The Mt Isobel Track starts at Jack’s Pass above Hanmer and climbs steeply to Isobel’s 1,362m viewpoint Trig. This is the most easily-accessed strenuous track in the Hanmer area, and after summiting Mt Isobel you’ll have more than earned a nice relaxing soak in the hot pools.
The tramping route is a fairly relentless 60-70 minutes up for fit trampers (4km). Be prepared for some loose and super - steep sections. Widelyspaced poles mark the route, but for the most part just keep climbing until you can’t climb anymore. Strangely, when you’re 2/3 the way up a DOC sign says that the peak is an hour more, but it isn’t—it’s only 20-25 more minutes from there. At the top you’ll get superb views of the entire Hanmer Valley and over the southern ridge to the Waiau River Valley. Looking north you’ll see down into the scenic Clarence River canyon which flows from here all the way north of Kaikoura, where it dumps into the sea at Clarence.
