Lake Morgan Hut
Lake Morgan's southern end.
Maintenance Status
Lake Morgan is a DOC maintained Hut. The most direct access to it is via the Brian O'Lyn route from the Haupiri valley. The tracked section from O'Shanessy Creek to the bushline is ostensibly DOC maintained, but they don't have the resources to do it and are open to community input. Michal Klajban and his Christchurch Tramping Club friends are planning to do some work on this route at some point.
Location
Crooked catchment. GPS Ref: E1494233/ N5275745 (BU21 942 758). Map BU21. 1090m altitude. Lake Morgan Hut is located just off the crest of the range that divides the Crooked and Haupiri catchments. It is perched on the TR of the Lake Morgan outlet creek above where it drops into a steep-sided gorge. The Hut is not visible from the crest of the range and GPS may be required to locate it in cloudy or wet weather. There is a large tarn on the crest directly above it. Lake Morgan Hut 30-50 visits per year. The big differences are due to the large parties of Gloriavale residents who frequent the place at sporadic intervals.
The tops in the vicinity of the Hut offer easy travel and are liberally sprinkled with tarns and good camping spots. Lake Morgan is a stunning and serene spot is an easy half-hour amble from the Hut.
Access
The Lake Morgan route from the Haupiri valley starts at O'Shanessy Creek at the end of Heaphy Road which passes through Gloriavale Community land. Permission is required from the community who have provided a car park at E1495872/ N5281765 (BU21 959 818). A farm track continues from here to O'Shanessy Creek where the track starts and climbs steeply up the ridge on the TL of the Creek. The bottom end has an increasing amount of seedling regen but still reasonably good, albeit a bit short of markers. The ridge flattens in the sub-alpine zone, and it becomes better defined and easier to follow. Further up the regen thickens again with flax and grasses encroaching the trail. The odd waratah leads from the scrubline towards Pt. 1218m. Sidle under Pt. 1251m towards the low point between O'Shanessy and Evans creek, over Pt. 1196m, then up onto Mt O'Shanessy. Head from the summit down O'Shanessy's southern spur to the large tarn on the crest of the range and drop from here onto the small bench where the Hut is located. There are a number of small tarns scattered along the tops section of the route. Allow around six hours in good conditions for the journey, although fitter types may manage it in less.
There used to be a track up the spur on the TR of O'Shanessy Creek, however the most recent information is decades old and described it as a pretty mean scrub-bash even then.
Lake Morgan Hut can also be accessed from the Crooked valley, often as part of tops circuit from the Crooked valley to the Haupiri, or vice-versa. The route starts just downriver from Top Crooked Hut. The track provides access to the bushline from the valley floor and was recut by DOC in February 2021 and apart from a little bit of regrowth is still in good condition. It commences on the TR of the Crooked River 100m downstream from the Hut. There is an orange triangle on the island between the two river braids and another on the TR bank at the track entrance, where a small stream runs against the bush edge. The track climbs steeply to the scrub line and it is marked with orange triangles and permolat. A band of boulders is crossed at the scrub edge onto a small rocky knoll that provides extensive views of the Crooked Valley. Waratahs and cairns lead from here up through some low scrub to an obvious high point, through a shallow depression, then in a NE direction to the crest of the Morgan Tops.
The last waratah is on a tussock ridge at 1420m (E1492850/ N5272930 - BU21 928 730) just below the top of the range. Travel is easy and reasonably level from here along to point 1489m. Drop to the saddle between point 1489m and point 1422m and down the obvious rocky gut below it to the Lake. The true right lake edge is followed around to the outlet creek. Drop down its TR crossing to a flat bench on the TL just below a small set of waterfalls. The bench has small tarns on it and Lake Morgan Hut is visible from here in clear conditions. Follow the creek down a bit, then sidle back over to the TR and around the 1120m contour line to the Hut. Allow 4-6 hours from Top Crooked Hut to Lake Morgan Hut in good conditions.
Type
Lake Morgan Hut is a standard NZFS S70, 6-bunk design built in the 1970's. The cupboards at the door end were removed at some point to create more space. A toilet and water tank were installed by DOC in May 2021. The Back Country Trust helped fund the new toilet which was built by members of the Gloriavale community who are frequent users of the Hut.
Condition
Lake Morgan is in good condition currently. Some painting and resealing work was done in the summer of 2003/ 4 by DOC. In 2014 the Department installed tie-downs and painted the window frames and doors. In 2019 DOC painted the Hut, replaced the Polycarbonate on the roof. There are some damp patches at the floor's edge under the end window, probably an issue with the window flashing.
