At Lake Daniells
I went for an adventure this past weekend....the destination was Manson-Nichols Hut at Lake Daniell.
From the carpark at Marble Hill campsite (five kilometers from Springs Junction) you walk on an easy track for 8.4 kilometers or 1.5 to 3 hours walk. Despite its closeness to the road Lake Daniell's has a lovely remote feeling about it..it seems like you are a lot further away from civilization than you really are.
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| The Silver Surfer parked at Marble Hill |
I will be going to Lake Daniell every year for the first tramp of the new winter season as it is a cool hut with a nice lake nearby, close to the road and it can be booked.
Day 1: Road end to Manson Nichols Hut...
I tramped into the hut on a Sunday and walked back out on the Monday thus missing the usual weekend crowds. On the night I stayed I was one of 15 people who stayed in the hut. I was surprised there were so many people staying in the hut.
Karen could not get time off work so this was once again a solo trip...
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| Start of the Lake Daniell Track, Lake Daniell Track |
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| Information kiosk at Marble Hill |
The track starts at the Marble Hill campsite off SH 7 five kilometers short of Springs Junction...there is plenty of parking at the track start as this is also a popular day walk. It t is a lovely and mostly flat track well suited to anyone with a modicum of fitness and will take 1.5-3 hours.
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| On the Lake Daniell's Track to the hut |
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| The Sluice Box approximately 300 meters down the track |
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| Deep aqua blue of the Sluice Box, Lake Daniell Track |
The Lake Daniell Track is an easy track with bridges over all the side streams, boardwalk and a decent track surface so it only takes about 2-3 hours to cover the 8.4 kilometers to the lake. The surrounding hills were sunny and it was chilly in the forest so I had my jacket on for most of the time I was walking to the lake.
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| Track continues on the far bank of the Sluice Box |
My last visit to Lake Daniell was back in June 2022 when I visited on the first of my Winter 2022 trips. Little had changed along the track since then except for a bit more erosion along the sides of the Alfred River particularly at the lower river flats.
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| Conflueance of Alfred River and Maruia River |
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| On to the track proper...Lake Daniell Track |
After about 20 minutes you descend down to the first of two large clearings in the forest. You can get down to the river to resupply with water here as there are a couple of places with paths to the river.
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| View out across the first clearing...Lake Daniell Track |
I was at the iconic tree swing within 40 minutes so I was making good time. There is an overhanging branch next to the track which thousands of kids must have swung on over the years.
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| Infamous swing approximately 30 minutes down the track |
From the tree swing you start the first real climb of the day as you head up and around the lower gorge of the Alfred River. You climb about 80 meters above the river and sidle along the side of the hills heading for the second and higher of the two river flats along the Alfred River.
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Looking down on the first gorge in the Alfred River
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| Area of boardwalk along the Lake Daniell Track |
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| The side streams were all roaring with water, Lake Daniell Track |
There was sunny conditions over the second river flat when I arrived and I stop for a break as is my custom. I saw some deer sign along the side of the river and I imagine if you were here at dusk and dawn you would see Red Deer grazing the flats.
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| Good camp sites abound near the second clearing, Lake Daniells Track |
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| In the forest heading for the apex of the track, Lake Daniell Track |
I was at the river access point just before the upper gorge in the Alfred River after tramping for an hour. I stopped for about 10 minutes before starting the climb up and over the upper gorge. You can cross the Alfred River here to access the Pell Stream 4 W/D track or get down riverside to fetch water from the river.
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| Alfred River access point near the Troll Bridge |
From the river access point you climb up about 100 odd meters above the river on your way to the Pell Stream seat. You are by-passing the upper gorge and this will be the longest uphill section you face on this track. It is not that bad of a climb and 15 minutes will see you up at the old Pell Stream Lookout.
Enroute to the seat you cross over Troll Stream which is roughly the mid way point of the track. From here it is 4.1 km's to Marble Hill and 4.3 km's to Lake Daniell. It usually takes me about 40-45 minutes to reach this point. The Troll Bridge is nearly at the half way point between Marble Hill campsite and Lake Daniell.
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| Troll Bridge is the half way point of Lake Daniell Track |
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| Another side stream on the Lake Daniell Track |
Pell Stream seat is just 200 meters further along the Lake Daniell Track from the old slip and is a good spot for a break. I usually stop here for a drink and snack before continuing on my way. I didn't stop here on the day as there was a family just up the track on their way to the seat. Instead I kept walking and had a break further along the track...
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| Pell Stream Seat, Lake Daniell Track |
From the Pell Stream seat it is downhill as you head for the confluence of the Alfred River and Fraser Stream. Fraser Stream is the outlet for Lake Daniell which flows down from the lake to a point about a kilometer on from the Pell Stream seat.
