I’ve been to Pinchgut Hut a few times, but this was the first time with Elliot. It’s a hut recommended for families and is certainly one of the most easily accessible huts in Canterbury – yet it’s not as easy as you might think. The first obstacle is crossing the Ōkūkū River, which is pretty cruisy on a summer day, but the water level can be quite high after rain.
The track itself has a few ups and downs and is well-trodden and clearly marked. There’s a waterfall along the way, and a spot where the track descends into the river, which gave Elliot a great opportunity to shift a couple of tons of rocks from the dry bank into the water.
We did some light track maintenance along the way, which is always great fun for Elliot. The gorse infestation in the area is pretty nasty – especially around the campsite at Pinchgut Hut, where it reaches several metres high. Elliot and I did what we could to get rid of the worst of it, and we ended up with a huge pile of cut gorse. There’s now more space for camping and running around, but I’m under no illusions – it’ll grow back if it’s not kept under control.
My Strava log showed 6.8 km each way from the end of Taaffes Glen Road. A decent effort for little legs!
Stats: 6.8 km each way, 3h 50min with 4 year old kid, 300m ascent o the way in, 180m on the way back
Participants: Michal Klajban, Anna, Elliot
Tramped on 29-30th November 2024.
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Map
Max elevation: 411 m
Min elevation: 219 m
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