Wheel Creek Hut
Wheel Creek route. Actual trackline marked in red.
Maintenance Status
Wheel Creek Hut is designated as minimal maintenance. The route up to it is not a cut one, nor is it officially maintained, but the Department of Conservations has gone through and marked it with orange triangles. Members of the Over 40s Tramping Club did some work on it in 2012, but parts of the mid-valley section are overgrown and getting difficult to follow again.
Location
Maruia River catchment. Map BS22. Grid Ref: NZTM E1528176/ N5342003 (BS22 282 420). Elevation 810m. Wheel Creek Hut is located in a large clearing on the TR in the head of Wheel Creek. It is seldom visited due to its remote location, reports of the route being difficult, and lack of good access information. The current uncut marked route was established in 2010. The hut gets 4-8 visits a year currently.
Access
Access to Wheel Creek is gained from Boundary Road, which turns off SH65 at Warwick Junction, North of Maruia. Cross the Maruia River and turn right at the Ringmer farm turnoff just after the bridge. Permission to travel up the farm road is required from the owner, Peter Brooker (021 243 2147)). 2WD vehicles can be driven to Norris Creek and a high stud 4WD could get you all the way to Wheel Creek but it's a very rough trail for the pros only.
The Wheel Creek route as marked on NZ Topo maps is not accurate. The actual route marked with orange triangles starts where the 4WD trail hits Wheel Creek. It goes straight up onto the terrace on the Creek's TL and follows this through open and easy beech forest. The route drops briefly to the riverbed, then begins a steep climb up to around the 600m contour. From here it drops a little and begins a rough sidle across a steep section of the valley. Bush lawyer, small hardwoods, and beech spars hamper progress and the markers are not always clearly visible. At the end of this section there is a steep drop down to a side-creek. From here it is reasonably straightforward travel along open forest terraces. The route crosses to TR for the last bit couple of kms, not the TL as marked on the Topo maps. Allow 4-5 hours from the bottom of Wheel Creek to the Hut. A vegetation trim and more markers are needed on sidle section of the route. Any updates on route conditions can be given to Sam Symonds at [email protected].
It is reportedly possible to ignore the route and follow Wheel Creek itself to the Hut, although it is necessary to climb out and sidle in a couple of places on the steep mid-section of the Creek.
Type
Wheel Creek is a standard six-bunk NZFS S70 design with open fire, probably built in the 1960's. The open fire is somewhat smoky with the window closed. Water is from the Creek. There is no toilet.
Condition
Wheel Creek Hut is in generally good condition, sound and weathertight currently. It was repainted by DOC in 2016, although some small rust streaks have started showing again in a few places. The paint on the wooden window frames is flaking and some of the cladding on the south wall has started to rust where it comes into contact with the ground.
East of Pt 1263m looking back to Pt 1419m
Routes
A tops traverse to Kirwans Hut is possible from Wheel Creek along the range that divides the Awarua and Montgomerie catchments. A steep gully takes you up to Waitahu Saddle and a climb up through the forest onto the crest from here. The crest above the bushline is easy travel with the odd bit of scrambling as far as Pt 1419m after which there is a steep drop down to a bush saddle SE of Pt 1311m. Climb a short distance up from the saddle, then sidle across the faces towards Pt 1263m. The bush on this section is stunted and quite thick in places but eventually gets you to an open area on the SE flanks of Pt 1263m. There are a couple of small tarns and a picturesque campsite here. The crest is rejoined after this and followed back down into the forest where the going is pretty open and easy all the way along to Pt 1315m. A marked route leads from here down to Kirwans Hut. Allow 8-10 hours for the crossing. The only water sources on the route are the tarns at Pt 1263m and a tarn just east of Pt 1315m.
From Peter Brooker’s Farm an overgrown stock track can be followed to the bush line below Creighton Peak. Peter is approachable and it is best to ask him where to find this route. The ridge can be followed over or around Mt Crosscut and onto Waitahu Saddle. There are tarns with good campsites from Mt Crosscut onward. It is better to drop directly off Waitahu Saddle than take a seemingly more direct line into Wheel Creek.
A route to the Awarua/ Larry River involves continuing up the TR of Wheel Creek to the first marked side-creek. A light track goes up the TL rib of the creek towards the Saddle from where there is a grand view down Silcock Creek and over to the surrounding peaks. It is straightforward travel down through the top basin of Silcock Creek and there are some great camping spots. Head up the broad spur at the bottom end of the basin, on the TR of the side-creek that drains the tarn and Pt. 1302m. The tarn there is shallow and lacks a sheltered campsite. Continue along the long NW ridge from Pt. 1302m. Navigation skills are required at the top, but the remainder down into the Larry River is straightforward. Getting off the toe of the ridge is not particularly easy, and the 400m of river travel from here down to the Larry River forks involves some pack-floats at normal flows. This section would become impassable with rain and sidling is not a practical option. Further down the Larry a sidle on the TR above some gorgy sections is required, and not river travel as recommended in Sven Brabyn's guide. The first reasonable camping spot is the marked flat above the Bateman confluence. Rounded river rocks could make for difficult crossings in places at above-normal flows. A useful section of pack-track can be picked up on the TL below the 230m contour. The river widens eventually and wading becomes more pleasant. Continue down to the Caledonian Mine and the marked track out to the road.
