Mikonui Spur Biv
Couloir route from Bowen down to Dickson Saddle
Maintenance Status
Mikonui Spur Biv and the track to it are currently designated as fully maintain. Ted Brennan of Bold Head was working for the Department of Conservation when the Biv was slated for likely removal following a review in the early 200s. He took one of the DOC planners up for a look at it and by doing this managed to get it reinstated to fully maintain. Ted got a letter of understanding from the Department to keep an eye on it following this, and he and his partner Annie Hughes self-funded a repaint. It looks like the Biv and track will continue to be maintained by DOC with some future input likely from the Back Country Trust. The access track was recut and marked by DOC in March 2018 and is still in reasonably good condition.
Location
Mikonui catchment. Grid Ref: E1431895/ N5233867 (BV18 319 339). Map BV18. 1130m altitude. Mikonui Spur Biv is located on a tussock bench at the scrubline of Mikonui Spur. The Spur divides the Dickson and Mikonui rivers and has superb views of Remarkable Peak, Galena Ridge, and out across the coastal plains to the Tasman Sea. The Biv can be accessed in a day from the Mikonui roadend and receives a steady, low-level flow of mostly overnight visitors (around 6-12 parties per year). Many try to fit in a climb of Mt Bowen and the more adventurous undertake various traverses of the Whitcombe/ Mikonui tops.
Access
Access to the Mikonui valley is via the Totara Valley Road, a very windy 16kms of gravel that is still maintained by the local Council. It's currently OK for 2WD as long as you've got a bit of clearance. There is a short section of track up the TR from the roadend that goes around a bluff, followed by an hour or so up some farmed river flats to where the Dickson River comes in. Ford the Mikonui River just up from the Dickson confluence where a routered sign is visible on the TL bank (1429161E/ 5234236N). Follow some sporadic poles from here up an old flood channel for 200m to the track entrance at the toe of the hill. The track climbs steeply onto a low terrace initially, then veers ENE up a broad bush spur, climbing steadily to around 850m.
The spur flattens here, and the track wends its way through the montane/ sub-alpine zone to where it steepens again and becomes more sharply defined. This section currently has a bit of flax, toi toi and scrub crowding it. A steep climb follows and leads onto a flat bench with tussock and scattered scrub at point 1116m. There is a dip into tussock gully and a short climb through a band of alpine scrub onto the bench where the Biv is located. Apart from the section mentioned, most of the track is in good order and well-marked. Allow 4-5 hours from the Mikonui roadend to the Biv. A ford of the Dickson is required if coming up the TL from Mikonui Flat Hut. This isn't as easy as the Mikonui ford above the Dickson Confluence. Neither should be trifled with after heavy rain.
Type
Mikonui Spur Biv was built in 1960 and was one of the last of the New Zealand Forest Service two-person B49 designs with a flat-iron roof and single louvre window at the far end. It is unusual for biv of that era in having a treated pine frame. The interior is a basic shell with no bunks but there are a couple of mattresses. There is no toilet, and a tarn next to the Biv provides drinking water. There is marginal cellphone reception here.
Condition
DOC replaced the piles and roof of the Biv in 2004. Ted and Annie rust-proofed, painted and sealed it in 2019. It is now Rescue Orange courtesy of Dulux. They also re-affixed a brace near the door and put in some tech screws where needed on the iron cladding. The Biv currently has patches of dampness around many of the wall studs where they connect with the floor and top plates. The window end is wet right along the floor and around the studs. Having said this, most of the floor area is dry and the Biv is very sound. The framing timber is treated and so is not rotting anywhere. Subfloor and piles look good. No obvious points of leakage so I'm assuming the moisture is blowing into the cladding seams, window flashings, and up through the louvre panes during storms. I'm also guessing that it's getting in at some places where the roof cladding is nailed to the rafters. The window frame, lintel etc. are all pretty sound with no obvious rot. There are some superficial rust patches and streaks on the cladding, but it all looks to be in relatively good shape. The door is sticking quite badly, and a crowbar has been left outside for popping it open.
