Back Ridge Bivouac

Free

Helicopter

A helipad is situated 100 metres from the bivouac. Flight availability and costs can be obtained from helicopter concessionaires in the central North Island.

Walking

Makahu Saddle Carpark (6 hr)

From Makahu Saddle a marked, poled track climbs steeply to cross the top of the main Kaweka Range. It drops down a westerly facing spur to reach Back Ridge Hut after 3 – 4 hours. Most of this track is on bare rocky ground and is exposed to the north west winds and gales that are frequent to the main range area. To reach the bivouac, cross Sterns Saddle then descend onto Maminga (1472 metres) and along the ridge to the bivouac (1 – 2 hours).

Kiwi Mouth Hut (4 – 5 hr)

From the south, access to Back Ridge Bivouac is available via Kiwi Mouth Hut. This is a 7.3 km walk and takes approximately 4–5 hours to reach the bivouac.

Other options

Back Ridge Bivouac is best suited to a weekend tramp in fine weather or as a stop-over for longer tramps. Trampers can make a circular trip from the Makahu Saddle via the bivouac down to Rocks Ahead Hut. From Rocks Ahead Hut trampers can either cross the Ngaruroro River to the “Manson Country” or head north. If heading north, a climb up to Tira Lodge (Venison Tops) will take trampers back across the Ballard Saddle to return via the main Kaweka Range to Makahu Saddle. It also provides access to Middle Hill Hut from Whetu at the northern end of the main range.

Other tramping options via Back Ridge include travelling south to Kiwi Mouth Hut and onto the southern park areas and the Napier-Taihape road accesses.

Trampers are reminded that a number of the tracks in and out of the Back Ridge area are via poled routes traversing open Kaweka sub-alpine tops between 1300 to 1700m altitude – caution may be required during adverse weather conditions. Wind speeds exceeding 180kmh are not uncommon over the main tops, along with extremely cold conditions at any time of the year.