The Taieri Millenium Track starts at the end of Riverside Road at Taieri Mouth. It sidles the western valleyside through the gorged section of the river before dropping to flats. Soon after it becomes a gravel road which continues a further 4km to the Taieri River Bridge near Henley.

An easy benched track. 2-3 hrs

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Benched MTB/walking track from roadend to tops. 4WD forestry track on DOC land to Waipori Falls.

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Route along legal roads - may or may not be viable on the ground.

Mountain Road is public and open, but the route down to Otago Dam may not be practical. Air photos indicate a track along the legal roadline.

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Walking track from Gabriels Gully to Otago Dam

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Walking track from Gabriels Gully to Otago Dam

Rail trail.

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Cycle trail parallel to highway

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Cycle trail - surface walkway along the NE bank of the Clutha.

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Cycle trail adjacent to Clutha River

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From the signpost / info kiosk, an old 4WD track climbs, sometimes steeply, up a spur to the summit of the Old Man Range. This is a steady 800m climb.

At the summit is an unmarked track junction with the ridgeline track, the Junction Hut Track and the Mt Hope road.

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An old 4WD track drops, sometimes steeply, down a spur to hit SH6 3km north of Roxburgh. The bottom end is signposted.

From the top of the Bullock Track, head west along an old farm track across the swampy head of Bullock Creek, before climbing to the tops beyond. The track circles the head of a valley, before dropping steeply (clay and dodgy in the wet for vehicles) into the Pomahaka at Junction Huts. The track crosses one fork of the river - fine except in flood conditions.

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A rough 4WD track crosses the creek (fine generally but can flood) and climbs the face east of Junction Hut. This track is on private land and only foot / MTB access is permitted unless you get the landowner's consent.

After a circling a basin to the south, the track drops into marshy flats at the head of Bullock Creek and hits the ridgeline fence at a junction at the top of the Bullock Track and Mt Hope Road.

From Junction Hut, climb north up the broad ridgeline. There is a clear 4WD track on the eastern side of the fence, but this is on private land. Legal access is to follow the western side of the fence down the ridgeline, remaining on crown land.

At pt1270 the fenceline disappears east off the ridge, and north of that all land is public. Follow the broad ridge over pt1440 to the boundary fence on the summit of Old Man Range.

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From pt1440, follow the broad ridgeline south, swinging slightly west to reach pt1270 where you hit a corner on a boundary fence. There is a clear 4WD track on the south-east side of the fence, but this is on private land. Legal access is to follow the western side of the fence down the ridgeline, remaining on crown land.

Junction Hut is reached the the base of the spur. Not shown on maps it is 200m north of the 'Disused Gold Mine'.

From pt1440, the fenceline follows the ridgeline NNW to the Waikaia Bush Road saddle. The road on the east side of the fence is on private land and does not exactly match the route of the legal road, so be warned. Public legal walking access is present on DOC land on the west of the fenceline.

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A rough 4WD track runs south along the Old Man Range from the Waikaia Bush Rd saddle. The road on the east side of the fence is on private land and does not exactly match the route of the legal road, so be warned. Public legal walking access is present on DOC land on the west of the fenceline.

The fence climbs to a broad summit, where it swings east. An old rough track drops south from here to Junction Hut. The junction is not signposted and the track is not obvious at first.

A reasonable 4WD track runs between AA Hut and the signposted track junction at Hyde Rock.

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A reasonable 4WD track runs between AA Hut and the signposted track junction at Hyde Rock.

A good 4WD track follows the Old Woman Range NNW from the signposted junction near Hyde Rock to the southern Fraser Basin turnoff, 1km from Boundary Hut.

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A good 4WD track follows the Old Woman Range SSE from the Fraser Basin turnoff to the ridge-junction with the Old Man Range at Hyde Rock. The track junction is signposted.

Hyde Rock itself is 50m north of the junction, signposted east off the main 4WDctrack.

Snow-covered in winter - this is cross-country skiing country.

A rough 4WD track follows the fenceline along the summit of the Old Woman Range from the northern to southern Fraser Basin turnoffs. The northern turnoff is not signposted, but is reached where the track drops briefly east off the range to cross an east-west fenceline.

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A rough 4WD track follows the fenceline along the summit of the Old Woman Range from the northern to southern Fraser Basin turnoffs. The southern turnoff is signposted, with Boundary Hut just 1km to the west of the junction.

