Greenstone and Caples tracks

The Caples and Greenstone Valleys are linked by McKellar Saddle, a sub-alpine pass, to make a moderate 4-day round trip. It is a moderately demanding tramp with some days averaging 6-7 hours of walking. A reasonable degree of fitness is required. The Greenstone Valley is a wide, open valley with tussock flats and beech forest. In comparison, the Caples Valley is a narrower valley filled with forest interspersed with grassy clearings. Either of these tracks can be linked with the Routeburn Track, or they can be walked as a one-way track starting or finishing either at the Divide or the Greenstone Shelter.

There are multiple huts and campsites available. Mid Caples Hut , McKellar Hut and Greenstone Hut are managed by DOC. Bookings are required . DOC huts on the track are serviced with coal fires for heating only. All huts have mattresses. There is running water in summer months at all huts. Carry your own cookers as gas stoves are not provided. Hut wardens are present on the tracks from late October until mid-April. Backcountry Tickets must be purchased in advance from a DOC office or approved outlet. Please note that t he huts are excluded from the Backcountry Hut Pass from 1 October to 30 April. Mid Greenstone Hut and Upper Caples Hut are managed by the NZ Deerstalkers' Association and can be booked via these links. Camping is allowed along the bush edge, 50 metres from the track. You cannot camp on McKellar Saddle or on the open valley floors of the Caples or Greenstone Valleys as this is private land.

The Caples and Greenstone tracks start from the carpark at the end of Greenstone Road, 86 km from Queenstown, via Glenorchy. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there. Alternatively, they can be started from Lake Howden outlet on the Routeburn Track, which is one hour's walk from The Divide on State Highway 94, 80 km from Te Anau on the road to Milford Sound. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way to The Divide. In summer, both ends of the tracks are serviced daily by various transport companies . Contact the operators for schedules.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel

Open to very heavy rain from the west which could cause rivers to rise rapidly - in particular, the Caples River and side streams above Upper Caples Hut, and Jean Batten Creek south of McKellar Hut. Care is required. Strong winds from the northwest are also prevalent when rain is expected. Be wary of southerly wind changes which can bring rapidly deteriorating conditions. Although the tracks are not closed in winter, avalanche danger may be present below Slip Flat in the lower Greenstone, and snow may make travel very difficult, even on the valley floors.

No dogs.