Thread: Access to the Growler hut

As the title suggests, I'm planning a trip to pop on up to the Grawler hut, that's up the Rangitata river, then up the Havelock.

I haven't been up there myself for 5 years plus probably now and I know the access changes regularly as it's the river bed of a braided river.

Does anyone here who has been recently have any recent info on the viability of getting a truck all the way up there at the moment?

Any updated info would be great before we heat off from Central Otago.

Cheers,
Willy

I'd say you won't want to head up any Canterbury rivers for a wee while after the past weeks weather

Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I'd say you won't want to head up any Canterbury rivers for a wee while after the past weeks weather

I'm planning for the start of September so the water level is less of a worry, more if it passable by truck or it will need to be a hike in job.

Cheers for the info though, I'm guessing it's been a bit wet up there then

The headwaters of most of the rivers are low at present, the rain didnt get back far enough to affect the upper reaches. No problems to drive to Growler, always a track somewhere. Can get all the way to Mistake, and some are pushing through to St Winnies. Drive to the road end at Messy, and follow the track/signs to the riverbed.

Rangitata is at like 50 cumecs at the gauge, I'd say it'll be as easy to get there as it ever gets. Was up Curtis Memorial a few weeks back and the track as far as the Growler wasn't any worse than usual - the crossing immediately downstream of Black Moubtaib where the main stream pushes into the bank is always changing and a bit messy

Yep was up the Lawrence last Friday , rivers were dry , and the dump of snow on Sunday won’t last long , I think the front country copped most of the rain in the weekend

I whent yesterday to black birch creek. One of the streams before havelock. From where I was Looked easy access.
Rangitata don't have a lot of water atm.
Heavy rain last night when I left but still fine as of this morning.