Māori Saddle Route: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

The Māori Saddle Route takes you from the Historic Haast to Paringa Track to Mataketake Hut.

This DOC directory entry covers Māori Saddle Route in West Coast, within Haast, Paringa and Moeraki rivers area. 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: 9 hrs one way from SH6
• 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.

Seasonal restrictions

In winter, snow may affect access to, and along, the tops to the hut. The tracks are located in a popular Haast Roar hunting area, so may be particularly busy throughout the Roar period (mid-March to mid-April).

Dog access

Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

Māori Saddle Route is started from the Historic Haast to Paringa Cattle Track.

The turn off to Māori Saddle Route is signposted 10 min after Māori Saddle Hut on the Historic Haast to Paringa Cattle Track.

Turn off to Mataketake Hut

The route up to the tops from here is well marked, but there are some steep sections to go through. After about 2 hours and 30 minutes of climbing you reach the pole markers at the edge of the open tops. This gives you a great view of Lake Dime on a clear day.

From the bush edge markers, follow the poled route for about 20 minutes to Mataketake Hut. Take extra care in poor visibility or wait for the weather to clear before heading onto the tops.

Return to the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track via the Māori Saddle Route or Mica Mine Tops Route dependant on weather conditions.

Getting there

Māori Saddle Route is started from the Historic Haast to Paringa Cattle Track.

The turn off to Māori Saddle Route is signposted 10 min after Māori Saddle Hut on the Historic Haast to Paringa Cattle Track.

Know before you go

What to expect

• A challenging backcountry tramp, with a rough unformed track and marker poles

• Exposure to weather while on the tops – it’s common to experience high wind, rain/snow, freezing temperatures and low visibility

• Unbridged stream crossings on the lower sections of the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track

• In winter, snow may prevent you getting onto the tops or to Mataketake Hut

• People hunting during the roar (mid-March to mid-April)

Mataketake Hut in snowImage: Cameron Bollard, DOC use only

Mataketake Hut in cloudImage: Cameron Bollard, DOC use only

What you need

To enjoy this challenging but rewarding route, you should:

• be comfortable walking 8 hours in a day through rough terrain

• be experienced in backcountry alpine tramping, including in untracked areas and in bad weather – you need to be able to judge when the conditions are safe to proceed and when to wait at a hut, camp where you are, or turn back

• have good navigation skills, e.g. able to use GPS or a map and compass

• have good river crossing skills

How to plan and prepare

Streams on the Haast to Paringa Cattle Track flood quickly when raining. We recommend waiting for water levels to drop before crossing. How to cross a river safely.

Contact the DOC Visitor Centre at Haast to get a current weather report before starting your trip. Weather on the tops can be extreme. Assess the weather as you reach the tops, and turn back if you aren’t equipped for the conditions.

Times given are a guide only and will vary greatly with fitness and weather. Tramping in this area is demanding, so allow plenty of extra time.

Packing for this trip

• This is a remote tramp and you will need to be self-sufficient. Make sure to pack a distress beacon, emergency shelter, and extra food.

• Pack plenty of warm and waterproof clothing, so you can stay warm and dry on the tops.

Nature and conservation

Movement along the Alpine Fault has caused the uplift of the Mataketake Range, creating a fascinating landscape both above and below the bush line. At lower altitudes the routes pass through an attractive mix of rimu, beech and hardwood species, before climbing up onto the tops with rock fields, tussock and views across the Southern Alps Ka Tiritiri o te Moana and the Tasman Sea.

The Moeraki/Mataketake area has abundant wildlife and intact ecosystems thanks to an ongoing programme of landscape scale 1080 operations to control introduced pests – possums, rats and stoats. The native birdlife is outstanding and on this walk you will be treated to melodious calls from many native bird species. It is one of the few places where kākā are abundant and there have been reports of kiwi calls and mohua. Report any sightings/calls of kiwi or other less common native species.

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.