Steele Creek

For competent trampers, this is a good alternative to the more popular walks at the head of Lake Wakatipu (two or three days).

		Time	Total	Refs	Comments
a	Greenstone car park	0	0		1.5 hrs drive from Queenstown; 3 fords
b	To Greenstone hut	3	3	MN p.28	good track
c	To Steele creek	1.5	4.5	MN p.28	good track
d	To flat above bivvy hut in Steele creek	2	6.5	MN p.29	minimal track; well marked
e	To saddle	3.5	10	MN p.29	minimal track; well marked
f	To upper Caples hut	2.5	12.5	MN p.29	track steep at top
g	To Greenstone car park	5	17.5	MN p30	good track
MN = Moir's Guide North (available from DOC). Topo E41 Queenstown.
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Photos

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Greenstone	Slip Creek	Steele Creek	Steele Creek	Steele Creek

Steele Creek	Saddle	Steele Creek	Caples	Caples

Notes

(a) The road from Kinloch to the Greenstone car park is rough and has three fords, but it is usually passable by cars.
(b,c) The track up the Greenstone is wide and well-maintained, initially through beech forest, and then on open tussock.
(d,e,f) The track up Steele creek is a bit neglected (some tree falls; overgrown in places, especially above the bush), but it is well-marked and generally makes for pleasant walking. It starts at a sign about 50m west of the bridge across the creek. After climbing a small spur, it travels through bush to the bivvy hut (not recommended for anything but emergency shelter). From the hut, descend to the creek, and follow up flats (good camping) and then the rocky river bank. When these disappear, pick up the marked track through bush to the west branch of Steele creek (small campsite here). Cross the west branch (may be difficult after heavy rain) and follow the marked track to the saddle (possible campsites above the bush and on the saddle). From the saddle follow pylons on a fairly steep traverse (may be difficult in snow), and then follow down a good track the Caples. In normal conditions, competent trampers will find this an easy route.
(g) The track down the Caples is wide and well-maintained.

Added 2018 The above times (from 2009) seem optimistic to me now. This year I camped at Slip creek and on the saddle. The two times (in December) that I've been on the saddle, I've found water in tarns and nearby in small streams, but others have had to carry water up from 200m below.

Greenstone -- Steele Creek -- Caples

Photos

Notes