Last Updated: 18th Sep 2024
Youngman Stream - Tarn Hut Loop
Submitted by Daniel Parkinson
Last Updated: 18th Sep 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 46 ?
Gnarl Factor: 25 ?
33.2km
1550m
1550m
1405m
Last Updated: 18th Sep 2024
Submitted by Daniel Parkinson
Last Updated: 18th Sep 2024
Open
Grunt Factor: 46 ?
Gnarl Factor: 25 ?
33.2km
1550m
1550m
1405m
Front country - easily accessible
Combo
Undulating, some big hills
Native bush
Riverside
Open farmlands
Open tussock/grasslands
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Moderate Single Track
Average Uphill Gradient: +8.3%
Average Downhill Gradient: -8.3%
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5:30
Slow
4:00
Moderate
3:00
Fast
From the car park on the road, run 3.4km to a gate (this bit may be skipped if you drive here). Then, follow the farm 4WD track for around 4km. There is a crossing of the Lilburne River required, but usually this is only calf deep and presents no issues.
Continue another km to a DoC sign and a Y junction. From here, continue towards Youngman Stream Hut. Be careful to follow the markers and not sheep trails. The trail is relatively flat for a few kilometres, but then ascends steeply to almost reach the bushline, before descending back down to Youngman Stream, where a crossing is required to reach the hut. The stream is probably the best place to refill with water as the huts do not have tanks.
Cross back over the stream to begin a steep grunt to Lilburne Hill, the highest point on the run. From here, the trail descends to the picturesque Tarn Hut. A 4WD track then starts, with a gentle and fast descent back to the Y junction. From here, it is a flat and easy run on the farm track back to the car. Can be run in either direction, but I prefer to run in the described direction, to get the hardest bits out of the way first, and it is nicer to have a less steep downhill section from Lilburne Hill.
This trail includes the peak Lilburne Hill.
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.
Safe to park cars either at the end of the farm track or on the on the side of the road by the DoC sign.
25 km
35 minutes
No
No
Moderate.
Patchy.
Thermal leggings, Long-sleeved thermal top, Seam-sealed waterproof jacket, Gloves, Beanie/thermal headwear, Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Survival blanket, Cellphone, Map, Headtorch and spare batteries
Plenty of streams, but much of these go through farms. No tanks at either hut. Best place is Youngman Stream.
There is a large tarn next to Tarn Hut but this is frozen in winter and could be a bit stagnant.
Snow/ ice above the bushline when sufficiently cold.
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
You and Youngman Stream - Tarn Hut Loop
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Fun day out! Definitely do it anticlockwise. Maybe I’m a slow driver but it took me about 1 hr from Oxford. Check the road is open before you go as it’s often closed briefly due to slips (which foiled my first attempt).
Lots of boring farm track, but it’s worth it once you get into the bush, all the way till Tarn Hut, when you’re back on farm track again. It’s been wet recently and there were plenty of side creeks flowing on the way to Youngman Hut which I would happily have drunk out of. But after leaving the hut and crossing the river it was all dry so definitely fill your water there. Foggy and snowy at Tarn Hut which gave it a magical air. Then an easy run back to the car.
September 14
This is a run of 3 parts-the first 10k is quick and cruisy - the next 8k is slow and mostly walking and looks like some of the trail is either damaged or re-routed since the storm last year until Youngman hut followed by a very grunty steep uphill to the top of liliburne hill (trail good) .From Tarn Hut the going is good and mostly downhill. However, the "time to run" is not accurate ; 3hrs is impossible and I suspect that 4h20 was set before the storm damage. 4hr 45 I think would be fast and 6hr moderate and 7hr15 slow. I'm usually a midpack runner and was just under 6hr on a perfect day with a mostly dry trail. Definitely do in the direction described and watch carefully for the track markers in the middle section.
March 10, 2022
Great views from the ridgeline.
The run up Youngman stream was a bit more technical & slippery than I expected.
September 21, 2020
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