The track starts near the summit of Cobb Dam Road. There is a car park, information shelter and toilet nearby.

Follow signs for Cobb Ridge Route, towards Asbestos Cottage. The track leads along Cobb Ridge for an hour and has excellent views of Cobb Reservoir.

The track then turns off the ridge and descends for 40 minutes through open tussock and beech forest to a junction. From here, trampers can continue for 20 minutes to Asbestos Cottage or take the other track towards Lower Junction.

The track ends at Asbestos Cottage.

Asbestos Cottage Track is new and has not been added to topographic maps yet. 

View a map of the track (PDF, 272K)

About the cottage

Asbestos Cottage was home to Annie and Henry Chaffey from 1914 to 1951. Henry Chaffey mined asbestos nearby and the couple was married at the cottage in 1932.

Asbestos safety and access

There is no track beyond the cottage or to the historic asbestos mine.

Asbestos Track from Cobb Dam Road to Asbestos Cottage is being removed from the DOC track network. There is a potential health risk due to extremely high levels of asbestos at the nearby mine and along the adjacent track.

Asbestos Cottage has been decontaminated and areas of asbestos contamination around the hut have been remediated. Do not disturb the soil.

The track starts on Cobb Dam Road, near the information shelter and the highest point of the road.

From the powerhouse, Cobb Dam Road is unsealed, narrow and has steep drop-offs. Drive with care.

In winter, ice or snow can make the road hazardous. A 4WD is recommended.

This is an advanced tramping track and has some steep and rough sections. It is best suited to well-equipped and experienced trampers.