This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 96, no 6, July 2024
Upper Smith Creek access route
5 June 2024
A special feature in the southern Tararua Range is the waterfall in the upper Smith Creek catchment. It is situated at about 400 metres asl in the main tributary of the creek. The waterfall can be accessed from above or from below but that access is not straightforward. There is no well-established track to the waterfall, but there is now some assistance to facilitate initial access to the waterfall from downstream.
In May of this year I was a participant in a club trip to the waterfall, led by Karen Baker. Karen took the party to the upper Smith Creek watercourse from a point on the Dobson Loop Track downhill from the Puffer Saddle (370m +/-). The off-track route was followable with diligent use of eyesight and the help of historical weathered and often lichen-encrusted permolat markers.
Once at the watercourse, travel upstream to the waterfall was straightforward. And upon arrival, it was one of those 'Oh! Wow!' moments.
Since that trip, and upon reflection, I felt access to the gem that is the Smith Creek waterfall should be made as straightforward as possible. And that thinking was the genesis of the current trip.
From the Kaitoke DoC carpark, Colin and I were at the turn-off point on the Dobson Loop Track in about an hour. It took us just on three hours along the off-track route to reach the watercourse. During that time we placed new permolat markers within visual distance of one another, and did a bit of vegetative clearing. The existing permolat markers were left in place. We had a late lunch at Smith Creek in sun-dappled, calm winter conditions. We did not travel upstream to the falls.
Post-lunch travel was back along the route we had come – with a 'quality assurance' mindset. A few more new permolats were placed and some 'lines of sight' were cleared. With our bits of route enhancement, that return to the Dobson Loop Track took less than an hour.
Our return to the car via Barry's Track was made in low afternoon sun, with a gentle southerly reminding us of the season. Hopefully the new markers will last as long as the previously-placed markers, and trampers comfortable with a bit of off-track and stream travel will be enticed to visit a special feature on a not-too-long day's outing.
[John Thomson describes earlier trips to Smith Creek falls in the February 2015 Tramper]
- Party members
- Bill Allcock (scribe), Colin Cook