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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -42.94608, 171.74996. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 18 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 6-8 hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Arthur's Pass National Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
A good introduction to backcountry tramping with multiple river crossings. This is a suitable trip for families if the river is not too high.
This DOC directory entry covers Hawdon Hut Track in Canterbury, within Arthur's Pass National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 18 km return via same track
- Walking time: 6-8 hr
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
Hawdon Hut TrackImage: DOC
This track begins at the Hawdon Shelter Campsite, accessed from Mt White Road. Follow the track for about 50 m and head straight out into the riverbed of the Hawdon River. This is where you'll find the easiest crossings of the lower Hawdon River. If the river is not easy to cross you will have problems further on, so save the trip for another day.
Cross the river and continue along the track through open terrain. After crossing the stock fence and the Sudden Valley Stream, the track enters the forest for about 3 km.
When you leave the forest, the track returns to the riverbed. A second crossing of the Hawdon River is required. Once on the other side, follow the marked 4WD track until you reach the crossing of the East Hawdon River.
About 1 km upstream, you'll need to cross the Hawdon River a third time. From there, the track remains mostly within the forest, with a few short sections along the riverbed.
Approximately 200 m before reaching the hut, you'll make the final river crossing – Discovery Stream. This the last river crossing of the journey.
Getting there
Follow SH73 to the signposted turnoff to Mt White Road. Then follow the gravel road over the bridge and take the first left to Hawdon Valley. The track starts at Hawdon Shelter Campsite.
Know before you go
Plan for river crossings
There are numerous river crossings along this route. Do not attempt this track during and after heavy rainfall. Rivers and major side streams can rise quickly and become dangerous.
Ensure you have the latest weather information and that you are confident in assessing rivers and knowing how to cross them safely.
How to cross rivers safely - Mountain Safety Council website
DOC markers may not indicate the safest crossing point. You may need to walk upstream or downstream to find a more suitable place to cross.
If travelling this route during rainy weather take spare food in case you are stuck in the hut by rising river levels.
DOC staff use 4-wheel motorbikes to access the valley to protect the endangered kakariki/orange-fronted parakeet. Coloured markers and tape in the valley mark access points for DOC staff. Do not follow these markers. Follow only the standard orange track markers.
Nature and conservation
The Hawdon Valley is home to some of Aotearoa’s most endangered wildlife, including the orange-fronted parakeet/kākāriki karaka, great spotted kiwi/roroa, blue duck/whio, rock wren/pīwauwau, and yellowhead/mohua. This diverse valley provides a rare sanctuary for species that are found in only a handful of places across the country.
Thanks to ongoing intensive predator control, the Hawdon Valley is one of just five known locations in New Zealand where the critically endangered orange-fronted parakeet survives in the wild. Its close relative, the yellow-fronted parakeet/kākāriki kakariki kōwhai, is also present and is more commonly seen.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
