Slapjack Saddle Track

This well-defined farm road begins at the top of the Young Australian Historic Reserve at 1250 m and offers wide views over the Cromwell basin, Lake Dunstan and the Clutha/Mata-Au valley. The route passes through short tussock, farm pasture grasses and areas of shrubland lower down the range. It continues through the Potters Creek Conservation Area and provides access to Slapjack Saddle and the Long Gully and Mt Difficulty conservation areas before carrying on to the Felton Road car park via the Long Gully Loop Track and Bannockburn Sluicings Track . Have transport arranged if exiting at Bannockburn Reserve, or consider turning around and returning the way you came at Slapjack Saddle, which makes a 17km walk. Two short side trips branch from the Slapjack Saddle Track. The 1220 Track (3 km return, 1 to 1.5 hours) climbs to 1220 m and gives excellent views of the Hector Mountains and Nevis Valley while also providing access to the Potters Creek Conservation Area. The Slapjack Creek Track (2 km return, 1 to 1.5 hours) descends 100 m from Slapjack Saddle to the boundary of the Slapjack Creek and Mt Difficulty Conservation Area, offering good views into the Kawarau Gorge before returning uphill to the main track.

From Nevis Road, near Duffers Saddle, turn onto the Young Australian Historic Reserve 4WD road. Follow this for 4.5 km to a junction in the road and the start of the Slapjack Saddle Track. Use this location on Google Maps to help find your way there.

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 . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive 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 .

No dogs.