Travers-Sabine Circuit facts for kids
The Travers-Sabine Circuit is an amazing long-distance walking trail in Nelson Lakes National Park, New Zealand. It's a popular adventure for people who love to explore the outdoors. This special route takes you through beautiful forests and over high mountain passes. Most people take about five to six days to complete the full circuit. You can also add shorter side trips to make your adventure even longer!
The circuit includes walking through dense forests, often called "bush," and climbing over high mountain areas. In the forest parts, the paths are easy to see and follow. When you are in the open mountain areas, tall poles mark the way, guiding you safely.
The best time to walk the circuit is during summer and autumn, from December to April. During these months, the weather is usually good, and anyone who is reasonably fit can enjoy the trail. However, in winter and spring, from May to November, snow covers the mountains. This makes the trail much harder and more challenging. If you plan to go during these colder months, you need special skills, equipment, and experience to stay safe. Also, some parts of the path can get flooded if there is a lot of heavy rain.
You don't need a special permit to walk the Travers-Sabine Circuit. However, it's a good idea to tell the park rangers at the National Park headquarters that you are going. This helps them know who is on the trail. Along the way, there are simple mountain huts where you can stay overnight. These huts are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so you might need to share! You need to pay a small fee to use the huts, but walking the trail itself is free.
Your Travers-Sabine Adventure: A Typical Plan
This is a common way to experience the Travers-Sabine Circuit over several days. It helps you plan your journey and know what to expect each day.
Day 1: Starting Your Journey
- You begin your walk from St. Arnaud.
- First, you walk beside Lake Rotoiti to Lake Head Hut. This part takes about 2 to 3 hours.
- Then, you continue walking up the Travers Valley to John Tait Hut. This second part takes about 5 hours from Lake Head.
Day 2: Deeper into Travers Valley
- On your second day, you keep going up the beautiful Travers Valley.
- Your goal for the day is Upper Travers Hut. This walk usually takes about 3 hours.
Day 3: Crossing the Mountain Pass
- Today is a big day! You will cross the Travers Saddle, which is a high mountain pass.
- After crossing, you will walk down the East Sabine Valley to Sabine Forks.
- Your overnight stop is West Sabine Hut. This whole day's walk takes about 6 hours. You can even watch a video about crossing the Poukirikiri/Travers Saddle to see what it's like!
Day 4: Following the Sabine Valley
- You continue walking down the Sabine Valley.
- Your path leads you to the top of Lake Rotoroa, where Sabine Hut is located. This part of the journey takes about 5 hours.
Day 5: Climbing to Lake Angelus
- From Sabine Hut, you will climb up Mt. Cedric.
- Your destination for the day is the stunning Lake Angelus. This climb takes about 5 to 6 hours.
Day 6: Finishing Your Circuit
- From Lake Angelus, you walk along the Robert Ridge.
- You will reach the Mt. Robert car park. This final walk takes about 6 to 7 hours.
- From the car park, you can try to get a ride or walk back to St. Arnaud, which takes another 1 to 2 hours.
Adjusting Your Pace
Some days, like Day 2 and Day 4, are shorter walks. Days 3 and 5 are also not full-day walks for everyone. If you are a very experienced hiker, you might be able to finish the whole circuit in just five days!
Another Way to Finish
Instead of doing Days 5 and 6, there's another option. You can return by walking through the Howard and Speargrass Valleys. This way is often quicker and easier, especially if the weather is bad. However, it might not be as exciting as the Robert Ridge path.
Shorter Adventures: Mini Circuits
If you don't have time for the full circuit, there are shorter options you can enjoy!
Two-Day Trip
- Day 1: Start at Lake Rotoiti, walk through Travers Valley, and then follow Hukere Stream to Lake Angelus.
- Day 2: Exit the circuit by walking along the Robert Ridge.
Three-Day Trip
- Day 1: Begin at Lake Rotoiti, walk through Travers Valley, and reach Hopeless Creek Hut.
- Day 2: Climb up through Sunset Saddle to Lake Angelus.
- Day 3: Finish your trip by walking out via the Robert Ridge.
