Parking
Start/end at Rarakau Car Park (about 30 minutes from Tuatapere); parking available at the trailhead.
Overview
About Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track
Why go
- Crosses historic 1920s timber viaducts like Percy Burn and Edwin Burn
- Lodges are more comfortable than standard backcountry huts, with package options
Heads up
- You repeat roughly the first 10 km on the return to the trailhead
- Sandflies on the coast can be relentless
If you want a true Fiordland sampler—wild Southern Ocean beaches, ancient podocarp forest, and airy ridge walking—all in one go, this 61.5 km (38.2-mile) loop delivers. It is a challenging three-day, two-night tramp with a substantial climb from sea level to the Hump Ridge, but the payoff is big: panoramic views toward Fiordland’s mountains, the Southland Plains, and Stewart Island on clear days. It is quieter than the headline Great Walks and has a strong sense of remoteness.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy this trackMap & elevation
The route
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Your drive to Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tour- 126 audio storiesacross Fiordland’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Fiordland Penguin, Blue Duck, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 68 trails, 124 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track
What you’ll seeThe route climbs from Rarakau Car Park through lush coastal bush to the sub-alpine tops near…
The route climbs from Rarakau Car Park through lush coastal bush to the sub-alpine tops near Okaka Lodge, where boardwalk and tarns lead past sandstone and schist outcrops shaped by tectonic uplift and glacial work. Down low, you’ll walk beachfront sections and cross clear rivers; along the coast, historic timber viaducts such as Percy Burn and Edwin Burn recall the area’s logging past. Expect a mix of rugged coastline, ancient forest, peat bogs on the tops, and big-sky ridge views.
Difficulty and terrainPlan for long days and real effort.
Plan for long days and real effort. The track is rated moderate to challenging, with roughly 1,000 m of ascent on the first day and plenty of uneven ground, mud, roots, and old railway sleeper sections near the viaducts. The circuit starts and ends at Rarakau Car Park and retraces part of the route on the final leg, so expect some déjà vu. The official visitor distance is 61.5 km (38.2 miles) for the full loop; the complete OSM corridor stored here measures 57.86 km because mapped line distance and the operator’s visitor itinerary use different measurement conventions.
Logistics and bookingThis is a managed Great Walk experience: pre-purchase a walking package through the Hump Ridge…
This is a managed Great Walk experience: pre-purchase a walking package through the Hump Ridge Track operator, with optional catering, guiding, and helicopter transfers. Okaka Lodge on the ridge and Port Craig Lodge on the coast offer more comfort than standard backcountry huts. Check the Department of Conservation and operator sites for current conditions, closures, hazards, and booking requirements before you go.
TipsStart and finish at Rarakau Car Park, about 30 minutes from Tuatapere.
Start and finish at Rarakau Car Park, about 30 minutes from Tuatapere. The route is remote and exposed to changeable Fiordland weather, so carry suitable equipment and check official access information before departure.
- Train for sustained climbing and full days on your feet.
- Pack for four seasons: waterproofs, warm layers, and a plan for wind and rain.
- Sandflies can be relentless on the coast—bring repellent and cover up.
- The track is well marked, but carry a map and basic navigation skills.
- This is a remote, multi-day route: arrange the required package and accommodation before setting out.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Fiordland
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