Routes
Mt Bowen is accessed up the Spur through a band of scattered alpine scrub, then open tussock. At 1400m the ridge narrows and there is a short vertical section, with plenty of small alpine scrub handholds. Above the tussock line some fairly easy scree slopes lead to the summit. These are usually snow covered in winter, and spring and ice axes and crampons may be necessary on the summit ridge during the colder months. Chamois are often encountered on the climb up and the Biv logbook has accounts of tahr being spotted near the summit.
Traverses of Mt Bowen to Miserable and Misty Ridges are possible. There is a steep exposed section between the 1650 and 1550m contour of Miserable Ridge on which care needs to be taken. Lower down Miserable Ridge becomes a bit of a misnomer for this large flat high-altitude tussock bench sprinkled with large tarns and idyllic camp spots. Explorer Hut can be accessed from a prominent western side spur and an old NZFS track down to Explorer Saddle. The spur branches off Miserable Ridge at GPS E14234491/ N5235688 and drops steeply through an alpine scrub band that has had a rough track cut through it in most places. This leads to a flattish tussock bench from Pt. 1177m to Pt. 1122m, from where a cut and marked track leads down to Explorer Hut. This section was recut in 2021.
An old NZFS track from point 1433m down to Rapid Creek was recut in 2017. It goes down the spur on the TL of Illusion Creek to the bottom entrance where the Rapid Creek swingbridge used to be (E1437875/ N5235422). The top end through the alpine scrub is vague in places and zigs about a bit. It is fairly roughly cut from here down but OK to follow. A local possumer has done a bit of work trimming the scrub in the sub-alpine band. The short section up Rapid Creek from is a mix of DOC track and open streambed. Daniel Gillies and some Christchurch Tramping Club friends are planning to do a bit of work on both Miserable Ridge tracks in October this year.
Misty Ridge and the top of Noisy Creek basin can be accessed by dropping down the couloir from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak. The section of ridge between Noisy Creek Saddle and Misty Ridge has a couple of small, exposed notches between points 1648m and 1686m which can be done without a rope but are a bit marginal in terms of handholds. The alternative is a longish detour down Noisy Creek to around the 1400m contour, then back up the ridge to point 1686m. Once on Misty Ridge the travel is easy with good visibility or GPS. The Ridge forks at 1500m and the much better-defined North fork drops into the headwaters of Rapid Creek, while the main ridge running NE, drops down a broad, indistinct tussock face. There is a cairn near the correct drop-off around E1436655/ N5232338 (BV18 367 323).
Further down the ridge becomes more distinct, flattens and kinks East at point 1303m. There is a good-sized tarn and campsite 500m SE of point 1303m and more tarns and camp spots on the NE side of the Mt Browne summit. An old NZFS tops track provides access off Mt Browne down into Rapid Creek, entering the creek just downriver a bit from where the swingbridge used to be before DOC removed it. and not further up the Creek as indicated on NZ Topomaps. The top entrance of the track is at 1110m, E1438431/ N5233700 (BV18 384 337) and is not well defined. The track was recut and permolatted by me in 2018-19 and is still easy to follow but has quite a bit of windfall and is starting to overgrow a bit.
From Mt Bowen you can also continue over Sentinel Peak and down the spur on the TR of Noisy Creek basin. There is a fairly spacious rock biv at 1190m on the TR of Noisy Creek (E1436205/ N5231019) and track leads from a bench on the TR lip of the basin down a steep spur to the Whitcombe. It's a DOC maintain track last cut in 2018 but it's now getting overgrown and hard to follow in places when dropping down the mid faces. Flood and windthrow damage at the bottom end was cleaned up by Indy Hawthorne and Max Kikstra in 2024 and a new section track cut starting at 1439117E/ 5230154N. They also did some trimming and marking up to 440m. DOC are planning to recut the track towards the end of summer.