Routes
There is a really nice tops crossing from Lake Morgan Hut over to Cone Creek Hut in the Haupiri and the route is straightforward in good conditions. Access onto the crest of the range is possible in a number of ways, either directly up onto Pt 1343m, or up the spur on the TR of the Lake's outlet creek. Once on top head along the side-spur towards Pt 1368m, dropping off at around E1494804/ N5274769 (BU21 948 748) into the basin below. Sidle out of the basin at around 1100m onto the spur on its TL and drop down towards where the two branches of the creek meet in the lower basin. The route out of the basin starts in the TL fork of the creek (GPS Ref: E1495592/ N5273875) and is marked with a cairn and permolat. It sidles across the hillside through patches low scrub and tussock to a saddle on the left of a prominent rocky outcrop. A gut filled with large boulders is followed down to a section of track that emerges onto an open scree at around 900m. The scree is very steep and active and is followed down to the Cone Creek track five minutes downriver from the Hut. The sidle section out of the basin is getting rough and unkempt and needs better marking. The tracked bit sown to the scree could do with a trim and more marking. Allow around three hours from Lake Morgan Hut to Cone Creek Hut, or 4-5 hours if travelling in the other direction.
Lake Morgan is a DOC maintained Hut. The most direct access to it is via the Brian O'Lyn route from the Haupiri valley. The tracked section from O'Shanessy Creek to the bushline is ostensibly DOC maintained, but they don't have the resources to do it and are open to community input. Michal Klajban and his Christchurch Tramping Club friends are planning to do some work on this route at some point.
Location
Crooked catchment. GPS Ref: E1494233/ N5275745 (BU21 942 758). Map BU21. 1090m altitude. Lake Morgan Hut is located just off the crest of the range that divides the Crooked and Haupiri catchments. It is perched on the TR of the Lake Morgan outlet creek above where it drops into a steep-sided gorge. The Hut is not visible from the crest of the range and GPS may be required to locate it in cloudy or wet weather. There is a large tarn on the crest directly above it. Lake Morgan Hut 30-50 visits per year. The big differences are due to the large parties of Gloriavale residents who frequent the place at sporadic intervals.
The tops in the vicinity of the Hut offer easy travel and are liberally sprinkled with tarns and good camping spots. Lake Morgan is a stunning and serene spot is an easy half-hour amble from the Hut.
Access
The Lake Morgan route from the Haupiri valley starts at O'Shanessy Creek at the end of Heaphy Road which passes through Gloriavale Community land. Permission is required from the community who have provided a car park at E1495872/ N5281765 (BU21 959 818). A farm track continues from here to O'Shanessy Creek where the track starts and climbs steeply up the ridge on the TL of the Creek. The bottom end has an increasing amount of seedling regen but still reasonably good, albeit a bit short of markers. The ridge flattens in the sub-alpine zone, and it becomes better defined and easier to follow. Further up the regen thickens again with flax and grasses encroaching the trail. The odd waratah leads from the scrubline towards Pt. 1218m. Sidle under Pt. 1251m towards the low point between O'Shanessy and Evans creek, over Pt. 1196m, then up onto Mt O'Shanessy. Head from the summit down O'Shanessy's southern spur to the large tarn on the crest of the range and drop from here onto the small bench where the Hut is located. There are a number of small tarns scattered along the tops section of the route. Allow around six hours in good conditions for the journey, although fitter types may manage it in less.
There used to be a track up the spur on the TR of O'Shanessy Creek, however the most recent information is decades old and described it as a pretty mean scrub-bash even then.
Lake Morgan Hut can also be accessed from the Crooked valley, often as part of tops circuit from the Crooked valley to the Haupiri, or vice-versa. The route starts just downriver from Top Crooked Hut. The track provides access to the bushline from the valley floor and was recut by DOC in February 2021 and apart from a little bit of regrowth is still in good condition. It commences on the TR of the Crooked River 100m downstream from the Hut. There is an orange triangle on the island between the two river braids and another on the TR bank at the track entrance, where a small stream runs against the bush edge. The track climbs steeply to the scrub line and it is marked with orange triangles and permolat. A band of boulders is crossed at the scrub edge onto a small rocky knoll that provides extensive views of the Crooked Valley. Waratahs and cairns lead from here up through some low scrub to an obvious high point, through a shallow depression, then in a NE direction to the crest of the Morgan Tops.
The last waratah is on a tussock ridge at 1420m (E1492850/ N5272930 - BU21 928 730) just below the top of the range. Travel is easy and reasonably level from here along to point 1489m. Drop to the saddle between point 1489m and point 1422m and down the obvious rocky gut below it to the Lake. The true right lake edge is followed around to the outlet creek. Drop down its TR crossing to a flat bench on the TL just below a small set of waterfalls. The bench has small tarns on it and Lake Morgan Hut is visible from here in clear conditions. Follow the creek down a bit, then sidle back over to the TR and around the 1120m contour line to the Hut. Allow 4-6 hours from Top Crooked Hut to Lake Morgan Hut in good conditions.
