Camping in the Silverpeaks

 A short walk into Dunedin's Silverpeaks Reserve to visit the derelict Possum Hut and camp out for the night. 20th-21st June 2026.

This will be the fifth South Island tramp in a row this year, which would be completely unremarkable were it not for the fact I live in the North Island. Tramping was not the sole purpose of this trip however, rather it was a chance to catch up with the now Dunedin-dwelling Cody. Naturally though, that catching up included tramping.

Lacking the time and motivation for a more extensive adventure, we ended up planning to visit the nearby Silverpeaks and walk into the historic and derelict Possum Hut and camp nearby for the night. I had recently bought a 2-person Big Agnes tramping tent that I had yet to try out - I was going to wait for warmer weather but this ended up providing as good an opportunity as any.

The weather was, in short, bad, but expected to improve in the evening so we started out fairly late in the day. From the parking area on Semple Road, we followed the "Gold Miners Direct" track - signposted, marked and maintained by the Green Hut Track Group. The group, I assume alongside other community groups, has long maintained an extensive network of tramping routes in the Silverpeaks in addition to DOC's official Silverpeaks Circuit track. Until recently these tracks were not marked on Topo50 maps, but the latest edition (2025?) includes many of them, including the Gold Miners Direct, marked as "routes".

 

The track begins with a meander through manuka-dominated forest along the 400 m contour. It's well cut into the hillside and frequently surrounded with bright green moss. After 600m, the track begins steeply descending a spur through a tunnel of sooty mould-encrusted manuka. 

 The descent is slow, bordering on torturous. The ground is muddy and incredibly slippery - I ended up on my back twice. Hiking poles would've been very helpful, as evidenced by Cody (who had one) not slipping over at all.
At times the descent is moderated by a series of short, tight switchbacks that zig-zag over what is presumably the pre-switchback track. Cody recalled reading somewhere that these parts of the old track can trace their origin to water races dug for colonial gold mining efforts. 

 

 

Things level out somewhat after kilometre or so, once the track enters a valley. There is then a small creek to be crossed, followed by another 600-ish metres of track sidling above the creek (which stays largely out of view) with minimal elevation change but no less slipperiness. Part way along this section is the signposted junction with the so-called Eucalypt Ridge track. This isn't marked on Topo50 maps, but is marked on this OTMC map: https://www.otmc.co.nz/files/silverpeaks/silver_peaks_river_track_v5.pdf. The name is self explanatory - exotic gum trees dot the horizon, towering over the lower-growing native flora. 

 Shortly from here is a small clearing and another track junction. We follow the left branching track further up the headwaters of the nascent Waikouaiti River toward Possum Hut. Another creek is crossed along the way. 

The forest here seems more mature and varied in species than the manuka forest we started in. There's plenty of the typical beech species, and finally plenty trees with a bit of substance to them. Shortly we arrive at Possum Hut, which appears suddenly among the trees though the winter gloaming, parked haphazardly on the side of the track.

 It is easy to see why the hut is officially derelict. The whole thing is on a lean, which gives the appearance it's sliding away down the hill. The stone chimney is partially collapsed. A tarp is strung up inside, a likely futile attempt at weather tightness. There's an undeniable charm though, a link to a bygone age slowly returning to the land it sits among. Curiously, the interior walls reveal that the hut is a cob structure, despite the external corrugated iron cladding. 

Historical coolness aside, a problem soon became apparent - although the hut is in a small clearing, said clearing is smaller than photos of the hut had lead us to expect. Unfurling the ground sheet (or "footprint" to use the North American parlance) confirmed that there wasn't really enough space to comfortably set up camp, so we retraced out steps to the junction clearing we'd passed earlier.

The ground was soggy but a light rain had resumed and the light was fading so the tent was pitched (with only minimal confusion from not reading the instructions), a tarp erected and a campfire started. Despite damp conditions and the awkward tedium of entering and exiting a small tend without bringing all the water and mud from outside in, it was a great evening. Helped, in no small part, by the many beers we carried in with us and the cheering effect of a small but crackling fire.

The new tent kept us dry all night, though a not-completely-sealed-closed valve on my mat meant I woke up on the cold ground. It was an icy cold morning but the skies were clear and the sun was on the rise.

After coffee and not-sausages (sizzlers, legally not a sausage!) for breakfast, we packed up and eventually headed out some time after 10 am. The bright morning sun give the track a very different and altogether more inviting vibe than yesterday. Without the low cloud, there is also the odd view to be found along the way.

Eucalypt Ridge, visible from the campsite

Camp, featuring Sizzlers (TM) burstless, skinless processed meat product on the cooker (legally not sausages!)

The ascent can't be ignored (and yep, still slippery), but not all that bad. Soon enough we were back snaking our way along the 400 m contour to the car park.
All in all, a very short tramp, but a great night in the bush. 

 Map:

Elevation Profile:

Times and Distances:

Car park to Campsite (River Track junction): 1.75 km, 50 min. Campsite to Possum Hut: 0.64 km, 25 min.