Hump Ridge Track

The Hump Ridge Track is a difficult 53.8 km multi-day hike with 1,422 m of climbing, so it is better suited to hikers with solid fitness and some overnight track experience. DOC describes it as best for people who have experience doing overnight hikes in New Zealand, rather than complete beginners.

Yes. The Hump Ridge Track is a bookable 3-day Great Walk, and bookings are made through the Tuatapere Hump Track Charitable Trust rather than the standard DOC Great Walk booking pages. Advance booking is important because the track uses lodge accommodation and spaces are limited by each departure.

Yes. The Hump Ridge Track can be walked independently as a freedom walk, with overnight stays at Ōkaka Lodge and Port Craig Lodge. Solo hikers still need a valid booking for the track and lodges, and the route is demanding enough that experience with multi-day hiking is important.

The Hump Ridge Track is 53.8 km long with 1,422 m of total elevation gain. That combination of distance and climbing is a big reason it is rated difficult, especially over a multi-day route in southern Fiordland conditions.

The Hump Ridge Track begins at Rarakau car park in the Tuatapere area of Southland, New Zealand. It is a multi-day loop, so the route returns to the same general starting area after crossing sub-alpine tops and sections of rugged southern coastline.

Weather on the Hump Ridge Track can change quickly because the route crosses exposed sub-alpine terrain and coastal sections in southern Fiordland. Conditions can shift from clear views to strong wind, rain, and low cloud in a short time, so hikers need to be prepared for cold, wet, and fast-changing mountain weather even on a booked Great Walk.