An old NZFS track from the Noisy Creek tops down through the alpine scrub into the Cropp Basin is probably no longer followable in its mid-section. Alternative access into the Cropp basin is possible down the couloir that drops from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak towards Dickson Pass. It has snow in it all year round, is steep, and would require the appropriate gear for most of the year. In late summer and autumn, the rib on the TL of the couloir should be snow-free and although steep, is not too tricky a scramble to get down. Drop off the rib into the couloir around the 1600m contour and sidle over onto the main ridge across a steep scree. Take care on this bit, as it's exposed and would be icy when snow covered. Drop from the flat area on the main ridge between point 1625m and Dickson Pass down the spur that separates Reckless Torrent and Snowy Stream. Drop into Snowy Stream around 1230m and climb onto the spur on its TR. The ridge forks at the 1180m contour and either fork can be used to access Cropp basin. A short scrub-bash is necessary in both cases near the bottom.
Mikonui Spur Biv and the track to it are currently designated as fully maintain. Ted Brennan of Bold Head was working for the Department of Conservation when the Biv was slated for likely removal following a review in the early 200s. He took one of the DOC planners up for a look at it and by doing this managed to get it reinstated to fully maintain. Ted got a letter of understanding from the Department to keep an eye on it following this, and he and his partner Annie Hughes self-funded a repaint. It looks like the Biv and track will continue to be maintained by DOC with some future input likely from the Back Country Trust. The access track was recut and marked by DOC in March 2018 and is still in reasonably good condition.
Location
Mikonui catchment. Grid Ref: E1431895/ N5233867 (BV18 319 339). Map BV18. 1130m altitude. Mikonui Spur Biv is located on a tussock bench at the scrubline of Mikonui Spur. The Spur divides the Dickson and Mikonui rivers and has superb views of Remarkable Peak, Galena Ridge, and out across the coastal plains to the Tasman Sea. The Biv can be accessed in a day from the Mikonui roadend and receives a steady, low-level flow of mostly overnight visitors (around 6-12 parties per year). Many try to fit in a climb of Mt Bowen and the more adventurous undertake various traverses of the Whitcombe/ Mikonui tops.
Access
Access to the Mikonui valley is via the Totara Valley Road, a very windy 16kms of gravel that is still maintained by the local Council. It's currently OK for 2WD as long as you've got a bit of clearance. There is a short section of track up the TR from the roadend that goes around a bluff, followed by an hour or so up some farmed river flats to where the Dickson River comes in. Ford the Mikonui River just up from the Dickson confluence where a routered sign is visible on the TL bank (1429161E/ 5234236N). Follow some sporadic poles from here up an old flood channel for 200m to the track entrance at the toe of the hill. The track climbs steeply onto a low terrace initially, then veers ENE up a broad bush spur, climbing steadily to around 850m.
The spur flattens here, and the track wends its way through the montane/ sub-alpine zone to where it steepens again and becomes more sharply defined. This section currently has a bit of flax, toi toi and scrub crowding it. A steep climb follows and leads onto a flat bench with tussock and scattered scrub at point 1116m. There is a dip into tussock gully and a short climb through a band of alpine scrub onto the bench where the Biv is located. Apart from the section mentioned, most of the track is in good order and well-marked. Allow 4-5 hours from the Mikonui roadend to the Biv. A ford of the Dickson is required if coming up the TL from Mikonui Flat Hut. This isn't as easy as the Mikonui ford above the Dickson Confluence. Neither should be trifled with after heavy rain.
Type
Mikonui Spur Biv was built in 1960 and was one of the last of the New Zealand Forest Service two-person B49 designs with a flat-iron roof and single louvre window at the far end. It is unusual for biv of that era in having a treated pine frame. The interior is a basic shell with no bunks but there are a couple of mattresses. There is no toilet, and a tarn next to the Biv provides drinking water. There is marginal cellphone reception here.
Condition
DOC replaced the piles and roof of the Biv in 2004. Ted and Annie rust-proofed, painted and sealed it in 2019. It is now Rescue Orange courtesy of Dulux. They also re-affixed a brace near the door and put in some tech screws where needed on the iron cladding. The Biv currently has patches of dampness around many of the wall studs where they connect with the floor and top plates. The window end is wet right along the floor and around the studs. Having said this, most of the floor area is dry and the Biv is very sound. The framing timber is treated and so is not rotting anywhere. Subfloor and piles look good. No obvious points of leakage so I'm assuming the moisture is blowing into the cladding seams, window flashings, and up through the louvre panes during storms. I'm also guessing that it's getting in at some places where the roof cladding is nailed to the rafters. The window frame, lintel etc. are all pretty sound with no obvious rot. There are some superficial rust patches and streaks on the cladding, but it all looks to be in relatively good shape. The door is sticking quite badly, and a crowbar has been left outside for popping it open.
