Image: Brian Dobbie | DOC
Early morning view over a river plain with snowcapped mountains in the distance.
Lake Emily to Glenrock Stream (Rakaia Valley) Track

Located in Hakatere Conservation Park in the Canterbury region

Part of Te Araroa Trail, this track links Hakatere Heron Road to the Rakaia River.

This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.

Starting from the carpark just off Hakatere Heron Road, follow the track to Manuka Hut (1 hr 30 min).

You will then pass Manuka Lake and Seagull Lake, before a junction with the Double Hut Track to your right. Double Hut is 800 m down this track.

It is about 10 km from the carpark to the Double Hut junction.

Continue straight and the track will start to climb toward the Clent Hills Saddle. It is 8 km from the Double Hut Track junction to the top of the saddle.

It is a further 9 km down to Comyns Hut.

The track then follows Turtons Stream uphill toward Turton's Saddle, passing A Frame Hut on the way.

From the saddle, the track follows Glenrock Stream down to the Rakaia River plain and meets the Double Hill Run Road. It is 16 km from Comyns Hut to the road.

Lake Emily is accessed from Hakatere Heron Road, about 31 km west of Mount Somers. 

Leave Mount Somers on Ashburton Gorge Road, then turn right into Hakatere Heron Road (23 km). Turn right again just before crossing Jacobs Stream Bridge at Castleridge Station.

2WD vehicles can park on the verge of the farm track (be considerate of other users and farm vehicles). 4WD vehicles can travel a further 1.4 km to a car park on the public conversation land.