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| After the Pell Stream seat heading down |
Once you get to the top of the debris field you have about 1.5 kilometers to walk to get to Lake Daniell and the hut located there. It is flat for much of the way and the track can be a bit boggy so they have installed a lot of boardwalk through here to stop you damaging the delicate plants.
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| Approaching Fraser Stream, Lake Daniell Track |
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| Pretty side stream...Lake Daniell Track |
Here I am looking down on the Upper Alfred River at the point where the Fraser stream flows into it. It looks quite full as a result of the rain that had been falling in the area for several days before
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| Looking down at the upper Alfred River |
I soon found myself at the small footbridge over Fraser Stream down near its confluence with the Alfred River. The stream is only about 1.5 meters wide and ankle deep but can be much higher when Lake Daniell is full and the outlet stream fills with flood water. Prior to the bridge this point was sometimes impassable and meant you had to turn back to the hut or the car-park...
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| Bridge crossing Fraser Stream, Lake Daniell Track |
From the Fraser Stream bridge you climb up onto an long expanse of flat ground which covers the last 1.5 kilometers to Lake Daniell. The flat is quick, easy walking so when you reach this point you are about 30-40 minutes from the lake.
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| Climbing up the debris field on the way to Lake Daniell |
When you get to the point where the Fraser Stream is next to the track you are about 700 meters from the hut. Travel along this part of the Lake Daniell Track is swift and it takes about 30 minutes to cover the 1.5 kilometers from the edge of the debris field to the lake.
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| Fraser stream is the outlet for Lake Daniell |
The section of Fraser Stream you see in the photo below is only 200 meters from Manson Nichols Hut and is actually a small, shallow bay off the main lake. When Lake Daniell is full it looks like this but the rest of the time the bed of the stream is clearly visible...
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| This section to Lake Daniell is a big outlet |
Soon I arrived at the edge of the forest and lovely Manson-Nichols Hut came into view...
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| Manson-Nichols Memorial Hut, Lewis Pass |
It took me 2 hours and 40 minutes to walk from Marble Hill to the hut at Lake Daniell and when I arrived I had the hut to myself for the next few hours. The first visitors didn't arrive until about 3pm so about 1-1.5 hours after me.
At the hut...
I was staying overnight at the hut so as soon as I arrived I rolled into my usual set of hut chores so that I was ready for the rest of the afternoon. Some of the tasks included chopping firewood for the night, giving the hut a sweep and clean, setting up my Pit, changing out of wet clothes and getting my gear organised.
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| Manson-Nichols Hut sitting in the sun |
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| Lake Daniell, Lewis Pass Conservation Reserve |
The previous night occupants had done a decent job so I had everything done in 30 minutes and could sit down. I wont go into too much detail about the hut as we have been here before but it was built in late 2020 after the previous memorial hut was deemed uneconomic to repair. It has 20 bunks, solar lighting, indoor water and fancy composting toilets.
The hut is lovely...it is all plywood inside and has both double glazing and insulation so once you warm it up it stays warm. I have been to Manson-Nichols Hut five times now and as I say it will be the first hut I visit each Winter season.
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| Interior of the Manson-Nichols Memorial Hut |
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| Interior of Manson-Nichols Memorial Hut |
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| Fireplace in Manson-Nichole Memorial Hut |
There is a nice veranda at Manson Nichols Hut and later in the afternoon many of the people sat outside and enjoyed the sun. On a dry, sunny day it is a great spot to sit....
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| View of Lake Daniell from the hut Veranda |
I walked around the hut and checked out the facilities. There is quite a nice camp shelter located next to the hut for people to use when camping. There is space here for a dozen tents behind the shelter and along the edge of the forest...
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| Camping shelter near Manson-Nichols Hut |
The lake is located near the hut with a short dock heading out into the water.
Lake Daniels is a very shallow lake with the maximum depth being about 45 meters up at the far end of the lake. It is great for swimming in the summer as it gets quite warm...
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| This guy was just visiting the hut site, Lake Daniell |
Plenty of wood in the wood shed for the fire..I gathered some wood for the night though we didn't need to lit the fire because it was so warm.
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| Well stocked woodshed at Manson-Nichols Hut |
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| Later as the sun was sitting, Manson-Nichols Hut |
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| The sun was on Manson-Nichols Hut to late in the afternoon |
The rest of the time I was reading, drinking tea or snacking...not super exciting but its good to be able to stop and enjoy some quiet time for a change. I had a freeze dried for dinner...Lamb Fettuccine and it was really good...
