View Hill car park to Wharfedale Hut 

Time: 5 hr one way
Distance: 15 km one way

The track sidles and gently climbs through beech forest to the saddle. It is then mostly downhill to Wharfedale Hut, close to Dobson Stream.

This track was formed originally as a stock route with the intention of eventually becoming a road linking the plains with Lees Valley. Work began in 1879 but after seven years it was abandoned as a possible road. 

Mountain biking

Time: 3 hr one way
Grade: 3/Intermediate

Townshend Track

Time: 2 hr 30 min one way
Distance: 8.5 km one way
Seasonal restrictions: This track is closed between 1 August and 30 September, and the entire month of April

About half an hour after leaving Wharfedale Hut, the track opens out and follows a 4WD track over grazed flats coming out at Lees Valley Road.

This track crosses the Townshend River twice and may be impassable if river levels are high.

Mountain biking

Grade: 2/Easy

These tracks connect with tracks to Birch Hill Hut.

To get to View Hills carpark

4 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodstock Road. Follow this for 10 km then turn into Ingrams Road, then into Limeworks Road, which becomes Perhams Road. An AA sign here indicates the turn-off to the start of the Wharfedale Track where the View Hill car park is located.

In times of heavy rain two fords on Perhams Road may become impassable and the road may be muddy. 4WD vehicles are advisable.  

To get to Lees Valley

From Oxford, follow Ashely Gorge Road for 6 km. Turn into Lees Valley Road and follow this for 20 km to the DOC sign.

Wharfedale Track slip. View larger image (JPG, 201K).
Image: DOC

There is a slip on the Wharfedale Track between Wharfdale Hut and Fosters Ridge Track Junction.

A section of the track is gone and there is about a 5 m drop. You may need to go through the bush to get around the slip. Take care. If you're not confident in doing this, do not proceed.
The slip is difficult to negotiate and not recommended for mountain biking as the track across is very narrow and bumpy with the 5 m drop on one side.

NZTopo50 map sheet: BW22

This track crosses the Townshend River twice and may be impassable if river levels are high. How to cross a river safely.

Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light-coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.