St Arnaud to Hanmer Road
For details of road access via the locked gates on the St Arnaud to Hanmer Road see the Wairau River.
Rainbow River
From the power pylons at the Wairau-Rainbow junction, follow farm tracks up the Rainbow River; this is the main access route to excellent climbing in the headwaters. Two hours of easy riverbed travel brings you to a gorge. Rainbow Hut (4 bunks) on the south bank is now controlled by Rainbow Station. Climb around the gorge on a stock track on the true left and descend to Rainbow Junction flats.
From the junction, it is about 1½ hours travel up the Rainbow to a second fork; the north branch gives access to a delightful tussock basin under Kehu Peak, and the south branch leads to Mts Paske and McKay, and a good saddle to the large tarn source of the East Sabine.
Begley Creek
From the Rainbow Junction flats, a track leads to Begley Hut (8 bunks, standard) and saddles with Connors Creek and the Hamilton River.