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| ...I ate Lamb Fettuccine for dinner... |
After dinner I didn't have much to do so sat up reading until about 8 o'clock when I went and jumped into the Pit. I turned off the lights and went to sleep about 8.30 pm which is early for me but I was feeling tired after a long day.
Day 2: Lake Daniell's to the road end...
I had a great sleep and only woke up at 7 am when the birds starting singing outside...I was warm and comfortable in my sleeping bag but I was forced out of it by the ever whelming need to pee.
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| Early the next day at Lake Daniell |
Before leaving Lake Daniell I went down for one last look at the lake and views back towards the hut and took some photos and films. It was another overcast day and it was a bit dim looking out over the lake.
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| Looking toward Lake Daniell Track |
After making sure my pack etc. was adjusted and sitting right I headed for the edge of the clearing and the start of the three hour walk back to my car...
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| On the Lake Daniell Track near the lake |
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| Near the end of the flat area approaching the Fraser Stream crossing |
Return to Marble Hill is the reverse of the trip in so I headed off into the forest across the big flat from Lake Daniell to Fraser Stream bridge. I had the forest to myself and the only sounds were the wind and the occasional bird call.
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| Bend in the Alfred River on the Lake Daniell Track |
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| Stream crossing the track, Lake Daniell Track |
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| Just past the Pell Stream seat, Lake Daniell Track |
I was back at the Pell Stream seat 40 minutes after leaving the hut door that morning. The trip out from Lake Daniel is always much quicker than the trip in and I think this is due to the very gradual incline from Marble Hill to Lake Daniell. It is gradual but you do gain 100 meters in altitude between the two...
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| High above the gorge of the Alfred River, Lake Daniell Track |
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| Troll Bridge, Lake Daniell Track |
I stopped by the side of the Alfred River at the bottom of the top gorge for a five minute snack and drink break before continuing on my way...
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| Back at the Alfred River Crossing, Lake Daniell Track |
I quickly traveled the short distance to the second clearing and
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| Making my way down river to the second clearing, Lake Daniell Track |
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| In the forest between the fist and second clearing, Lake Daniell Track |
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| The Alfred River, Lake Daniell Track |
It was slippery walking on the muddy track across the top river flat so I ended up walking along the grass verge. The soil is clay so once it gets wet your feet will slip and slide all over the place.
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| Clear land marks the first clearing along Lake Daniell Track |
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| In the forest after the first clearing, Lake Daniell Track |
The Alfred River was raised from the previous days level but certainly not as fast or high as I have seen it in the past. I came up here back in 2016 after a big storm and the river was roaring and full from bank top to bank top...a certain death trap for anyone idiotic enough to go into it.
The last track section is along the side of the lower Alfred River and then around the bottom of a ridgeline to the Sluice Box and the bridge over the Maruia River.
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| Alfred River as seen near the confluence |
Here you can see the confluence of the Alfred River and The Maruia. The Alfred River flows into the Maruia making it much bigger. It is glimpsed from along the last stretch of the river down near the Sluice Box...
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| A clearer view of the river confluence of Alfred and Maruia Rivers |
Once around that last ridge line you can see the Sluice Box again and know you are on the last 500 meters of the track. I stopped for about 10 minutes filming the river and admiring the aquamarine pools under the bridge.
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| First view of the Sluice Box |
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| Bridge over the Sluice Box, Lake Daniell Track |
Here I am about three minutes from the end of the track...it is the last spot to take a photo without being disturbed.
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| Jon in a photo taken on the last 100 meters, Lake Daniell Track |
Then it was just the last 10 minutes walking from the Sluice Box to the campsite at Marble Hill...
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| Information kiosk and the start of the Lake Daniell Track |
Lake Daniell is an awesome destination any time of the year with a nice track, newer hut and plenty to do in the area. If you have never been you should add it to your 'to do list'. Come back soon for my next instalement...I don't know where I will go but it will be awesome.
Access: Take SH7, the Lewis Pass Highway, turn off at Marble Hill campsite 5 km's west of Maruia Springs, track starts next to car park shelter
Track Times: 8.4 kilometers or 2-3 hours to Manson-Nicholls Hut at Lake Daniell
Hut Details: Kohanga Atawhai/Manson-Nichols Hut: Serviced, 20 bunks, wood burner, water tank, wood shed, toilets: Lake Daniell campsite: standard rate, space for 5-10 tents with additional space in the forest. There is a very nice campsite cooking shelter with a bench, water tank and several picnic tables.
Miscellaneous: All weather track to a good standard with all streams now bridged. Kohanga Atawhai/Manson-Nichols Hut is on the DOC hut booking system. It can be busy in summer or over the holidays and a hut warden will be in attendance at these times.