Routes
Mt Bowen is accessed up the Spur through a band of scattered alpine scrub, then open tussock. At 1400m the ridge narrows and there is a short vertical section, with plenty of small alpine scrub handholds. Above the tussock line some fairly easy scree slopes lead to the summit. These are usually snow covered in winter, and spring and ice axes and crampons may be necessary on the summit ridge during the colder months. Chamois are often encountered on the climb up and the Biv logbook has accounts of tahr being spotted near the summit.
Traverses of Mt Bowen to Miserable and Misty Ridges are possible. There is a steep exposed section between the 1650 and 1550m contour of Miserable Ridge on which care needs to be taken. Lower down Miserable Ridge becomes a bit of a misnomer for this large flat high-altitude tussock bench sprinkled with large tarns and idyllic camp spots. Explorer Hut can be accessed from a prominent western side spur and an old NZFS track down to Explorer Saddle. The spur branches off Miserable Ridge at GPS E14234491/ N5235688 and drops steeply through an alpine scrub band that has had a rough track cut through it in most places. This leads to a flattish tussock bench from Pt. 1177m to Pt. 1122m, from where a cut and marked track leads down to Explorer Hut. This section was recut in 2021.
An old NZFS track from point 1433m down to Rapid Creek was recut in 2017. It goes down the spur on the TL of Illusion Creek to the bottom entrance where the Rapid Creek swingbridge used to be (E1437875/ N5235422). The top end through the alpine scrub is vague in places and zigs about a bit. It is fairly roughly cut from here down but OK to follow. A local possumer has done a bit of work trimming the scrub in the sub-alpine band. The short section up Rapid Creek from is a mix of DOC track and open streambed. Daniel Gillies and some Christchurch Tramping Club friends are planning to do a bit of work on both Miserable Ridge tracks in October this year.
Misty Ridge and the top of Noisy Creek basin can be accessed by dropping down the couloir from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak. The section of ridge between Noisy Creek Saddle and Misty Ridge has a couple of small, exposed notches between points 1648m and 1686m which can be done without a rope but are a bit marginal in terms of handholds. The alternative is a longish detour down Noisy Creek to around the 1400m contour, then back up the ridge to point 1686m. Once on Misty Ridge the travel is easy with good visibility or GPS. The Ridge forks at 1500m and the much better-defined North fork drops into the headwaters of Rapid Creek, while the main ridge running NE, drops down a broad, indistinct tussock face. There is a cairn near the correct drop-off around E1436655/ N5232338 (BV18 367 323).
Further down the ridge becomes more distinct, flattens and kinks East at point 1303m. There is a good-sized tarn and campsite 500m SE of point 1303m and more tarns and camp spots on the NE side of the Mt Browne summit. An old NZFS tops track provides access off Mt Browne down into Rapid Creek, entering the creek just downriver a bit from where the swingbridge used to be before DOC removed it. and not further up the Creek as indicated on NZ Topomaps. The top entrance of the track is at 1110m, E1438431/ N5233700 (BV18 384 337) and is not well defined. The track was recut and permolatted by me in 2018-19 and is still easy to follow but has quite a bit of windfall and is starting to overgrow a bit.
From Mt Bowen you can also continue over Sentinel Peak and down the spur on the TR of Noisy Creek basin. There is a fairly spacious rock biv at 1190m on the TR of Noisy Creek (E1436205/ N5231019) and track leads from a bench on the TR lip of the basin down a steep spur to the Whitcombe. It's a DOC maintain track last cut in 2018 but it's now getting overgrown and hard to follow in places when dropping down the mid faces. Flood and windthrow damage at the bottom end was cleaned up by Indy Hawthorne and Max Kikstra in 2024 and a new section track cut starting at 1439117E/ 5230154N. They also did some trimming and marking up to 440m. DOC are planning to recut the track towards the end of summer.
