Mount Fyffe Track

To get to this track follow Ludstone Road to Mount Fyffe Road, turn right and carry on to Postmans Road then turn left. At the end of the road, turn right following a shingle road to a bridge. Cross the bridge then stay left until the stop bank. Turn right onto stopbank track and travel along it to the Picnic Area in a sheltered area on the edge of the bush at the foot of the mountain. There is a car park and toilet here. This is also the start of the Hinau Loop Track.
The Stiff climb up the Mount Fyffe track starts at a locked gate at the top end of the picnic area. From here you simply follow the four wheel drive road up the mountain. With ever changing and splendid views of Kaikoura, the Kowhai River and coast this track goes all the way to the summit at 1602 metres. Mount Fyffe Hut, with it's panoramas of the Kaikoura Flats, Peninsula and the Seaward Kaikoura Ranges, is located just over half way at about 1100 metres. It is a great place to stay the night and watch the sunrise, or for those without the time or energy to "go to the top", have a picnic and explore the subalpine herb fields before returning to the car park.
A harder alternative route to Mount Fyffe Hut is up Fence line Spur starting from the creek at the bottom of the hill near the Mount Fyffe car park. Views of Banks Peninsula to the south, the Inland Road and the North Island can be seen as a reward to anyone who continues to the summit on a clear day. This trip takes about 8 hours return but can be broken by spending a night at the hut or extended by returning via the Hapuku or Kowhai Rivers.
(see Kowhai-Hapuku Circuit.)