A tops traverse to Kirwans Hut is possible from Wheel Creek along the range that divides the Awarua and Montgomerie catchments. A steep gully takes you up to Waitahu Saddle and a climb up through the forest onto the crest from here. The crest above the bushline is easy travel with the odd bit of scrambling as far as Pt 1419m after which there is a steep drop down to a bush saddle SE of Pt 1311m. Climb a short distance up from the saddle, then sidle across the faces towards Pt 1263m. The bush on this section is stunted and quite thick in places but eventually gets you to an open area on the SE flanks of Pt 1263m. There are a couple of small tarns and a picturesque campsite here. The crest is rejoined after this and followed back down into the forest where the going is pretty open and easy all the way along to Pt 1315m. A marked route leads from here down to Kirwans Hut. Allow 8-10 hours for the crossing. The only water sources on the route are the tarns at Pt 1263m and a tarn just east of Pt 1315m.
From Peter Brooker’s Farm an overgrown stock track can be followed to the bush line below Creighton Peak. Peter is approachable and it is best to ask him where to find this route. The ridge can be followed over or around Mt Crosscut and onto Waitahu Saddle. There are tarns with good campsites from Mt Crosscut onward. It is better to drop directly off Waitahu Saddle than take a seemingly more direct line into Wheel Creek.
A route to the Awarua/ Larry River involves continuing up the TR of Wheel Creek to the first marked side-creek. A light track goes up the TL rib of the creek towards the Saddle from where there is a grand view down Silcock Creek and over to the surrounding peaks. It is straightforward travel down through the top basin of Silcock Creek and there are some great camping spots. Head up the broad spur at the bottom end of the basin, on the TR of the side-creek that drains the tarn and Pt. 1302m. The tarn there is shallow and lacks a sheltered campsite. Continue along the long NW ridge from Pt. 1302m. Navigation skills are required at the top, but the remainder down into the Larry River is straightforward. Getting off the toe of the ridge is not particularly easy, and the 400m of river travel from here down to the Larry River forks involves some pack-floats at normal flows. This section would become impassable with rain and sidling is not a practical option. Further down the Larry a sidle on the TR above some gorgy sections is required, and not river travel as recommended in Sven Brabyn's guide. The first reasonable camping spot is the marked flat above the Bateman confluence. Rounded river rocks could make for difficult crossings in places at above-normal flows. A useful section of pack-track can be picked up on the TL below the 230m contour. The river widens eventually and wading becomes more pleasant. Continue down to the Caledonian Mine and the marked track out to the road.
Looking down the northern Victoria Range to Mt Ralph - Photo Tom Hanchett
The Northern Victoria Range allows for fairly easy travel with small traverses, or a little scrambling required around some of the peaks. It is dotted with tarns all the way, so one wouldn’t need to carry water for more than half an hour. Mt Ralph with its sheer northern and western faces can be easily traversed on its eastern shoulder. Approaching from the south can be best done via the small catchment draining the southern side of the peak. One could allow 3-4 hours from Larry Saddle to Mt Victoria, 2-3 hours from there to Mt Pelion, and 4 hours from there to Mt Wynn. The Brunner Range from Mt Wynn to Mt Curtis Hut is easy travel with numerous small tarns.
The Victoria Range south of Waitahu Saddle is fairly easy travel initially but becomes increasingly demanding closer to Ivess Peak. The south ridge of Ivess has some impassable vertical sections, the only way around being a descent to the small lake in the TL branch of the Woolley River and a climb back up onto Pt. 1627m. There are no accounts of anyone doing the traverse from Waitahu Saddle to Lake Stream Hut in any of the various hut books.
Repairs
A bit of preemptive rust work would be useful. The windowsills need repainting. DOC are planning to replace the lead head nails in the roof with tech screws at some point. A toilet would be a useful addition.
Provisions on Site
Three billies, two frypans, a steel ash bucket, a stainless-steel bucket, a plastic bucket, an axe, a saw, a hearth shovel and brush, and a broom. There is a wooden roof ladder under the hut.
The Victoria Range south of Waitahu Saddle is fairly easy travel initially but becomes increasingly demanding closer to Ivess Peak. The south ridge of Ivess has some impassable vertical sections, the only way around being a descent to the small lake in the TL branch of the Woolley River and a climb back up onto Pt. 1627m. There are no accounts of anyone doing the traverse from Waitahu Saddle to Lake Stream Hut in any of the various hut books.
Repairs
A bit of preemptive rust work would be useful. The windowsills need repainting. DOC are planning to replace the lead head nails in the roof with tech screws at some point. A toilet would be a useful addition.
Provisions on Site
Three billies, two frypans, a steel ash bucket, a stainless-steel bucket, a plastic bucket, an axe, a saw, a hearth shovel and brush, and a broom. There is a wooden roof ladder under the hut.
