Back country - remote
Loop
Mountainous
Native bush
Open ridges/tops
Gravel Road
Moderate Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +15.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -14.6%
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Not suitable
Slow
6:00
Moderate
4:00
Fast
Only take this route if you are confident on scree!
Start with a cruisy warm-up along Dracophyllum Flat Track for just over 3 km. Look out for the turn-off to Cuckoo Creek Track on your right and head straight uphill for about 2 km until the track joins Mt Cheeseman Skifield Road. A bit of a slog up the gravel road, or cut the switchbacks by scrambling straight up.
The road ends at the lodge, so find your way up the gravel slopes of Mt Cheeseman Skifield (follow the ski lifts) until you get to the top, where you'll see a sign for Mt Cockayne. Turn right and head along the ridgeline, lots of scree sliding and scrambling fun. The ridge is very exposed and dangerous in windy conditions, play it safe if you're unsure.
You'll be on the ridgeline for about 6 km. Follow your nose over a couple of peaks towards Broken River Skifield, pass the top of the ski lifts at Nervous Knob, then it's a climb to Hamilton Peak, the highest point at 1920m. There's a bit of track to follow from the knob but it soon disappears. Over the peak is Craigieburn Skifield. Leave the ridge and follow your nose down the skifield slopes towards the Whakamaru Day Lodge, then down the access road for a couple of switchbacks, looking out for the start of Craigieburn Edge Track heading right.
It's off the road and into native bush along this track, which sidles along the contour line for some great stretch-out running after all the scree scrambling! About 3.5 km you'll meet the Lyndon Saddle Track - leave the Edge Track and take the Lyndon Saddle Track uphill until you meet a trail junction (where you can do an out-and-back detour up to the top of Helicopter Hill if you're extra keen). From there, blast down The Luge until you hit the Broken River Skifield Road. Turn right and it's about half a km up the road until you're back to the car.
This trail includes the peaks Hamilton Peak, Mount Cockayne and Nervous Knob.
If you know of any public toilets near the trail start or on the route, please login and then let us know so we can update this section.
Park on the edge of the gravel road leading towards the Environmental Education Centre.
11 km
15 minutes
Unknown
No
Hard.
Patchy.
Thermal leggings, Lightweight fleece top, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map, Crampons / microspikes (for winter conditions), Gaiters
No water on route, carry everything you'll need.
Snow-covered in winter. Snow on the ridge possible any time of year, check weather forecast and be prepared. Exposed to cold winds on tops at any time of year.
Scree slopes
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Craigieburn Tops
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Really fun run, especially if you like mountain ridges! Awesome views up top, and who doesn't love beech forest trails?
For a bit more distance and elevation, you can add the peak of Mt Cheeseman as an out and back. Just turn left when you reach the end of the ski lift and follow the ridge. This added about 5 km return and maybe 400 metres of elevation. Including Mt Cheeseman and Helicopter Hill, it came to just over 29k and 2350 m elevation gain.
Although there's no water on the higher parts, there's some when you get to the bottom of the Craigieburn ski field.
January 28, 2023
Really great run, lots of scree up top. The key is to get good weather when you do this as you are pretty exposed up along the ridge line.
March 14, 2020
really nice circuit run - works well in the direction described, and the directions are clear (including look out for the Cookoo creek turnoff!).
February 9, 2020
These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.