Roaring Meg Pack Track between Lowburn and Cardrona

Crest of the Pisa Range looking towards Mt. Pisa.

Pisa Range from Deep Creek hut.

This page describes the Roaring Meg Pack Track, an historic gold-mining era pack track linking the Cromwell Basin and Cardrona.

The Pack Track has two sections, one from Swann Road Lowburn over the Pisa Range to Meg hut and on to Cardrona, the other from the Roaring Meg power Station in the Kawerau Gorge to Cardrona. The two tracks meet at Tuohys Saddle above the Cardrona Valley.

These together provide a number of possible trips. Reasonably fit parties can complete either pack track in a day, or do a longer trip from Swann Road to Meg hut and on down the Roaring Meg to the power station on SH8 (about 10 hours). From Swann Road to Cardrona vis Deep Creek hut and Meg hut takes 7-8 hours, the track from the Meg power station to Cardrona via Touhys Saddle about 6 hours or a little longer if including a visit to Meg hut. Other shorter day trips include Cardrona to Roaring Meg hut (4-5 hours return), Lowburn to Deep Creek hut (6 hours return) and the upper Meg power station (about 1 hour 30 minutes fron SH8).

Meg hut and Deep Creek hut are old mustering huts that are now owned by the Department of Conservation and available for public use. Both have been restored by DoC and although they have lost some of their original character as a result they are both great huts and provide comfortable accommodation. Both have wood stoves but there is limited fuel at Deep Creek and firewood is becoming scarcer at Meg hut as the old pine shelter belt here was burnt some years ago and the remaining wood is now fairly rotten.

Deep Creek hut.

Deep Creek hut prior to restoration. This hut was also known as McMillans hut.

In addition to the huts there is plenty of interest in the central Otago mountain landscapes with interesting schist tors and upland bogs as well as the human history - old mining sites and relics from the more recent pastoral farming activities.  The climb from Swann Road is close to 1000m and follows a 4WD farm track. Initially the track crosses private farm land but enters the Pisa Conservation Area near the crest of the range. The vegetation here is stunted, reflecting the harsh alpine environment. In summer shrubby hebes and various other shrubs and herbs such as bulbinella can be found in flower. Several species of Aciphylla or spaniards grow in this area and when in flower their tall flowerheads (inflorescences) are not colourful but can be 1-2 metres tall and quite spectacular.

Looking back to Deep Creek hut.

Old billies, Meg Stream on tailings below Meg hut.

From Deep Creek hut the track climbs briefly crossing an old water race and then crosses an area of relatively low relief, sometimes crossing small streams and passing some attractive schist tors. At times the track is fairly indistinct, particularly in wetter areas where there are tall tusscks. Eventually the 4WD track along an old fenceline leading down to the Meg and Meg hut is reached - a longish but relatively gentle descent until the last section above the hut which leaves the 4WD track and drops to the valley floor. The hut lies on the far side of the Meg - wet feet are probably unavoidable here!

Last updated 23 Feb 2013.