Lake Emily to Manuka Hut

Time: 1 hr 30 min
Distance: 4.5 km

For mountain bike or horse access to Manuka Hut, continue past the Te Araroa junction, down the Stour River, for a further 2.5 km before turning left. Don't take mountain bikes or horses on the Te Araroa route from Lake Emily to Manuka Hut as it's steep and easily damaged.

Lake Emily to Stour Bridge car park

Time: 5 hr
Distance: 15 km

Lake Emily gives access on old farm tracks to Stour Bridge car park. From the lake, the route is mostly down hill, making it an easy walk. It is difficult to mountain bike ride due to extensive flood damage in May 2021. 

This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.

Lake Emily to Glenrock Stream (Rakaia Valley)

Time: 14 hr 30 min
Distance: 43 km

Part of Te Araroa - New Zealand's trail, this track links Hakatere Heron Road to the Rakaia River.

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.