Dingle Burn Track
Track category
Tramping track
Distance:
41 km
Description
Times:
- Carpark to Bush Hut 7-9hr, 22 km
- Bush Hut to Cotters Hut 7-9 hr, 10 km
- Cotters Hut to Top Dingle Hut 3-4 hr, 12 km
- Top Dingle Hut to Ahuriri Valley 3-4 hr, 5 km
From the Turihuka Conservation Area at the confluence of the Dingle Burn and Lake Hawea, the track follows the Dingle Burn's true left for six kilometres, It then climbs to a terrace 120 metres above the river, where a cut track starts at the edge of the bush. In low to normal river flows you can follow the burn all the way to the six-bunk Bush Hut, though this does involve numerous river crossings.
The six-bunk Top Dingle Hut
Beyond Bush Hut, the track continues up the valley through beech forest before climbing up a narrow ridge for 200 metres to bypass a large, unstable slip. After descending the track crosses a series of gullies before reaching the two-bunk Cotters Hut,
After Cotters travel is much easier, along grassy flats and terraces for much of the way to the historic Ben Avon Hut (day use only) and then to the six-bunk Top Dingle Hut. A marked track from this hut rises 600 metres to the ridge line, before descending into the Ahuriri Valley.
Note: This track crosses private land. Please respect the landowner's livestock and property and stay on the marked track.
Hunting
Hunters may carry unloaded firearms on the track, if they have a current hunting permit for lands administered by DOC. Under no circumstances are firearms to be discharged before entering a permitted hunting area.
Fishing
This is a popular fishing area. A current fishing licence is required which will describe the seasonal restrictions.
Getting there
From Hawea Township follow the unsealed Dingleburn Station Road to the public carpark. From here access is by foot. The Dingle Burn Peninsula access track winds along the bluffs, and then alongside Lake Hawea, leads to the Turihuka Conservation Area, where a sign points to the start of the Dingle Burn Track.
About the area
The Dingle Burn
The Dingle Burn Track is a significant attraction in the Hawea Conservation Park. The park has 105,000 Hectares of rugged mountain country, tussocklands, beech/tawhai forest and sparkling clear rivers and streams. Hawea Conservation Park borders Mount Aspiring National Park to the west and Ahuriri Conservation Park in the east.