Cameron Valley Hut

Cameron Valley Hut

5th and 6th March 2022

Two club members met in Wanaka late Saturday morning knowing the weather was fine and
the walk into Cameron Valley Hut was only around 5hrs in duration
We then drove to the carpark for the Cameron Valley Lookout just past Makarora and
commenced walking at 10.30am
The track starts as a well formed “tourist” walkway for about 10 minutes until the lookout.
From this point it is a marked route and changes in intensity quite dramatically.
The track was well marked and easy to follow with a couple of slightly nerving parts close to
deep bluffs, certainly not for those whom suffer from vertigo.
Total altitude difference was circa +600m, but total ascent was +1187m and descent -675m
giving an indication of the variability of the track, which explains the +5hrs for a short 7.3km
track.
Following the gorge was very scenic with a good amount of birdlife in evidence and a variety
of our great kiwi Flora.
Lunch was had at approximately 12.30 following the only major river crossing on the track.
The hut was reached at 4.00pm. Cameron Valley Hut was built in 1960 but has obviously
had repairs and maintenance done well over that time as the roof and chimney were fairly
new and the hut was in very good condition overall.
Apart from a couple of day walkers we met no-one else so had the hut to ourselves for the
night.
Late afternoon was spent exploring nearby waterfalls and creeks.
The return trip to the carpark on Sunday was obviously a bit quicker and took roughly four
hours. Rain was forecast so we needed to ensure we crossed the river before then.
A quick stop for refreshments at Makarora, a drop of in Wanaka then the drive back to
Oamaru where surprisingly the weather was better than in Wanaka. That doesn’t happen
much!.
Thanks to Dave Woods for the company.
Julian