Great Walks of New Zealand
Hump Ridge
South Island
The Hump Ridge Track is a stunning multi-day hiking trail located in Fiordland, New Zealand. The track offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, goblin forests, and southern coastline. With a variety of terrain and landscapes, hikers can experience the beauty of New Zealand's wilderness while challenging themselves physically. The Hump Ridge Track is the latest addition to the Great Walks and is not for the faint of heart.
Quick Overview
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If you are keen to read our real experience of the track - Read here
The Hump Ridge Track
The Hump Ridge Track is the newest addition to New Zealand’s Great Walks, becoming a Great Walk in 2024. The track is located in Fiordland National Park in the South Island of New Zealand. The closest airport is Invercargill approx 1hr 15min drive or 2hrs 30min drive from Queenstown. The track can only be walked during the Great Walk season approx late Oct to end of April and is closed outside of this time due to harsh weather conditions.
The Hump Ridge is a 60km loop track that can be walked in either direction and takes 3 days to complete. It begins just outside of Tuatapere and there are 2 lodges located on the track, Okaka Lodge and Port Craig Lodge. The track is run by the Tuatapere Hump Track Charitable Trust and the lodges are significantly nicer and more expensive than the normal Great Walk DOC huts. The lodges have:
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Heating and lighting in the rooms
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Kitchens with pots/pans and utensils for hikers to use (no fridges)
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Free porridge breakfast incl coffee and tea
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A small shop to purchase dehydrated food, snacks, and the famous Tuatapere dinner meal (sausages, mash, and peas) that hikers can self-cook
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Showers - tokens can be purchased for $20 for a 5min hot shower
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Different room configurations incl bunk rooms and double rooms at differing costs
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Sleeping bags/pillows can also be hired at an extra cost for those in bunk rooms
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A bar
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Helicopter transport to carry packs up to Okaka Lodge at an extra cost of $150. Hikers must then carry their packs for the remaining 2 days
What to Expect
From Rarakau car park to Okaka Lodge direction
Day 1 – Rarakau car park to Okaka Lodge 22km / 7-9hrs
Day 1 will take approx 7-9hrs to hike over 22km. The hike starts from the Rarakau car park with hikers ambling through a little forest before dropping down some steep stairs and over suspension bridges before reaching Bluecliffs beach. From here hikers will walk 10km along the sand until rejoining the trail which hugs the coastline. A turn off will direct hikers into lush goblin-like forest over boardwalks and undulating terrain to Water Bridge Shelter. It's a good place to rest and re-fuel before proceeding.
Hikers can re-fill water here by dropping a bucket into a stream before tackling the most strenuous part of the track. From here the rest of the hike is 6km upwards. The climb is challenging over tree roots, scrambling over rocks, and ascending a plethora of stairs before reaching the ridgeline. On clear days, views over Te Waewae Bay are stunning. It is another 20-30 mins to Okaka lodge from the ridgeline turn off.
Day 2 – Okaka Lodge to Port Craig Lodge - 20km / 5-7hrs
The days starts with an unmissable sub-alpine loop track, next to Okaka Lodge, with incredible views on a clear day. Drop your packs at the turn off and head up for a 45min return trip. The rest of the day will take 7-9 hours as you descend Hump Ridge towards Port Craig Lodge. Hikers will follow the ridge and there will be some decent climbs up and over hills until you reach Luncheon Rock where you can stop for lunch and to re-fill water. From here the descent begins for hours through native bush via lots and lots of steps which can be hard on the knees. When you finally reach flat terrain, you are not far from crossing the Edwin and Percy Burn viaducts. The hike is flat, straight, and probably muddy from here to Port Craig Lodge.
Day 3 – Port Craig Lodge to Rarakau car park - 20km / 5-7hrs
The final 20km day is much easier than the first two days and will take approx 5 -7 hours from Port Craig Lodge back to Rarakau car park. The track meanders through forest and then comes out at Breakneck Beach. From here the track follows the coastline of Te Waewae Bay where you will ascend and descend in and out of bays and cross beaches until you reach the familiar coastal track completed on Day 1. Hikers will navigate Bluecliffs Beach again and farewell the last of the Hump Ridge stairs to reach the car park.
Day Walk Options
Sections of the Hump Ridge track are more difficult to hike as a day walk. The first 10km of the track from Rarakau car park is predominantly a beach walk. The return hike from the end of the beach is already 20km. For fit hikers it is possible to hike from the car park to Water Bridge Shelter and return if you start early.
Suggestion:
Rarakau car park to Water Bridge Shelter return - 29kms / 7 -8hrs. The first 10kms is along the beach and relatively flat. From the end of the beach continue along the coast until you turn inland along boardwalk sections into the goblin like forest. Have lunch at Water Bridge Shelter and return.
Helicopter to Okaka Lodge then return to Rarakau car park - 22kms / 7 - 9hrs. It is possible to get helicopter transport from Rarakau Car park to Okaka lodge (approx $300). Stay the night at Okaka Lodge and complete the sub alpine loop track. The next day hike 22kms downhill back to Rarakau car park. This service is available on certain days or by request.
