Hamilton Peak and Nervous Knob Circuit, Craigieburn Range NZ
Fabulous views from the Craigieburn Range tops at Hamilton Peak (1922m) & Nervous Knob (1820m) on this sometimes steep circuit walk.
Another excellent walk in the Craigieburn Range, this one visiting Hamilton Peak (1922m) via Camp Saddle, then returning via Nervous Knob (1820m) and Broken River Ski Field. I liked the views from Hamilton Peak in particular, looking west over the Black and Grey Ranges, and east over the Castle Hill area. Doing a circuit adds variety and doesn’t add much to the overall time.
This was our second attempt at Hamilton Peak. Our first was in winter after heavy snow, and once above the bushline we struggled to make any progress, and decided to give up. It is a great walk so I’m glad we returned. There’s a couple of steep sections getting up onto the ridge from Camp Saddle and then the final bit to Hamilton Peak, so some experience required. Track notes at the end.
If you want shorter options in the area have a look at this circuit we did in 2021 visiting Helicopter Hill.
Hamilton Peak and Nervous Knob Circuit: The Scenery
First, three photos from another occasion when we returned from Camp Saddle to the Broken River Ski Field access road…
The walk along the road is not too bad. The Camp Saddle Track. Looking back down the route to Camp Saddle.
Now photos from the day…
I didn’t take any photos until well into the walk as we’ve done sections of this before. In fact, we had tried to climb Hamilton Peak last winter after heavy snowfall and simply couldn’t move in the deep snow. We got above the bushline and probably moved a few hundred metres in an hour and then turned back.
Looking along the Craigieburn Range to the south. Mt Enys is right at the back (left) and is the highest peak in the range. I climbed this alone back in March. Up onto the ridge and easier travel for a while. It was very steep getting up there. Hamilton Peak at the back.
The Craigieburn Valley Ski Field to the left. There are a number of private member’s only ski fields in this range. They are small scale affairs and do not make their own snow, so in a dry/warm year they might not open at all. Sophia and the ridge we took behind her. Looking west from the summit of Hamilton Peak (1922m). It didn’t take too long to get up here – maybe 3 hours?
Panorama west. Panorama east.
Not sure if this photo works, but I was trying to show the various layers of mountains into the distance. Walking along to Nervous Knob.
Hamilton Creek and the Harper River Valley. Me on Nervous Knob (1820m). It looks like they tow people up here to ski, and I wonder if that is where it got its name from. The view east over Broken River Ski Field from Nervous Knob. Looking back at Hamilton Peak. Despite shooting straight into the sun this photo turned out nicely. Snow flowers! The beginnings of Broken River. At the back is the ridge we took on the way out. We took the ski field access road back which was actually quite nice as we descended into the valley next to babbling streams.
Track Notes
We walked anti-clockwise from the locked gate on the Broken River Ski Field access road (when the ski field is open so is the gate, so you can drive right up to the start of the Camp Saddle track). The ascent from Camp Saddle onto the ridge is very steep and quite rocky – we found walking poles helpful.
We started at the locked gate on the Broken River Ski Field access road. (When the ski field is open so is the gate, so you can drive right up to the start of the Camp Saddle track). Walking anti-clockwise, you ascend on a track then marked route to Camp Saddle. From there it’s a steep off track ascent onto the ridge. We found walking poles helpful for this and you might need to do a little scrambling in sections. The last bit to Hamilton Peak is also steep, but straightforward.
Walking along the tops to Nervous Knob is easy enough, as is the descent down through the ski field and down the access road to the start. It will take you 6 hours or so plus time for lunch and photos.
Lovely pics on a clear day.
That rope tow (Rugby Tow) up to Nervous Knob was the steepest rope tow in NZ. Maybe that’s why it was called Nervous Knob…
Is that right? It’s not a particularly scary peak for a tramper, although I tried to make that photo with me in it look a bit dramatic.