Snow-covered in winter. This is cross-country skiing country.

From Old Woman Hut, return 500m east to the main track and follow it south along the range. After 3km it crosses a fence which used to be the DOC boundary. However, both sides are now crown land (2015). A rough track follows the boundary fence, whilst the vehicle track swings briefly east to avoid swamps.

The junction of the Garvie and Old Woman ranges is reached 9km from the hut. Land south of here down the Garvie Range is private. Follow the vehicle track as it swings SE along the Old Woman range, continuing a further 3km to a junction just beyond an east-west fenceline. This is the turnoff (east) to the Fraser Basin.

The entire section is across exposed, barren tops - beautiful but bleak.

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From the northern Fraser Basin turnoff, a 4WD track follows the Old Woman Range NW for 3km before swinging north. A further 9km takes you to a set of yards where a signpost points west, 500m to Old Woman Hut. From the point the track swings north, both sides of the fenceline are DOC administered land, though old signs still indicate otherwise (2015).

The entire section is across exposed, barren tops - beautiful but bleak.

A very rough (impassable) 4wd track zigzags down the western face of Old Woman Range to meet the track along the water race. Carrick Racehead Hut is just south of the track junction below the track in the next gully.

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From the Carrick Racehead Hut, drop to Coal Creek and climb the good spur opposite. Pick up the Craigroy Track inside the reserve and follow it (public easement) through farmland to the Nevis River.

The Nevis is fordable in low-normal flows (knee-thigh deep). Follow the Schoolhouse Flat track t the Nevis Valley Road. There is camping at the river on the west side.

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An old 4WD track (still used by recreationalists) connects the Nevis Road to Drummond Creek Hut at the base of the Remarkable range.

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An old 4WD track (still used by recreationalists) connects the Nevis Road to Drummond Creek Hut at the base of the Remarkable range.

Reasonable going through low tussock up spur from Drummond Creek Hut to pt1678

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Easy tussock ridgeline

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The western face of the Hector Mountains above 1000m has a public access covenant on it. Descend through this area (north of the fenceline dropping from Lorn Peak) to reach the end of the farm track. This track provides a public access easement though the remaining farmland to the Glen Nevis Station Road.

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The Around the Mountains cycle/walking trail follows the old railwayline between Fairlight and Kingston.

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The Around the Mountains cycle/walking trail follows the old railwayline between Fairlight and Kingston.

A 4WD access easement runs up farm tracks to The Bowels of the Earth from the Robert Creek roadend. The ford over Robert Creek can easily flood after rain. The good 4WD track ends at the ford over The Bowels of the Earth. Note that the private hut at the base of Iron Spur has been removed.

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A 4WD access easement runs down farm tracks from The Bowels of the Earth to the Robert Creek roadend. The ford over Robert Creek can easily flood after rain.

A rough 4WD track heads up the riverbed to Cowshed Hut from Iron Spur. Several crossing are required - shin deep and a few meters wide on round river rocks - easy on foot or in a good 4WD. A rough crossing of The Bowels of the Earth and build-up on the upslope side of the track at a slip just upstream of it stop all but high-clearance 4WD access to the upper valley. The first 1km of the easement to Iron Spur is on the farmer's side of the fence - so the usual restriction regarding dogs & firearms apply.

Cowshed Hut is on the southern bank on a terrace.

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A rough 4WD track heads down the riverbed from Cowshed Hut to Iron Spur. Several crossing are required - shin deep and a few meters wide on round river rocks - easy on foot or in a good 4WD. The last 1km of the easement to Iron Spur is on the farmer's side of the fence - so the usual restriction regarding dogs & firearms apply. A rough crossing of The Bowels of the Earth and build-up on the upslope side of the track at a slip just upstream of it stop all but high-clearance 4WD access to the upper valley.

The hut shown at Iron Spur has been removed - just the dog kennels remain.

From Cowshed Hut follow the 4WD track upstream, crossing twice before it ends at the first forks from the north. The route from here is unmarked, but well travelled. Initially the valley is tight and several crossings are required to avoid steep scrubby faces. The valley opens up again 1.5km below Beech Hut to flats of tussock and patches of beech. Pleasant walking follows on the northern bank, skirting right of a patch of beech before crossing to the hut on the opposite bank.

