Hawdon Valley: 1-2 Februrary 2013

An overnight tramp up the Hawdon Valley

In early December 2012 I went for an overnight trip to Hawdon Hut at the head of the Hawdon river valley. I had been this way back in the 1980's but I've not visited since then. 

Hawdon Hut II, Arthur's Pass National Park

There is a new hut built to replace the old version which burnt down in 2010. 

The older Lockwood style Hawdon Hut in the early 2000's

I am very impressed with this new hut, it has been moved to a much better location and is very tidy and spacious. The hut has 18 bunks but could quite easily take more than this if required.

Map of the Hawdon Valley

Day one: Heading to Hawdon Hut from Hawdon Shelter

The tramp to Hawdon Hut starts at the Hawdon Camp-site at the end of  the Hawdon Valley. If you don't like wet feet then you are out of luck, because you have to cross the Hawdon River in the first five minutes.

The entrance to the Hawdon Valey campsite

Hawdon Valley Camp shelter, Hawdon Valley

The very basic Hawdon Valley Camp site....toilets are the only amenity

Map: the Hawdon Camp site, Arthur's Pass NP

Mostly, the river is ankle to knee high, but can get much higher when in flood.

Hawdon river, near Hawdon shelter

True right of Hawdon river after a successful crossing

Over Sudden Valley Stream and heading up Hawdon Valley

After crossing the Hawdon river and Sudden Valley stream you look for and follow the old 4WD track leading up valley. This is by far the easiest and quickest way to travel, it goes all the way up to the East Hawdon confluence, which is the ridge line in the middle of the photo.



4 WD track heading up Hawdon Valley from near Sudden Valley Stream

The 4 W/D track was built to facilitate a study of the native bird population in the valley, this is one of those happy coincidences when trampers benefit from some other activity in the bush. Thanks DOC!

Hawdon Valley: 2 kms up valley, before East Hawdon confluence



Looking up East Branch Hawdon valley

 Once over the East Hawdon, you follow along the river banks and move along short lengths of bush track, there are at least 4 required crossings of the Hawdon River, this is not a track too be attempted in heavy rain, as the river would become impassable.

Sidle track, through bush heading up valley



Track following alongside Hawdon River

 The track closely follows the river, with some areas of travel on the riverbed itself, you need to keep an open eye for the markers etc. as some of them are not very obvious.

Hawdon River Valley; 5 km point up valley from the campsite

 The hut up this valley is new, the original burnt down in 2010 after some fool threw hot ashes under the hut. I stayed in Hawdon Hut way back in the 1990's it was one of the Lockwood designs that were so popular with the Arthurs Pass NP board. A nice hut in a good location, but the new location is so much better.

Hawdon Hut Mark I in the early 2000's

Here is Hawdon Hut II, built in 2010 to replace the old hut, it is 1 km upstream from the old hut site. It is very nice and sits in an excellent location with views of the surrounding mountains, this is a much nicer spot than the old location, so at least something good came of the fire.

Hawdon Hut Mark II

Me on the veranda of Hawdon Hut

Very spacious and light within, the facilities are excellent, with bunk platforms and mattresses for 18 people. There were 12 people here on the night I stayed, they all arrived after 3pm, I had the hut to myself up to that point.

Interior of Hawdon Hut: bunkroom, cooking bench, wood burner



Interior of Hawdon Hut: the common area



Interior of Hawdon Hut: Bunk room

Lovely view from the veranda, there are lots of excellent looking camping spots on the river flats across the river.

View from veranda of Hawdon Hut, Arthur's Pass NP



Mountains at head of Hawdon valley

Sunset on the tops, from Hawdon Hut

At Hawdon Hut: a hand hewn wooden bench, cool!

Jon Moake inside Hawdon Hut, Arthur's Pass NP

Woodshed and toilets out the back of Hawdon Hut

Day two: Hawdon Hut to Hawdon Shelter

  The next morning I set off at 7am for the road head, here is one of the forest sidles you pass on the way down valley. I always start out early in the morning, it is the best time of the day to travel in my opinion.

Sidle track heading down valley towards Discovery Stream



Crossing Discovery Stream near the old Hawdon Hut site

Hawdon Valley Track, meadow next to Hawdon River

 There are a lot of good camping spots in this valley, this is about 200m from the East Hawdon, heading down valley. I will be coming back and camping in this area sometime in the future.

Hawdon Valley: a meadow, up valley from East Hawdon River

Woolshed Hill from the Hawdon Valley floor

As you can see the 4 W/D track is fairly easy to see, following this track will save you about 45mins each way, so it is worth finding it.

View of the Black Range from near Sudden Valley Stream

Hawdon Valley: 4WD track looking back up valley

Back over Hawdon Stream heading for home

 I stopped at the Sheffield pie shop on the way home to get a pie, they are excellent and they have won several awards. Nothing like a pie after eating dehydrated food the previous evening!

Sheffield pie shop, yum!

The Hawdon Valley might not be the most remote area but it is beautiful nonetheless. You don't have to go to a wilderness area to enjoy solitude in New Zealand, we are very lucky in that respect.

Access: SH73 to the Mt White Road turn off, once over the Mt White bridge head left to Hawdon Shelter. From Hawdon Shelter follow the track crossing the Hawdon River and Surprise Stream, follow the 4 W/D track up valley.
Track Times: 4 hours from the Hawdon Shelter
Hut Details: Hawdon Shelter: day shelter only- no bunks, no water but does have open fireplace. There are plenty of rough camp-sites here: Hawdon Hut; serviced, 18  bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed.
Miscellaneous: Hawdon River, East Hawdon and Sudden Valley Stream susceptible to flooding in heavy rain, none of the rivers or side streams are bridged. Numerous required river crossings. This IS NOT a wet weather destination.