Most of my favourite walks involve climbing a named peak for epic views. But an always worthy alternative is to visit a cluster of mountain tarns, and the Kelly Range has some real beauties. There are excellent views along the way, and continuing on a bit past the tarns to point 1363m will top it all off with big views of Tara Tama and the Taipo Valley.
You can choose your own route along the tops and around the tarns, choosing various knolls and ridges for the best vantage points. See my track notes at the end for the approximate route I took. You can also climb Kelly Hill from Carroll Hut, and with extra daylight and some fitness you could do both. See my post for Kelly Hill here.
Kelly Range Tarns: The Scenery
Track Notes
From the car park climb up the Carroll Hut Track, using your hands in some sections to climb up roots and rocks. There’s one bit where you have to climb up a muddy ‘wall’ that some may find difficult. There are some slippery foot holds on the left and a tree trunk plus vegetation you can use to haul yourself up. On the way down I slipped but landed well enough. This section is the crux of the walk and should be fine if there are two of you and you are used to some scrambling.
You emerge from the forest into bush, then eventually into tussock just before Carroll Hut. After this you can choose your own route to walk along the Kelly Range Tops to the tarns and on to point 1363m for more great views. My phone map had the dotted route in a different spot to what is marked above, but I suspect the map I’ve used here is correct. I didn’t see any markers until I reached the tarns, where I joined the official route for a while. This provided a good view of three of the tarns, so I recommend going this way on the way out.
This will take about 5-8 hours depending on fitness and how long you spend exploring the tops and taking photos. There’s more than a thousand metres of ascent and descent, but the walking is quite easy once on the tops. Overall at the harder end of moderate.
There’s some info on Carroll Hut and the Carroll Hut Track on the DOC website. They estimate 3 hours to Carroll Hut but I think this is pretty slow, and probably more accurate for those with heavy packs. (I did it in ~1 hour 40 mins).
I found a really nice camping spot beside one of those tarns as the tarn had receded, there was a flat area of grass but I see now the original footprint of the tarn is back!
Frank and I have marked (cairns and the occ. white pole) the route from the end of the Kelly Range down to the boggy flat and the stream that takes one to the Hunts Saddle Track. We’ve also done a fair amount of snipping to clarify the route. Alan Jemison sussed the route out and he, Emma Richardson and I went and did some track-cutting then a few years ago. Since then, Frank and I go back regularly to improve the line.
Ah nice. I guess that makes a circuit possible then. It looks a long slog along Kelly’s Creek though. I’m often reluctant to do long valley walks through forest. I like my views. But that limits my range rather.
By the way, I went back and did Mt O’Malley again with my wife Sophia. The views from the summit were very nice with snow on the high peaks, but the tarn was frozen and in shadow so not as nice as in autumn.
That’s keen! I’m too lazy to do it as a day trip and would like to camp at that tarn if poss. as you say when it’s not frozen. Mind you, at least it would be flat.
We don’t think much of Kelly Ck either and go back along the range but then, we’re doing track work so it’s by no means a waste retracing our steps.
Stunning as always.. just thought I’d let you know I highly appreciate the work you put into this site. The photography, route maps and commentary is super useful. Have had some great walks following your recommendations here, that I would never have found if it wasn’t for this site. Thank you!
Gee, thanks James. 😀 It’s a labour of love I guess, a diary of sorts, and something a bit creative, but it’s nice to know I have an audience! Ive been recognised in public a handful of times so I also feel like a minor celebrity 😄