Edwards Hut is 6-9 hrs walk from Hawdon Hut.

Side trips from Hawdon Valley include Sudden Valley and East Hawdon, both of which contain basic bivvies. Both can be visited as out-and-back trips, though highly experienced and prepared parties can navigate out of each respective valley via the ranges that bound them.

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.