This tramping track offers an excellent tramp up the Borland Valley with interesting limestone in places, a hut, and access for experienced trampers to Mt Titiroa or the Garnock Burn and Manapouri.

From the gate near the Borland Lodge, enter the Borland Nature Walk, cross the Borland Burn suspension bridge and follow the sign pointing to the North Borland Track.

The track follows the river for 1 hour 45 minutes to the intersection with the South Borland Track. Take the North Borland Track which follows the Borland Burn terrace for 45 minutes to a large limestone Rock Bivvy, which provides shelter and has a pit toilet.

NB: The section from the Borland Burn suspension bridge to the Intersection with the South Borland Track has been left out of the "Lake Monowai, Borland and the Grebe Valley" brochure this is an error. This will be updated in later versions of the publication.

Approximately 15 minutes from the Rock Bivvy, cross the Middle Branch of the Borland Burn River. Extreme caution should be taken as the water levels can rise rapidly with heavy rain.

The track climbs steeply above a gorge to a clearing where Mt. Titiroa may be seen to the north east. Here the track re-enters the bush and continues to a tussock and scrub clearing.

The North Borland Hut is located approximately 30 minutes into the clearing. There is no marked route out of the head of the valley but experienced trampers can cross from the North Borland Burn to the Garnock Burn and further to Manapouri.

This track starts from Borland Lodge (Borland Road), in Monowai, Southland.

Lake Monowai and the Borland Road are located about 67 km from Te Anau (1 hour), and 120 km from Invercargill (1 hour 45 min) and can be accessed via the Southern Scenic Route.

From Te Anau

Drive south via the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway and onto the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd.

After 55 km (about 40 min), turn right into Lake Monowai Rd just north of the Blackmount School.

Follow signs to Borland Lodge or Lake Monowai (both reached after about 20 min).

From Invercargill

Drive 77 km to Clifden (65 min) then head north on the Clifden-Blackmount Rd (25 km, 20 min) until turning left into the Lake Monowai Rd, just north of the Blackmount School. 

Follow signs to Borland Lodge or Lake Monowai (both reached after about 20 min).