During the two hour walk from Mt Holdsworth Lodge to the Atiwhakatu Hut you will cross over numerous culverts, boardwalks, 18 small bridges and (currently), 5 substantial bridges. The first of these bridges crosses the Atiwakatu river and the others stradle significant side streams.
These 5 bridges are rather unique in that each has a different design and construction.
The first bridge crossing the Atiwhakatu Stream near Mt Holdsworth Lodge is of solid steel construction and has been in place longer than most can remember.
The second bridge, approx 45 mins up the valley near the start of the Mountain House track is classifed by DOC as a " Forest Service Swing Bridge", with a design dating back to the old pre DOC Forest Service days. The concave designed bridge has been tarted up over recent years with extra strengthening and side netting to improve safety.
The third bridge is a factory built, competely aluminium bridge flown in and lowered on to pre poured butressess. The site of this bridge is unpredictable, as a consequence DOC chose this design so the bridge can be easily lifted and relocated if the banks shift or become unstable. Bridges of similar design are used in South Island glacier country where river flows and bridge stability are eratic and as a cosequence bridges need to be frequently repositioned or relocated.
The fourth bridge is a new long span, wooded decked DOC designed swing bridge. It is of a convex shape and was constructed in 2013 - 14 to replace an earlier wooden swing bridge which was wiped ut by the big floods of early 1013.
The fith bridge a few hundred meters from the new Atiwhakatu hut is also a wooded concave shaped bridge of an earlier design constructed by DOC about 10 years ago..