Each week, we highlight our fave tramping trails in New Zealand for day and multi day hikes across Nelson Tasman (and beyond!)
Pure. Backcountry. Magic.
Nestled in a picturesque valley between the St Arnaud Range, Turk Range and St James Range is this tiny 6 bunker. It’s close enough to Nelson for a weekend mission, but remote enough to feel like a proper adventure!
Distance: ~18km one way
Elevation: +537m
There are several routes to Paske Hut, but the most straightforward begins 30kms down the Rainbow Road at the confluence of the Rainbow and Wairau rivers. The road is open between Boxing Day and Easter Monday, and costs $60 per vehicle to pass through the station (the fee goes towards the maintenance of the road). A high clearance 4WD is recommended for the river fords, but an AWD vehicle would be fine in low flow. Check with DOC and the Rainbow Station before you go.
Just past Stockyard Face turn right up a side road and park near the cableway. There are no official DOC tracks to reach this hut, so a solid knowledge of backcountry navigation and map reading skills are essential. Follow the wide, braided Rainbow River up the valley, getting your feet wet and crossing where necessary, but mainly sticking to the true left. Dominating the head of the valley is the stunning Mount Iris (2114m).
A large orange marker will guide the way to a 4WD track – a safe path above a gorge-y section of the river. This track continues down onto some grassy flats and a wide valley floor, where the Bedley and Paske (semi-marked) routes meet the Rainbow River. After a final crossing of Paske Creek (pt. 1118), the route rises gently onto a grassy terrace and you’ll see Paske Hut situated just below the bushline with Belvedere Peak (2114m) looming in the distance.
The hut has all the usual amenities to keep you cosy, and there are even two pairs of gumboots to wear to the loo! The log book records quite a few trips coming over from Lake Tennyson, so if you’d prefer a longer/more adventurous trip grab your topo and get plotting!
If you have more time, a plethora of 2000m+ peaks await! Our top recommendations to explore are Mt Guinivere, Belvedere Peak & Mt Paske, the steep climb rewarding you with a large alpine tarn and views over the Spenser Mountains and the head of the Clarence River valley.
