The St James Walkway is a -long subalpine

tramping Tramping may refer to: Travel * Hiking * Trekking * Tramping in New Zealand, a style of backpacking or hiking *Czech tramping, a Czech outdoors pastime Places *Rural Municipality of Tramping Lake No. 380, Saskatchewan, Canada ** Tramping Lake, Sa ...

(i.e. the New Zealand term for 'hiking') track located in the

Lewis Pass Lewis Pass (el. 907 m.) is a mountain pass in the South Island of New Zealand. The northernmost of the three main passes across the Southern Alps, it is higher than the Haast Pass, and slightly lower than Arthur's Pass. State Highway 7 trav ...

area of the

South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the smaller but more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasma ...

of New Zealand. It is administered by the

Department of Conservation An environmental ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for the environment and/or natural resources. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of the Environment, ...

History

The St James Walkway was the first walking track in New Zealand to be built in a sub-alpine area.

Track description

The track starts near

and goes to Boyle Village and the Boyle River Outdoor Education Centre. The track ends are apart via , and the Boyle Village parking area is considered more secure for leaving a vehicle. At Lewis Pass, the track starts at above sea level, and descends down to a swing bridge at Cannibal Gorge at . Cannibal Gorge is formed by the right branch of the Maruia River, and the track follows it to Cannibal Gorge Hut and continues to Ada Hut at Ada Pass at . From there, the track follows the Ada River to the historic Christopher Cullers Hut, and the Christopher Hut. The Ada River flows into the

Waiau Uwha River Waiau Uwha River, previously known as the Waiau River, is a river in north Canterbury in the South Island The South Island, also officially named , is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand in surface area, the other being the ...

, where the St James Walkway descends to , passing near the Ada homestead. The track then descends along the Henry River to Anne Hut and Anne Saddle at . From here, the track follows the Boyle River and reaches Rokeby Hut, Boyle Flat Hut, and eventually its terminus at Boyle Village at above sea level. Five of the huts are serviced, i.e. firewood or coal is provided, and 14 to 20 bunks are available: Cannibal Gorge, Ada Pass, Christopher, Anne and Boyle Flat huts. Christopher Cullers and Rokeby huts are basic huts with four and three bunks, respectively. Part of St James Walkway passes through the former St James Station. More than half of the track is part of

Te Araroa Te Araroa (The Long Pathway) is New Zealand's Long distance footpath, long distance Tramping in New Zealand, tramping route, stretching circa along the length of the country's two main islands from Cape Reinga / Te Rerenga Wairua, Cape Reinga t ...

, which joins between Christopher and Anne Huts at the Waiau River.

References

External links

Department of Conservation
– track information
Department of Conservation
– track information brochure
St James Walkway
hiking report including pictures and GPX of the trail {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint James Walkway Hiking and tramping tracks in Canterbury, New Zealand

History

Track description

Further reading

References

External links