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The route down the Mataura from Beech Hut s well used but unmarked. Cross to the true left (east) at the hat and follow good ground trails down beech-dotted flats. The valley narrows and several creek crossings are required (shin deep and easy in normal flows). The valley opens to broad flats, of what has clearly until-recently been farmland, 1.5km above Cowshed Hut at the forks. A faint 4WD track commences, crossing the river twice before reaching Cowshed Hut on a terrace on the southern bank.

Follow the route downriver from Beech Hut towards the first sidecreek, and cross back to the true right bank 100m above the forks.

You need to climb the spur downstream of the sidecreek. The first 60m is scrubby, so spy out a good slip or deer trail and push your way up until you emerge onto good open tussock at the 800m contour. An easy walk on a gentle gradient follows to reach the ridgeline 200m north of pt1212, though tussock is knee deep and slows things down a bit.

(Be warned that parties report the spur WSW from pt1212 to Dog Box Creek as being tough: 'never doing that again').

Head south over pt1212 and either climb pt1328 or sidle its western face to reach the spur dropping due west towards Dog Box Biv. The spur is open shingle and lichen and easy, clear going. The last 20m to the creek are steep and rocky, but deer trails point the way.

Dog Box Biv is 100m away on terraces upstream of Dog Box Creek. The main 4WD track up the Eyre River is on flats below.

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Head north to pt1212 and 200m beyond where a good broad tussock spur can be seen dropping ENE into the Mataura River. This gives good travel through knee high tussock until about 60m above the valley floor where it becomes steep & scrubby. I chose a good deer trail into the sidecreek to the north of the spur, scrambled though 10m of scrub around the creek and emerged onto open terraces on true right of the Mataura.

The main route up the Matatura is on the true left - so cross where easiest and pick up the faint ground trail heading upriver. Beech Hut is back on the true right, with a further crossing required at the hut. The creek is small - 2m wide and ankle deep.

Follow the route downriver from Beech Hut towards the first sidecreek, and cross back to the true right bank 100m above the forks.

You need to climb the spur downstream of the sidecreek. The first 60m is scrubby, so spy out a good slip or deer trail and push your way up until you emerge onto good open tussock at the 800m contour. An easy walk on a gentle gradient follows to reach the ridgeline 200m north of pt1212, though tussock is knee deep and slows things down a bit.

(Be warned that parties report the spur WSW from pt1212 to Dog Box Creek as being tough: 'never doing that again').

Head south over pt1212 and either climb pt1328 or sidle its western face to reach the spur dropping due west towards Dog Box Biv. The spur is open shingle and lichen and easy, clear going. The last 20m to the creek are steep and rocky, but deer trails point the way.

Dog Box Biv is 100m away on terraces upstream of Dog Box Creek. The main 4WD track up the Eyre River is on flats below.

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An easy climb and descent connects Eyre Creek and the Mataura River between Dog Box and Beech Hut,

From Dog Box Biv, cross back downriver over Dog Box Creek, and head up the spur climbing due east to pt1328. The first 20m are steep and rocky, but once past this a good open spur of rock & lichen takes you all the way to the summit. I sidled west of pt1328 starting at about 1000m aiming for the saddle between pt1328 and pt1212. This avoided some climbing, but was probably no easier or quicker.

Fro Dog Box Biv the Eyre Valley 4WD track heads down easy flats on the northern bank. After 2km it fords the main river (shin deep, 4m wide, easy except after heavy rain) to the southern bank. Shortly after it crosses Windley Creek, entering from the south-west, at the start of beech forest.

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Above Windley Creek, the Eyre Valley track crosses the main river to the north bank (shin deep, 4m wide, easy crossing except after heavy rain) and follows valley flats upstream. After a ford of the minor Dog Box Creek, a faint 4WD track branches right to climb to Dog Box Biv on the terrace above.

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A reasonable but sometimes scrubby route connects Ashton Hut to Eyre Creek via the Windley,

From Ashton Hut, sidle down to meet the main Ashton Creek. The first 500m requires sidling the south face of the valley across slips / scree until you reach the start of beech forest on the valley floor. From here you can cross the creek and head up the north (true right) bank in initially open beech forest. The beech changes to increasingly dense pole beech as you progress but it makes for reasonable travel to the first main forks, above which the riverbed open enough to permit good travel on the banks.

