Redcliffe Conservation Area
Introduction
As a result of the tenure review process for Redcliffe Station, completed in October 2009, some 7837 hectares are now public conservation land; 113 hectares of these are in scenic reserves.
Activities
There are opportunities for tramping and hunting for red deer, pig and chamois.
Tracks and huts
These two tracks are classified as tramping tracks.
Redcliffe Stream
It is a three- to four-hour walk from Double Hill Run Road to Tribulation Hut.
Tribulation Hut
A small car park on Double Hill Run Road gives access to the public access easement across private land to the scenic reserve by Redcliffe Stream. A tramping track is
marked from the road up the true right of Redcliffe Stream to the public conservation land at the base of Rat Hill and continues to Tribulation Hut.
Tribulation Hut is a basic hut (free) on the true left of Swift River between the slopes of Rat Hill and Mt Hecla. It has six bunks.
Terrible Gully
An easement is marked from Double Hill Run Road up Terrible Gully to the public conservation land.
Native plants you might see...
At higher altitudes snow tussock grasslands and Dracophyllum shrubland predominate. This gives way at lower altitudes to short tussock. Small remnants of beech/tawhai and mixed native hardwood remain in deep valleys and around rock bluffs and scree.
The scenic reserve at Redcliffe Stream contains a diverse range of native plants that are representative of the sunny westfacing aspect of the valley system. The small scenic reserve near the mouth of Hutt Stream has a dense stand of kōwhai. It contains Sophora prostrata, uncommon in inland Canterbury.
. . . and native animals
Kea, the New Zealand falcon/kārearea (above), and New Zealand pipit/pīhoihoi are present at higher altitudes, while bellbirds/korimako, grey warblers/riroriro and silvereye/tauhou can be found in forest remnants and scrublands.
Location
Redcliffe Conservation Area is part of the Mt Hutt Range, just south of the Rakaia River, 24 km northwest of Methven. It is bounded by the Swift River to the west and adjoins Hakatere Conservation Park at Mt Hutt.
Getting there
Access is off Double Hill Run Road. From the Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road (State highway 77) at Mt Hutt follow Blackford Road and then Double Hill Run Road.
- Signs mark public access easements across private land to the public conservation land.
- Ensure you keep to the marked track.
- Motor vehicles are not permitted.
- Alternative access can be gained from Mt Hutt which can be accessed from the Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road.
Plan and prepare
Maps
NZTopo50 maps: BW20 Lake Coleridge and BX 20 Methven