Mt Crichton Loop Track

  • 1 hr 30 min loop track
  • Easy

Easy loop to an old mining area, with an historic hut.

Mt Crichton Loop Track: Key information
Walking time
1 hr 30 min
Distance
5.0km
Type
Loop track
Loop track
Grade
Easy
Bookings
No bookings — open access
No — open access
Mt Crichton Loop Track: Find it
Starts
Marked track start, on the Glenorchy Queenstown Road, just beyond Wilson Bay and the Twelve Mile Delta Campsite.
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Maps
NZTopo50-CC10
Altitude
360m – 620m
Altitude change 260m

This straightforward loop explores mining history on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. It connects with the Lake Dispute Track as an alternative loop.

From the car park a smooth benched track leads through beech forest above Twelve Mile Creek. Over a bridge, the track comes to the grassy flats of the old mining site. There are tailing heaps here and a rock fissure that once formed a tailrace.

Sam Summers Hut is a little further on, in forest. There are tailings and pieces of iron scattered around, with a pretty waterfall in the creek. The hut was built in 1930 on the site of a Chinese goldminers' camp. 

Sam Summers Hut • Basic Hut/Bivvy (DOC). Capacity: 1.

Beyond the hut, the track crosses a bridge, climb above the creek to a high saddle. Here, amongst manuka scrub, is a junction with the Lake Dispute Track. The Mount Crichton Track continues ahead to follow the creek back to the car park. 

 

Map
This track needs a photograph.
ID 8803

About this track

Added 14 October 2013 by matthewmatthew. No revisions.
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