An old NZFS track from the Noisy Creek tops down through the alpine scrub into the Cropp Basin is probably no longer followable in its mid-section. Alternative access into the Cropp basin is possible down the couloir that drops from the low point between Mt Bowen and Sentinel Peak towards Dickson Pass. It has snow in it all year round, is steep, and would require the appropriate gear for most of the year. In late summer and autumn, the rib on the TL of the couloir should be snow-free and although steep, is not too tricky a scramble to get down. Drop off the rib into the couloir around the 1600m contour and sidle over onto the main ridge across a steep scree. Take care on this bit, as it's exposed and would be icy when snow covered. Drop from the flat area on the main ridge between point 1625m and Dickson Pass down the spur that separates Reckless Torrent and Snowy Stream. Drop into Snowy Stream around 1230m and climb onto the spur on its TR. The ridge forks at the 1180m contour and either fork can be used to access Cropp basin. A short scrub-bash is necessary in both cases near the bottom.
Remarkable Peak detour on the Cropp Basin side
Those wanting to traverse the tops to Healey Creek Hut or Top Tuke Hut need to detour around Remarkable Peak's imposing, vertical eastern ridge. A sidle is possible on the Cropp side from BV18 320 301 across at 1540m and up an easy narrow gut to BV18 316 301 on the flat section SW of the summit. Continue past pt. 1673m up onto the start of Galena Ridge. Healey Spur drops from here down a steep rib of tussock and loose rock when snow-free. There is a dip at the bottom of this, followed by a short razor-backed section that can be traversed with care, or avoided by dropping onto the tussock slopes on the Healey Creek side and sidling between the 1500 and 1600m contours. It is necessary to climb back onto the Spur either SE or NW of point 1643m due to deep slots that prevent a direct sidle down to the Hut.
Travel along Galena Ridge from Remarkable Peak to point 1794m very straightforward in good conditions. Top Tuke Hut is accessed down the prominent ridge that runs West from point 1864m. There is one short, exposed section near the top of the ridge that can be negotiated without too much difficulty. The spur forks further down and the SE branch is taken. Drop from this in a southerly direction into the basin below. A route through a band of bluffs down into the Tuke River can at the lip of the basin on the TR, next to the top of the waterfall. A small notch here, around E1428665/ N5227080 (BV18 287 271), provides access down onto some steep rib with a small creek on the TR. The creek can be followed down towards the Hut, which is visible from the top of the bluffs in fine weather. Sidle out on the creek where it flattens and make a direct beeline through patchy scrub to the Hut.
There used to be an old NZFS track from the 1300m contour on Mikonui Spur down the ridge that separates Kaka Creek and the upper Mikonui. It would have emerged somewhere opposite the start of the track to Explorer Saddle. It was permolatted originally but was never maintained. In terms of ease of travel, or usefulness as a route, it probably differs little from the untracked ridges in the vicinity.
Repairs Needed
The door needs planing to stop it sticking and the outside bolt needs refastening. The roof leaks would best be investigated during a bit of extreme weather.
Provisions on site
The ubiquitous DOC hearth shovel and brush, two fold-up chairs, a crowbar, and two paintbrushes. There is a 3m length of 50x50 H3, a 3 m length of 75x50 pine, two 20 litre plastic water containers, and a pair of Buller lace-up rubber gummies stored under the Biv.
There used to be an old NZFS track from the 1300m contour on Mikonui Spur down the ridge that separates Kaka Creek and the upper Mikonui. It would have emerged somewhere opposite the start of the track to Explorer Saddle. It was permolatted originally but was never maintained. In terms of ease of travel, or usefulness as a route, it probably differs little from the untracked ridges in the vicinity.
Repairs Needed
The door needs planing to stop it sticking and the outside bolt needs refastening. The roof leaks would best be investigated during a bit of extreme weather.
Provisions on site
The ubiquitous DOC hearth shovel and brush, two fold-up chairs, a crowbar, and two paintbrushes. There is a 3m length of 50x50 H3, a 3 m length of 75x50 pine, two 20 litre plastic water containers, and a pair of Buller lace-up rubber gummies stored under the Biv.