Breast Hill - Timaru Creek Loop

The trail starts with a steep narrow switch back which then takes you to a small saddle above Lake Hawea. From there a steep and exposed ridgeline will lead you towards the summit which you will be able to spot in the distance.

The track forks near Pakituhi Hut. Take the steep track to Breast Hill summit. Alternatively, if the there is too much snow you can take the track to Pakituhi Hut - NB this trail is part of the Te Araroa so it can get quite a bit of traffic in the summer.

From the fork the trail leads up a steep track to another incredible ridgeline which leads you all the way to the summit of Breast Hill (1578m) . From the summit, take a relatively easy 4wd track to Stodys Hut. This 4wd road is about 7km along the tops until it drops down to the hut which is just above the bush line. From the hut the track gets steep and technical as it leads you straight down to the valley. Once in the valley the track runs the whole way up Timaru Creek.

You will end up crossing the river 10-12 times so if you aren't confident with river crossings then maybe this isn't the trail for you. Keep your eyes peeled for the orange doc markers as they can be hard to spot at times. In the first few kms you will cross a few steep overgrown gullys - keep to narrow animal tracks as this is the easiest way through.

After about 7-8 km you will come to the confluence of Deer Spur Creek and Timaru Creek. Junction Hut is tucked up against the hill on the true left of deer spur creek.

The river crossings will get deeper from here as you continue downriver. There is a high river track alternative if you are concerned about the river crossings. The track leads up a spur opposite Junction Hut. Look out for the orange markers. The track runs parallel to the river and has quite a lot of up and down to tackle.

Once you have reached the Timaru Creek carpark, head down the gravel road for about 5-6km, back to the Breast Hill carpark