Difficulty
A moderate to high level of fitness is required to complete the Hump Ridge Track. It is best suited to hikers who have completed a multi-day hike before. We found the Hump Ridge to be the most challenging of all the Great Walks. The climb to Okaka Lodge from Water Bridge Shelter is endless and just as we thought we were coming out of the forest to the ridgeline we had to navigate a series of savage stairs. Every hiker at Okaka Lodge was knackered by the time they arrived but hiking would be significantly easier without a full hiking pack.
Day 2 is also quite hard on your knees. There are stairs for days on the descent as the terrain is steep, rough, and muddy. When we completed the Hump Ridge not all of the stairs had been completed yet, so enjoy a few extra.
Hump Ridge Track Elevation Profile
Source: Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track NZ
Logistics & Bookings
Before you book anything, secure bookings for the lodges first. The Hump Ridge Track is the newest addition to NZ's Great Walks and is likely to be popular for this reason. Booking the Hump Ridge is a little different to other Great Walks where you just book the hut or campsite. There are 3 main packages hikers can choose from when booking the Hump Ridge that range from $445 - $2195.
1. Freedom Walk
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Multi-share accommodation in either a 4- or 8-person bunk room
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Free porridge breakfast
2. Prime Package
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One night pre-walk accommodation at Last Light Lodge
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Multi-share accommodation in a 4-person bunk (sheets, duvet and pillow provided)
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Shower token
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Dehydrated dinner or Tuatapere Meal (sausages, mash & peas)
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Free porridge breakfast
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Pack helicoptered to Okaka Hut. Walkers to carry their own pack on remaining days
3. Guided Walk
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Pre-departure B&B accommodation at the Last Light Lodge
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Transport to and from Tuatapere to Rarakau car park
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Short helicopter flight across Te Waewae Bay
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Pack helicoptered to Okaka Hut on Day 1 (day packs provided). Walkers to carry their own pack on remaining days.
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Multi-share accommodation with sheets, duvet, pillow, hot shower tokens and towels provided
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Fully catered breakfasts and dinners with packed lunches
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Snacks and fresh fruit also supplied
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Experienced guides
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Guided walkers have exclusive use of the lodges during their walk
There are also optional extras that can be purchased on top of your chosen package
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Shower tokens
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Sleeping bag hire
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Dehydrated meals or the Tuatapere Meal (sausages, mash & peas) to self cook
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Private rooms with bed linen.
For more information on how to book the lodges and pricing, check out the BOOK IT section above or click the link below.
The easiest way to get to the Hump Ridge Track is to drive a car and leave it at Rarakau car park for the duration of the hike. The car park asks for a small koha (donation). Otherwise, shuttle transport can be arranged from Invercargill, Te Anau, Tuatapere or Queenstown when booking the hike. For more information on transport options check out the BOOK IT section or click the link below.
The days on the Hump Ridge are long. We recommend staying in Tuatapere before and/or after your hike. For some recommendations click the link below.
Things We Learnt
1. Start early - Ok so we have never really mastered this if you have been reading along. Don't be like us and stop for coffee at the 'cute little shop' in town, faff around, and start at 10.30am. Don't do that. We usually hike in Feb/March when there are more daylight hours, not October. One of the crew paid for this misstep arriving later than ideal to Okaka Lodge in the dark. Still a work in progress.
2. Hiking in cooler months is different - Usually we hike in summer but this time we hiked on the first day of the Great Walks season in October and had to re-consider our gear. It snowed 2 days before our arrival at Okaka Lodge, so everyone carried gaiters. Turns out we used them for all that mud and not the snow in the end. Good quality, packable puffer jackets are great to add extra warmth without adding too much pack weight.
3. Luxury on the trail could be our jam- We have never completed a guided walk but I'm guessing the Freedom Package on Hump Ridge will be as close as we'll get. Nice lodges, heating, full kitchen, and a bar. It certainly came at an extra cost, but we could definitely get used to this. Watch out.
TIPS From The Crew
1. Start early - the first day is grueling. Head out early so you have plenty of time for the ascent to Okaka Lodge.
2. Don't be tight - pay for the $20 shower token if it's not included in your package. It will be the best 5 mins of your life. The climb is hard, and the mud is muddy. Great Walks don't usually have showers, so treat yourself champ, you deserve it.
3. Consider the extras - we paid for the sleeping bag hire and the Tuatapere Meals (sausage, peas, and mash). The sleeping bags were warm, and the beds were nicely made up when we arrived at the lodge. Although you still cook the meal yourself, it lightened our pack weight considerably by not lugging dinners or sleeping gear. The meal is filling and difficult to finish but pretty tasty. Some of the crew opted for extra sausages and put them in their sandwiches the next day.
4. Helicopter your pack if you need to - the climb is tough but would be significantly easier without a full pack. If you are unsure about your fitness or just want to make it easier, do it. You still have to carry your pack for the last two days and it costs approx $150, but if it makes your hike more enjoyable go for it.
5. Train for this one - you'll be glad you did.
