Lake Kaurapataka Route: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

This track starts and finishes at Aickens car park beside SH73, 5 km west of Ōtira township.

This DOC directory entry covers Lake Kaurapataka Route 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: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
• Walking time: 6-7 hr over 1-2 days
• DOC grade: Expert

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.

• Fallen trees on Lake Kaurapataka Track; First published on 10 November 2025. Last reviewed on 14 September 2026.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

This is a not a trip for bad weather. Do not attempt the route if the Ōtira River is unable to be forded.

If the Ōtira River is able to be forded, start from the Aickens car park, cross the stile and follow the fence line to the river. Ford the Ōtira River then aim for the orange triangle immediately opposite.

Follow the orange markers and track to Clear Creek. Cross Clear Creek to the 4WD access track and follow this to the sign-posted turn-off at Pfeifer Creek. From here follow the streambed of Pfeifer Creek for about 100 m to the start of the track on the true right. The track passes through red-beech forest to the confluence of Pfeifer Creek and the stream draining the lake. It crosses the stream and continues up the true left to the lake.

You can walk the route in 1 day but it is worth taking 2 days and camping next to the lake. There are several good spots along the lake edge and cairns mark where to leave the track to find these campsites.

The track to the Otehake River continues to the head of the lake then up a short climb to a saddle between the lake and the river. From there the track drops steeply into the Otehake and another good campsite. The route down the Otehake is mostly on the true right, boulder hopping beside the river, crossing where necessary. This is not possible in rain or if rivers are high. Ford the Otehake again just above where it joins the Taramakau and the walk down the river flats back to Ōtira River.

Getting there

This trip starts at Aickens car park beside SH73, 5km west of Otira township. You need to ford Otira River to access the Taramakau Valley.

If the Otira River is not easy to ford, postpone your tramp until another day.

Know before you go

Topo Map: NZ Topo 50 Otira BV20, Cass BV21, Moana BU20, Haupiri BU21Experience: Suitable for well-equipped people with backcountry tramping experience. Rivercrossing and route finding skills are required.

Safety: Fine weather is required when crossing the Otira. Allow adequate time. \Check snow and weather conditions. Navigational skills and ability to judge weather and river conditions are essential. Be prepared to turn back if conditions are not safe. Note: True right and true left refers to the sides of the valley when looking downstream.

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.