Central Otago
Cluden, and Lauder Basin
Approx 2.5 hours from Dunedin, 2 hours from Queenstown. Nearest towns St Bathans, Cambrians, Naseby. DOC page
Conservation Land, and tracks that are cut off from true public access because of the Crown Tenure Review process i.e. the sitting landowner purchased freehold some public land, and DOC retained a piece. But no one ensured that the public access over the freehold land was properly protected.
Lauder Station Easement track
Lauder Station Road to Lauder Basin Conservation Area boundary: 6 km
Entry to the Lauder Basin Conservation area via Lauder Station for vehicle, walking, mountain biking and horse riding is on formed 4WD farm track . Some sections of road are rough with steep drop offs.
Lauder Basin Conservation Area road
Lauder Station Boundary to Cluden Station Boundary: 18 km
Access through the Lauder Conservation area for vehicle, walking, mountain biking and horse riding is along a formed 4WD farm track. Some sections of road are quite rutted and can be boggy after rain.
Cluden Station Easement
Lauder Basin Conservation Area boundary to Cluden Creek Car park: 7 km
Cluden Creek Car park to Cluden Quarry Car Park: 8 km
Access to the Lauder Basin Conservation area via Cluden Station for vehicle, walking, mountain biking and horse riding is on formed 4WD farm track. Some sections of road are rough with steep drop offs.
Cluden Creek Track
Cluden Creek Car park via Cluden Creek Track to Lauder Basin Conservation Area road: 20 km
Walking, biking and horse access is permitted along formed 4WD farm track. Some sections of road are rough with steep drop offs. Sections of track may be boggy after rain.
Note: The gate to Cluden Creek Track from Cluden Creek car park is locked (no key available), horses can only enter/exit Cluden Creek Track via the top entry point off Lauder Basin Conservation Area Road.
As with motor vehicle entry, horse riders will need to complete the online application for padlock codes to gain entry
Dunstan Pass
Cluden Creek Track/Chain Hills Track junction over Dunstan Pass to Dunstan Creek: 4 km
From the junction of Cluden Creek, Dunstan Pass and Chain Hills Tracks, the track climbs up to Dunstan Pass before making its descent to Dunstan Creek. Walking, mountain bike and horse access are permitted on this section of track.
Chain Hills Extension Track
Chain Hills extension track from Cluden Creek Track/Dunstan Pass junction to Long Acre Track junction: 15 km
This undulating track allows for walking, mountain bike and horse access. At the junction of the Long Acre track, this extension connects to the existing 5 km Chain Hills Track.
Sailors Creek Track
Sailors Creek Car park – Lauder Basin Conservation Area Boundary: 2 km
Access to this block is from Cambrian Road, off St Bathans Loop Road, 10 km north of Becks. 2WD access extends as far as the carpark at Sailors Creek. From here, a walking, mountain biking and horse easement starts from a stile.
Ahuriri Conservation Park
Ohau Moraines Wetland Complex
2043ha. The Ohau Moraines Wetland Complex is located inland from the North Otago town of Omarama.
Take SH8 between Twizel and Omarama. Turn onto Quailburn Road 4.5km north of Omarama, and travel another 19 km on this road to Quailburn historic site. This is a sensitive environment so please ensure weeds are not spread. DOC brochure Approx 5.5km along the Qualiburn Track to Ahuriri Hut (derelict)
North Opuha Conservation Area
Follow the Lochaber Road past Lake Opuha. Cross the North Opuha Bridge and turn left to continue down Fox Peak Skifield Road. At the end of the road, just before the bridge leading to the skifield, is a car park.
From this car park, access to the North Opuha Conservation Area is via an easement across freehold land.
The easement is marked and is for foot, mountain-bike or horse only.
For more information contact the Raukapuka DOC Office. Phone 03 693 1010 or email raukapukaao@doc.govt.nz
Wairepo Kettleholes Conservation Area
The public entry point to the Wairepo Kettleholes is 14 km along Quailburn Road and is well sign-posted (Quailburn Road starts approximately four kilometres north of Omarama township off State Highway 8).
There is ample room for off-road parking. Access is via an easement which follows an old farm track to the kettleholes; return the same way. No access for horses into the conservation area itself (bikes and walkers via stile access only) The forested area on the eastern side of this easement is private land.
Contact Twizel DOC office for more information.
Nevis Valley Tracks, Remarkables
Most are shared with MTBs and some with 4WDs. Dogs must be on lead, and not in conservation boundaries.
Nevis Road can be accessed from Cromwell (northern end) and Garston (southern end):
From Cromwell: Turn off SH 88 onto Barry Avenue, which becomes Bannockburn Road. Nevis Road starts where the seal ends at the end of Bannockburn Road. Nevis Crossing is 12 km from Cromwell.
From Garston: 1.5 km north of Garston, turn off SH 6 onto Nevis Road
Nevis-Gibbston Track
2 hr one way, approx 8 km
Beginning from Nevis Crossing on Nevis Road, the track gradually winds its way up rutted sections of farm road until the 993 m Doolans Saddle. From there it descends to its end point at a boundary gate.
River Face Track
2–2 hr 30 min one way from Nevis Road, 9 km
Branching off the Nevis-Gibbston Track, the River Face Track descends down a moderately steep farm road to the Nevis River. It provides fishing access to the Nevis catchment.
Dark Elliots Track
2–3 hr one way from Nevis Road , 7 km
Seasonal restrictions: This track is closed annually from 15 October – 30 November for lambing.
Follow the Nevis Gibbston Track for 2 km (30–45 minutes) until the track sign on the left. For 5 km the track continues climbing a farm road to the conservation area boundary.
Sunny Elliots Track
3–4 hr one way from Nevis Road, 12 km
Follow the Nevis Gibbston Track for 8 km (2–2 hours 30 minutes) to a sign that marks the start of the track, 500 m from Doolans Saddle. It's a steady climb to the conservation area boundary.
Ryders Track
1 hr 30 min – 2 hr one way, 4.5 km
Seasonal restrictions: This track is closed annually from 15 October – 30 November for lambing.
From the sign on Nevis Road, the track follows a farm road, climbing steadily to the conservation area boundary.
Scotchmans Creek Track
1 hr one way from Nevis Road, 3.5 km No dogs AT ALL
Seasonal restrictions: This track is closed annually from 15 October – 30 November for lambing.
Follow the Ryders Track for 2.5 km until the signed start of the Scotchmans Creek Track. This track climbs up onto a small knoll, which is a small independent section of the Remarkables Conservation Area.
The Dunstan Trail (The old Dunstan Road)
This track was used by gold miners seeking the riches of the Dunstan gold diggings in the 1860’s. It was the shortest viable route (175km) at the time from Dunedin to Dunstan (Clyde) but was limited by its altitude in adverse weather. Known as the ‘Mountain Track’
This is still a legal road, so you will be sharing with walkers, cyclists and sometimes 4WDs. Ranges from sealed road to gravel, to natural track. A number of sites have been used in the Lord of the Rings Films.
Poolburn to Paerau (Styx) - 50km
Paerau (Styx) to Clarks Junction - 50km
Serpentine gold field 25km side trip
The Onslow Road
An alternative to the full Dunstan Trail is a route from Paerau (Styx) to Roxburgh viaLake Onslow. This completes a circuit back to Alexandra and affords spectacular views over the fruit bowl that is the Teviot Valley. It is approx. 50kms from Styx to Roxburgh.
Used by 4WDs, and shared with other trail users.
More Info :