First point to make - and the most important if you're taking a look! - is please check out the OTMC trampers guide. There are a number of tracks in the Silver Peaks which are not included on the topo maps or doc websites, which can make a better loop than what I took on this trip (no road walking).

After starting work at the end of my first year in Dunedin (working part time through uni), I found I was either low on time or straight up tired until I got into the rhythm of full time (or often more-than-full-time) work. After a few years working I remembered why I loved Dunedin and stayed down here after uni, and started heading out for day walks every weekend. I managed to get invited along by an old friend at uni to do the Heaphy with them in the new year of 2021, and thought I should probably head out overnight somewhere ahead of time!

The Silver Peaks is a lovely trip, and since this trip, I've spent a lot of time traipsing around the reserve. This trip to Jubilee will always have my heart though. It was my first time tramping solo, and I got to the hut to find it completely empty - this is what got me hooked on overnight solo adventures, staying up stupidly late to read....

Generally, the track is relatively well formed although somewhat muddy (worse after the rain - I went in December so the ground was relatively dry). I linked up to walk out via ABC cave and yellow ridge, which involved a fair bit of road walking, but I've subsequently found out about the other tracks which allow a large loop staying off the forestry roads which I highly recommend.

Day 1

Mountain Road carpark to Jubilee Hut. I took what I now refer to as the 'standard' track - heading along the main track up to the ridge line, enjoying the views at Pulpit Rock, and then heading down the ominously named Devil's Staircase. The staircase wasn't bad at all for this trip, with barely any rain in the week or so heading up, but the wind was biting and cold. I ended up pulling on my long sleeve, rain jacket and beanie to keep warm, as well as the motorcycle buff my partner shoved into my pack on the way there. The exposed ridge lines as you can see below were just beautiful and more than made up for the cutting wind.

I set out mid-morning, quietly nervous for my first ever overnight trip. Double and triple checking that the PLB my grandparents got me was sitting close to the top of my pack, I soon forgot my fears and enjoyed the sights. Getting to Jubilee Hut was great, with the only concern being with how steep the valley was around me and knowing I had to head out that way tomorrow!

Overnight I revelled in having the place to myself. I enjoy turning up to find another chatty group and I don't mind having a yarn, but there is something lovely on short trips about having a decent length of time without seeing any other person - particularly when you start a good book. I stayed up stupidly late, to the point where I was reading for long enough that I got up to try my hand once again at astrophotography. The above is 6x shots with my Canon M5 + 22/2 pancake, painstakingly stitched together.

Day 2

Day 2 started with trying to eat porridge. Pro-tip - if you don't usually eat a food, the time to start trying isn't in the middle of nowhere, with the lightest gas cooker you own and no way of flavouring it. The salted caramel porridge I tried was horrific, but with the choice of either eating it or packing it out, I choked it down (later realising it was probably the same consistency as the other items in the long drop....)

When I finally got moving after a lovely slow morning, it was to head towards ABC Cave and the Yellow Ridge route. I do mean to come back to ABC Cave and spend a night bivvying in the cave - it's a lovely wee platform that entirely suits a night of adventure.

I stopped on the way back to take lunch and a rest at the Philip J Cox memorial hut. This cute and cozy hut is a lovely place to stop. Finally, I headed out to the dreaded boring forestry road walk out. This involved a steep descent and demoralising climb up out of the Waikouiti river, and then a long walk out to Mountain Road carpark. Again, checking out the tramper's guide to Silver Peaks linked above is highly recommended, as I've since done trips where I've looped in to Philip J Cox hut via the river walk and avoided road walking entirely.

All in all an enjoyable trip to whet my appetite on. Fair bit of up and down and a long second day, so I would say best attempted if fit, but I think everyone in Dunedin should give it a go at some point.