Walking
Explore a Unique World
Step out and explore Central Otago no matter the season or the time you have available. There are endless options to suit all energy levels whether you prefer a leisurely stroll, a half-day walk or a more challenging tramp into the backcountry. With thousands of acres of conservation land and local tracks that meander beside our rivers and lakes, options for walking are never far away.
Discover our place for yourself, at a pace that suits you. In this peaceful and powerful place of vast treeless landscapes, distinctive seasons and colours, together with a wealth of heritage sites and buildings, you will find that moment by moment Central Otago will quietly reveal itself in subtle and unexpected ways.
Below are a list of popular walking tracks around Alexandra, Clyde, Cromwell and Roxburgh. They range in difficulty and length so there is something to suits everyone's ability and timetable.
Clyde Viewing Platform
15 minutes - 500m
MANUHERIKIA RIVER TRACK
An easy walk that follows the Manuherikia River, under Shaky Bridge and out to the start of the Otago Central Rail Trail.
15 minutes - 500 m
Dogs Allowed: Must be under control at all times
CLOCK ON THE HILL
A short, sharp walk following a goat track from Graveyard Gully Road right up to the Clock. It's very steep and very rocky but the views are worth it!
20 minutes - 500 m
BUTCHERS DAM LOOP
This track is an interpretive loop of about 40 minutes. It goes right across the dam wall and around the historic gold tailings on the other side of Butcher's Dam.
30 minutes - 1.5 km
Dogs Allowed: Must be under control at all times.
BANNOCKBURN SLUICINGS HISTORIC RESERVE
A popular loop through the remnants of dams, water races, tailings and caves left behind in the gold rushes. This walking track has fantastic views over Cromwell and the Clutha River/Mata-Au.
1.5 hours - 3.5 km
Dogs Allowed (On Leash Only).
ALDINGA CONSERVATION AREA
1 hour - 4 km
Blue Lake Track
1.5 hours - 3 km
YOUNG AUSTRALIAN WATERWHEEL
This impressive 14-m high water wheel sits in vast tussock land 600 m off the Young Australian Historic Reserve Road. A popular 25 km loop is from Bannockburn up the Nevis Road to Duffers Saddle, along the ridge to the water wheel and down to Carricktown, then back to Bannockburn
1.5 hours - 5.5km
(from Duffers Saddle)No Dogs Allowed
OLD CROMWELL TOWN TO BANNOCKBURN BRIDGE
3 hours - 11 km
Millennium Track
Alexandra - Clyde
150th Anniversary Walk
(River Track)
OMEO GULLY TRACK
One of Otago’s most isolated, highest and least-known gold fields; this steep walk is signposted from the car park on Omeo Gully Road, 1 km up Fraser Dam Road. The track is closed for lambing between 15 October and 15 November.
6 - 7 hours - 20 km
Flat Top Hill Conservation Area
Basin View Track:
3 hours - 7.5km return
Lake Roxburgh Walkway
7 hours - 20 km
ROXBURGH GORGE TRAIL
From Alexandra to Roxburgh Dam, this is a spectacular trail travels alongside the Clutha River/Mata-Au. The trail winds through a gorge with 350 m-high bluffs and is split into three sections.
The first section is 10 km from Alexandra to Doctors Point.
Second section is a 13km Jet Boat Ride from Doctors Point to Shingle Creek. Bookings essential.
The last section continues from Shingle Creek to the Roxburgh Dam which an 11km hike, zigzagging up the hill to Commissioners Flat
Otago Central Rail Trail
6 - 7 Days - 153km