Activities in Ruataniwha Conservation Park
Tracks and walks
There is a wide range of walks in the park, ranging from short easy walks of up to 1 hour long, suitable for families, to back-country tramping tracks and unformed routes for multi-day trips.
There are also a number of mountain bike tracks.
Other activities
Horse riding
The Hopkins and Dobson valleys are both popular destinations for horse riding.
To ensure weeds are not spread into this sensitive environment, ensure you:
- overnight your horses on local grass (not lucerne or meadow hay) before entering the park
- check your horse's hooves for foreign matter before entering the park
- do not bring hay or feed grain into the park.
Fishing
Popular fishing destinations include Temple Stream outlet into Lake Ohau and the Hopkins and Dobson valleys. Brown and rainbow trout are the most common fish encountered. The fishing season runs from early November to the end of April, with a daily bag limit of two trout. Within the Hopkins and Dobson rivers kokanee (sockeye salmon) may also be found.
On the eastern side of Ben Ohau Range foot and non-motorised access is via marginal strips on Dry Stream and Twizel River, on the valley floor. Bait fishing is not permitted in Twizel River. A well-marked track follows Fraser Stream from Pukaki Canal Road.
Hunting
Medium numbers of thar are present in Ben Ohau Range and tend to be more dense in the more remote catchment areas. Thar are also present in the Hopkins, Huxley and Dobson valleys, while chamois and red deer may be encountered in isolated pockets.
Climbing
Ruataniwha Conservation Park has a variety of mountaineering options for both the beginner climber and the more technically advanced. Some of the more popular summits include Rabbiters Peak, Mt Glenmary, Mt Ward,
Mt Strauchon and Mt Hopkins. Popular rock climbing areas include 'Hemi's Bowl' (adjacent to Ohau Skifield), South Temple valley and Dasler Pinnacles.
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Guided activities and tours