The Mt Somers Track is right on our doorstep. We run a number of hikes on the track, with varying degrees of physical challenge. Refer to the Department of Conservation's website for more information on the Mt Somers Track and a downloadable pdf of the track brochure.

Mt Somers Track

Duration 8 hours

Walking time & fitness level 6 hours - moderate fitness required.

Walking distance 8 km

Track Good hiking track, some short, steep sections, 400m altitude gain. Track starts at Coalminers Flat beside Woolshed Creek, passes the historic Blackburn Coalmine, Trig R to Woolshed Creek Hut (lunch stop). Optional 90 minute hike to Howden Falls. Return on different route to Coalminers Flat.

Highlights Historic coal mine, variety of vegetation - beech forest, snow tussock, subalpine scrub, mountain streams. Spectacular geological formations - columnar bluffs, slot gorges, waterfalls. Bush and open-country birds including pipit, harrier hawk and falcon.

Mountain beech forest ecology

Duration 7 hours

Walking time & fitness level Two separate walks of 2 hours each, easy to moderate fitness

Walking distance 4km

Track Well used hiking tracks, some board walks. Two tracks - to Sharplin Falls & return and Ancient Silver Beech Forest & return

Highlights Track to Sharplin Falls through mountain beech forest beside Bowyers Stream with secluded rock pools, crystal-clear, ice-cold water. The other track follows Woolshed Creek to silver beech forest. Native bush birds - bellbird, fantail, rifleman, tomtit, silvereye and occasionally falcon.

Mt Somers Summit

Duration 9 hours

Walking time & fitness level  7 hours, good fitness level required.

Walking distance 4km

Track Well used track, some steep sections. 1200m altitude gain. This track starts at the Sharplin Falls car park and follows a ridge to Staveley Hill (1077 metres). Track continues climbing across the eastern face of Mt Somers to the summit (1688 metres). Return the same route.

Highlights Altitudinal zonation of vegetation - beech forest, manuka shrubland, subalpine scrub, snow tussock, alpine. Panoramic views - Canterbury Plains, Banks Peninsula, Southern Alps, Aoraki/Mt Cook.

South Face Route

Duration 8 hours

Walking time & fitness level 7 hours, moderate to good fitness level required.

Walking distance 9km

Track Well formed hiking track. 600m altitude gain. Track starts at Coalminers Flat and climbs up Rhyolite Ridge to a plateau. Then follows across the South Face of Mt Somers, crossing the headwaters of a number of streams. Lunch stop at Acland Shelter. Track continues on to Staveley Hill where it joins the Summit track. Follows down Staveley Ridge to Sharplin Falls car park.

Highlights Views of Arrowsmith Range, Canterbury Plains. Variety of vegetation including unique subalpine rata scrub community. Vertical bluffs of south face fault line.