Follow the river banks and later valley flats upstream. There are patches of scrub but they can be avoided by good route selection.

The third side-creek above the major forks, a stream dropping from due east down a series of waterfalls, is the creek to the Ashton/Windley saddle. A good ramp on the true right of the creek provides access to the valley above the falls. The valley is a steep 'V' with tall tussock and slow going until about 1250m above which it opens to a good head basin with an easy, stead climb due east to the obvious low-point at the saddle.

Brief scree takes you into the head of the middle branch of Windley Creek. The map shows an area of scrub, but this is mainly on the valleysides and the valley floor around the creek is reasonably clear except for the last 100m to the bushedge. Good deer trails on the north bank provided a route into the beech.

The 1km descent to the main Windley is steep, gorged and choked with windfall. It was slow and not enjoyable, but possible. One scramble down a waterfall/logjam was required. If repeating the trip I;d aim to sidle onto the southern spur and follow that down to the main Windley Creek, rather than descending the creekbed as shown. The 1km took me 1 hour.

Once in the main riverbed travel was good on mossy river flats. Frequent good campspots exist beside the river (there were none further up the valley to the pass). The river was shin to knee deep and 3-4m across and easy goin in normal flows. In flood the route could be tricky as crossing were required. The last kilometer or so is taped and roughly cut.

The creek emerges from the bush at the ford on the 4WD track running up the Eyre valley. Dog Box Biv and Shepherds Creek Hut are 2km upriver / 3km downriver respectively. Good campspots also exist in the beech at the forks.

The valley below Ashton Hut is gorged and not good going. The usual route instead climbs pt1330.

From Ashton, sidle upriver at the height of the hut until a good sidle down into the creek presents itself. Cross and pick up the spur climbing WNW to the main ridge, and follow that to pt1330. From pt1330 follow the spur NE, and then drop the broad face to reach the Oreti Valley floor where the Ashton flows out. You'll hit the 4WD track here. Upper Oreti Hut is 1km downriver on the track.

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From Upper Oteri Hut, follow the 4WD track north up the valley, fording the Ashton and continuing on flats to reach a locked gate and carpark 200m short of the Mt Nicholas Road.

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An old farm track, now a cycleway, leads down the Ortia valley from the My Nicholas Rd. The main creek is bridged but smaller streams are forded, the largest being the Ashton - ankle deep in normal flows.

Upper Oreti Hut stands on a terrace west of the track. An old station hut, it's spacious but battered.

A brief road walk takes you to South Mavora Lake from the Oreti roadend.

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A brief road walk takes you from South Mavora Lake to the Oreti roadend. After 2km winding through beech your reach the Mt Nicholas Road hwich corsses a broad flat saddle and drops to the Oreti river bridge, The roadend is 100m beyond.

The track passes around the western side of the South Mavora lake and crosses a large grassy field before reconnecting with the river and crossing a swing bridge just down from the North Mavora Lake outlet. The Mavora Lakes Campsite is just through the trees on the true left.

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From the Mavora Lakes Campsite follow 4WD tracks to the bush at the north end of the campsite. The 4WD track passes along the lake shore and clears the bush after 3km, climbing up above the lake before dropping back down to near the water at Careys Hut.

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From Careys Hut follow the 4WD track northwards, around a bluff at the top of North Mavora Lake and then down onto flats of the Mararoa RIver. The 4WD track is followed all the way to Boundry Hut. Cross the swing bridge just south of the hut and carry on up the true right of the Mararoa. The track passes through a farm gate and then for a short distance follows a farm track. The marked Mavora Walkway then leaves the farm track behind and from then on follows the western side of the valley northwards, quite differently from what is shown on the map. The Walkway is quite indistinct with snow poles very spaced out and it can be hard to see where you are supposed to be walking. Finally, a large side creek is crossed and Taipo Hut is visible on the true left of the Mararoa River. Cross a swing bridge to reach the hut.

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Note: there is no bridge across the Pass Burn. Do not attempt to take the Mavora Walkway track if has been raining as the ford half a km south of Passburn Hut will be impassible. This route guide takes the old cattle track which is usable even after heavy rain, and entries in the Greenstone gut book suggest it is faster then the adjacent Mavora Walkway.

