Georgia (@the_cornishpixie) kindly provided the pics from a recent visit to the Slate Hut on the Roaring Lion Trail.
The Roaring Lion is a private trail established by Tom and Katie O’Brien around 2013 and managed by their business, Welcome Rock. Tom hand-built it on high country land that had been part of the family station since 1911. His parents later placed the land under a conservation covenant.
The trail runs for 27 km, mostly through highland tussock. Stretches follow the Roaring Lion historic water race, which was developed to move water to the gold mining activities in the Nevis Valley. The last section is 7.5 km along the Nevis Road to complete a loop back to the ski hut.
There are three huts on the trail that you can book on the website. Each hut accommodates four to six people. Georgia's pictures feature the Slate Hut, which sits at the Welcome Rock high point (1,130 metres). Otherwise, walking or biking the trail is a modest day fee (allow 8 hours to walk).
The trail is accessed from the south end of Nevis Road, off State Highway 6 near Garston, about 45 minutes from Queenstown. This road climbs 980 metres at the Historic Garston Ski Hut parking area.
