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Tracks & walks

Canterbury

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Canterbury
- Mackenzie Country & Waitaki

Mackenzie Basin day walking tracks

Track category

Time:

Various from 2 hr to 5 hr return

Description

Ahuriri Conservation Park

Quailburn Saddle.
Walking up to Quailburn Saddle

Quailburn Saddle

This area can be accessed from Quailburn Road just north of Omarama. There is a historic site at the roadend, with a woolshed, homestead, hut ruins dating from 1866 and old sheep dip, which is a fantastic spot for a family picnic. A short walking track through beech forest takes you on to the open tussock Quailburn Saddle.

Ruataniwha Conservation Park

Duncan Valley to Baikie Hut

Time: 5 hr return
Distance: 18 km return, 200 m vertical

The car park for this area is off the Aoraki/Mt Cook highway about 3.5 km from the SH 8 turnoff. The walk travels for 6.5 km along an old 4WD track.
From the park boundary sign it is 2.5 km to Baikie Hut which is a great picnic spot or overnight destination on the grassy flats beside the Twizel River.

Gladstone valley

From the Baikie Hut track, cross the Twizel River. The Gladstone Track continues up the Gladstone valley where it terminates at around 850 metres.

Darts Bush stream circuit

Time: 5 hr loop
Distance: 21 km

Darts Bush Stream track starts off Glen Lyon Road on the western outskirts of Twizel. There is a designated car park area that is well signposted. Follow the poled 4WD tracks until just before Pyramid Hill, where a track leads straight to the saddle. Please keep to the poled route rather than taking the private 4WD track. After descending from Pyramid Saddle, continue across the flats, cross Darts Bush Stream and then follow an easement through private farm land to Rhoborough Downs Road. Turn right and walk past Waterwheel Wetlands and along the canal road back to the car park.

This is also a popular mountain bike circuit so care is needed on the steeper sections - watch out for fast-moving descending bikers.

Dusky Trail

Distance: 23 km

This circuit trail starts at Fraser Stream and travels along the valley floor underneath Ben Ohau Range and descends from Gladstone valley out to the Aoraki/Mt Cook Highway.

Note: this track is used by mountain-bikers and horse-riders as well as walkers.

Parsons Creek - Freehold Creek bushline

Time: 2 hr one way

Access is via the Parsons Creek entrance on Lake Ohau Road (approximately 54 km from Twizel). The walk starts with a moderate climb through the Parsons Creek beech forest margin before heading out into open grass and shrublands. The track crosses Sawyers Creek and meanders along ancient moraines before entering Freehold Creek Bush. There are bridges over the creeks en route. This is one of the best short walks in the basin to see mistletoe/pirirangi, which is normally in flower during late November/December. The track ends at the bush line with mountain views and a wide variety of alpine plants.

Note: A marked route continues on to Lake Dumbell - care is needed as this is an alpine route.

Pukaki and surrounds

Lake Pukaki

Time: 5 hr return
Distance: 12 km

This walk starts at the Pines Camping area just east of the Pukaki River spillway. It is signposted off the northern side of SH 8 and there is plenty of car parking. The walk follows an old track around the southern and eastern shores of Lake Pukaki. It forms part of the Te Araroa Trail (Long Pathway). The Lake Pukaki section of the track finishes at Tekapo B Power Station.

Pukaki Flats

Time: 2 hr 30 min (to Pukaki River return)
Distance: 10 km

The Pukaki Flats area is 1.5 km north of Twizel on the east side of SH 8. As its name suggests the Pukaki Flats walk is very flat, through an open block of short tussock grasslands. An old 4WD track follows a fence line and leads northeast to the Pukaki River. This route forms part of the Te Araroa trail (Long Pathway) from Twizel to Tekapo. Two tracks lead off the main 4WD track - a telegraph pole track and a track with old water reservoirs along it. Both these tracks head to the northern boundary of the Pukaki Flats area and an access point back to SH 8. Native plant species found here include mat daisies, native broom, blue tussock and native daphne. The isolation and views from here looking to the Ben Ohau Range and the Southern Alps are stunning on a fine day. This is a great area for walking, mountain biking and running.

Getting there

The Mackenzie Basin is situated in the centre of New Zealand's South Island. It features mountains, lakes, rivers, beech forest remnants and rolling tussock country.

All of the walking tracks described here are easy to access from main roads, and offer fantastic views of the Mackenzie high country.

Some of these walks include easements through private farmland. Please respect the landowners' rights by keeping to the marked easements. These are well-signposted and marked by orange poles. Please ensure all public access gates for walkers are closed.