Type
Lake Morgan Hut is a standard NZFS S70, 6-bunk design built in the 1970's. The cupboards at the door end were removed at some point to create more space. A toilet and water tank were installed by DOC in May 2021. The Back Country Trust helped fund the new toilet which was built by members of the Gloriavale community who are frequent users of the Hut.
Condition
Lake Morgan is in good condition currently. Some painting and resealing work was done in the summer of 2003/ 4 by DOC. In 2014 the Department installed tie-downs and painted the window frames and doors. In 2019 DOC painted the Hut, replaced the Polycarbonate on the roof. There are some damp patches at the floor's edge under the end window, probably an issue with the window flashing.
Routes
There is a really nice tops crossing from Lake Morgan Hut over to Cone Creek Hut in the Haupiri and the route is straightforward in good conditions. Access onto the crest of the range is possible in a number of ways, either directly up onto Pt 1343m, or up the spur on the TR of the Lake's outlet creek. Once on top head along the side-spur towards Pt 1368m, dropping off at around E1494804/ N5274769 (BU21 948 748) into the basin below. Sidle out of the basin at around 1100m onto the spur on its TL and drop down towards where the two branches of the creek meet in the lower basin. The route out of the basin starts in the TL fork of the creek (GPS Ref: E1495592/ N5273875) and is marked with a cairn and permolat. It sidles across the hillside through patches low scrub and tussock to a saddle on the left of a prominent rocky outcrop. A gut filled with large boulders is followed down to a section of track that emerges onto an open scree at around 900m. The scree is very steep and active and is followed down to the Cone Creek track five minutes downriver from the Hut. The sidle section out of the basin is getting rough and unkempt and needs better marking. The tracked bit sown to the scree could do with a trim and more marking. Allow around three hours from Lake Morgan Hut to Cone Creek Hut, or 4-5 hours if travelling in the other direction.
Morgan River tops route .
The tops on the TR of the Morgan River are very easy travel and provide an alternative route from Lake Morgan Hut down to the Crooked roadend. This avoids the transport issue you would face if doing the standard Crooked-Haupiri circuit. DOC Greymouth recently gave the go-ahead to Permolat to cut a track down a leading spur at the end of the range to make this a bit easier. This was completed in July 2023. From Lake Morgan Hut head up the SW spur of Mt O'Shanessy to around the 1280m contour, and sidle off here on the Morgan River side, and across an old scree to the dip just before point 1375m. There is a nice-sized tarn just beneath the dip. Travel along the range from here is straightforward and there are plenty of tarns and good campsites along the way. At the end of the range there is a cut and marked trail down the NW spur of point 1231m through a band of scrub to a bench with open tussock patches. The track proper starts at the lower end of the bench in an open area at 1030m (E1488851/ N5275925). It drops down the broad spur on the TL of the large unnamed creek that feeds the Evans River. It drops into the creek at around the 280m contour and follows it down a short distance emerging in open pasture at E1487992/ N5277517. Drop through the paddocks and across the old Rotomanu-Kopara Road and ford the Crooked just downstream of the old bridge site. The Crooked is generally OK to ford at normal flows but can be tricky or uncrossable at other times. Allow a full day to get from Lake Morgan Hut to the Crooked roadend. When coming from the Crooked end it's probably better to break the trip into two days and camp out on the tops. Allow 3-4 hours to reach Point 1231m from the valley floor.
A few parties have accessed the Lake Morgan tops from the spur directly opposite Jacko Flat Hut The accounts of their trips in the Lake Morgan hutbook are not encouraging and mention an extensive band of alpine scrub with bluffs between the 700m and 1100m contours. It would probably be quicker and easier to carry on up the valley and use the maintained track opposite Top Crooked Hut for tops access.
Repairs needed.
Some flashing/ sealing work may be required on the end window. The Brian O'Lyn track needs a good tidy-up.
Provisions on site
An aluminium bucket and hand basin, an old NZFS first aid kit, a broom, a shovel, four billies, four fry pans, one pot, assorted cutlery and crockery, a portable camp stove, a hearth shovel and brush. There are a few bits of timber under the Hut.
A few parties have accessed the Lake Morgan tops from the spur directly opposite Jacko Flat Hut The accounts of their trips in the Lake Morgan hutbook are not encouraging and mention an extensive band of alpine scrub with bluffs between the 700m and 1100m contours. It would probably be quicker and easier to carry on up the valley and use the maintained track opposite Top Crooked Hut for tops access.
Repairs needed.
Some flashing/ sealing work may be required on the end window. The Brian O'Lyn track needs a good tidy-up.
Provisions on site
An aluminium bucket and hand basin, an old NZFS first aid kit, a broom, a shovel, four billies, four fry pans, one pot, assorted cutlery and crockery, a portable camp stove, a hearth shovel and brush. There are a few bits of timber under the Hut.
