Stage 3 of the Hump Ridge Track covers 19.1 km from Port Craig Lodge to Rarakau Car Park, with 448 m of ascent and 435 m of descent. The highest point is 124 m. Allow about 7 hours of walking, plus breaks.
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
There are no beds or shops at the Rarakau car park: the track shuttle leaves for Tuatapere at 2:30 pm daily in the season ($30 one way, $45 return, book ahead). Rooms in Tuatapere are listed under the trailhead; the Invercargill and Te Anau shuttles connect at 3:15 pm.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. Okaka and Port Craig lodges are run by the Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track Trust and booked only as a walking package on its website; DOC hut passes are not valid. Every walker must check in at the track office in Tuatapere before the start.
Emergency: call 111. Carry a PLB. Emergency & health guide
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.