From Taipo Hut cross fields northeast of the hut and a couple of small lakes to make your way to the Pass Burn/Pond Burn Saddle. At a gate the track divides, orange triangles go up the hill to the left forming the official Mavora Walkway track. Orange topped waratahs, which you've been following along the whole length of the Mavora Walkway, head northeastwards to the eastern side of the valley. Follow the waratahs up a small hill where an obvious ground trail enters knee high scrub. This is the last marker you'll see all the way down the Pass Burn but it doesn't matter, simply follow the ground trail, an old cattle track. The track meanders through the knee high scrub above the Pass burn, skirting the edge of bush, and crosses a small side stream. Half a km north of the side stream you'll see markers on the opposite side of the Pass Burn which is the Mavora Walkway approaching to converge at a 4 way intersection a short way ahead on the true right. Turn right at the intersection and follow a well marked track through bush, across a large clearing, then more bush to reach the bottom of the clearing that Greenstone Hut is located in. Climb up the hill to the hut.

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From Greenstone Hut drop down the hill and cross the bridge across the impressive lower Greenstone Gorge, climbing up the other side to connect with the Greenstone track. Follow the track up valley crossing flats, the occasional bog, and a long stretch of forest upstream of Rats Nest Hut. Side streams on the Greenstone can pose problems with flooding but otherwise the track is very simple.

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From McKellar Hut, the track crosses to the TL. The side streams are unbridged and quickly rise to dangerous levels after rain. They quickly fall again so be patient and wait until the crossings are safe.

Otherwise, it's an easy track down the valley, mostly in forest until Steele Creek. Having returned to the river flats, the track moves through grass and occasional bog until swinging to the left and returning to the forest.

Finally, the track junction to Greenstone Hut appears and a zig zag descent to a fixed bridge over the Greenstone gorge. A short climb and the hut can be seen across the clearing.

From McKellar Hut follow the well formed Greenstone track northwards past Lake McKellar and the turnoff to the Caples Track. There is an official DOC campsite near Greenstone Saddle with a pit toilet which is the closest "official" place you can camp for free to the Routeburn, 1 hour from Howden Hut. Continue on past Lake Howden to reach Howden Hut at the lake's outlet, on the Routeburn Track.

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Picking up the Greenstone Track, the tramp edges past Lake Howden towards the Greenstone Saddle (not obvious) and continues on a flat grade to the turn-off to the Caples Track. Just beyond is Lake McKellar.

Having walked the length of the lake, McKellar Hut is a short distance beyond, overlooking the top of the Greenstone Valley.

From Howden Hut follow the Routeburn Track up the hill and past the Key Summit turnoff, and down to the car park at the Divide. Simple!

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An excellent, Great Walk quality track runs from the road end all the way to Alabaster Hut. Wide, benched, well drained, and every side stream bridged. This segment is frequented by guided walkers so you might encounter their large groups. Hidden Falls Hut is 2 hours from the road end.

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Follow the Hollyford track down Lake Alabaster and cross the swing bridge across the Pyke River. A good quality track heads down valley through bush to follow the Hollyford River to Lake McKellrow. I walked this in torrential rain, side streams along here are mostly not bridged and are tricky to cross in flood. The track floods in places from the streams. The ford across the Hollyford to McKerrow Island (2-3 hours from Alabaster Hut) is impassible when the Hollyford is in flood. From the head of the lake follow the Demon Trail on to Demon Trail hut.

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From Demon Trail Hut carry on down the lake following the track. The larger streams are crossed by 3 wire bridges but in normal flows can usually be forded if desired. Hokuri Hut is reached after 4-5 hours from Demon Trail Hut. Shortly north of Hokuri Hut the track reaches the lake edge and generally stays there for the rest of the way to the foot of the lake. Leaving the track and following the lake beach is very pleasant. Hokuri Creek is easily forded at its mouth under normal flows, other wise head up the creek to cross the 3 wire. From the beach nothing is seen of Jamestown or "Charlies Place". At the foot of the lake the markers are visible where the track swings northwards, there's a display of a canoe here under a shelter. Follow the good quality track in land to the head of a large clearing near the Martins Bay Guided walkers lodge. Weather forecasts can be gotten from here if you ask, and jet boats back up Lake McKerrow as far as the Pyke Lodge booked if they have room. The track continues on through mixed scrub to giant sand dunes along the lower Hollyford River. Follow the track on to Martins Bay Hut. The seal colony at Long Reef is worth checking out if you have time.

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