[ Southern Fiordland ] [ Stewart Island ] [ Catlins ] [ Invercargill ] [ Fiordland ]

The Southern Scenic Route has a huge diversity of walks, from short walks to multi-day treks. The walks can either be undertaken unguided or guided. The main walks along the Southern Scenic Route are listed below.

Southern Fiordland

Tuatapere Hump Ridge Track: Covering 53 kilometres of contrasting landscapes, lowland coastal Waitutu Podocarp forests and sub-alpine tussock, the track involves a three day/two night walking experience.
Situated in southern Fiordland, the track incorporates part of the existing South Coast Track and includes such wildlife as seals, Hector’s dolphins and keas. The area is also rich in history for both Maori and European cultures.
A key attraction is the recently restored famous Percy Burn Viaduct, and Edwin, Sandhill and Francis Burn Viaducts. The four viaducts are still used by trampers to provide access across ravines through Waitutu Incorporation lands between Port Craig and the Fiordland National Park south coast area. The Percy Burn Viaduct is the largest surviving wooden viaduct in the world.
For more information see www.humpridgetrack.co.nz

Stewart Island

Short walks:
There is a range of short walks from 1/2 hour to 4 hours around Halfmoon Bay. The walks provide breath taking views of bays around Halfmoon Bay, forest and mountains.

Rakiura Track: 29 km, 2 nights/3 days. The track requires moderate fitness, providing a good introduction to Stewart Island. The circuit follows open coast, climbs over a 300 minute high forested ridge, and traverses the sheltered shores of Paterson Inlet. It passes sites of historical interest and introduces many of the common sea and forest birds of the island.

North West Circuit: 125 km, 10-12 days. The North West Circuit provides a challenging tramp around the island’s northern coast. The track is suitable for experienced and well-equipped trampers.

Catlins

Kaka Point Bush Walk: A short easy walk through native bush behind the motor camp. Kereru - New Zealand Pigeon and tui can be seen.

Nugget Point Lighthouse: An easy 10 min walk from the road end to the lighthouse and viewing platform overlooking the rock islets. Binoculars are an advantage.

Roaring Bay: At Nugget Point is an easy 5 min walk to the viewing hide and beach. The best place to see yellow-eyed penguins come ashore, usually 2 hours prior to dusk. Toilets are available at the carpark.

Tunnel Hill Historic Reserve: This is on McDonalds Hill, about 3 km north of Owaka on Southern Scenic Route. A short walk from the carpark takes you to the 246 metre long tunnel that was completed in March 1895. The tunnel was excavated by pick and shovel and cart, as part of the Catlins Branch Railway. Take a torch if you wish to go into the tunnel.

Catlins River Track: North west of Owaka, this track follows the Catlins River, taking you from Tawanui, or the Wisp through a mix of beech forest where mohua (yellowhead) and parakeet may be heard or seen

All the river crossings have swing bridges.

At Tawanui there is self-registration camping, toilets and a water supply. Allow 5-6 hours for the whole trip. Check with the Catlins Information Centre in Owaka for track conditions.

Cannibal Bay - Surat Bay: You can take an easy stroll along the 1 km beach at Cannibal Bay and up over False Islet via the marked route to Surat Bay. You may either return the same way (1-2 hrs) or link up with the road to Surat Bay (2-3 hrs). Watch out for NZ sea lions in the dune vegetation and on the beaches and keep at least 20 metres from the sea lions.

Pounawea: From behind the Pounawea Motorcamp, a short (15 min) nature walk through part of the Pounawea Scenic Reserve, takes you through one of the few areas of podocarp forest left next to the Newhaven Estuary. Large kahikatea, rimu and totara trees stand out above the canopy of kamahi forest. A longer route continues through the forest and takes you through a stand of southern rata and out across the saltmarsh on the edge of the estuary, where a variety of wading birds can be seen. This is only an option at low tide, with a poled route marking a safe passage back to the track in the forest that returns you to the Pounawea Motorcamp. Allow 45 min for the return trip via the estuary.

Jack's Blowhole: Jacks Bay is on the southern side of the Newhaven Estuary. A 30 min walk across farmland takes you to jack's Blowhole, about 200 metres from the sea. This was formed when part of the ceiling of the sea cavern collapsed. Best viewing is at high tide, particularly in stormy weather.

Purakaunui Falls: Well signposted from the Catlins River bridge, the easy 10 min walk takes you to the falls, probably the most photographed in the Catlins. From the carpark to the first lookout the track is suitable for wheelchairs. Toilets are available at the carpark.

Matai Falls and Horseshoe Falls: From the carpark on the southern side of Table Hill on the Southern Scenic Route, an easy 15 min walk takes you through fuschia forest to another waterfall. The Matai Falls has a drop of 10 metres. A short but steeper track takes you upstream to the Horseshoe Falls.

Old Coach Road Track and Tahakopa By Loop Track: This is on the northern side of the Tahakopa River before you cross the bridge and go into Papatowai. It is an easy walk that follows an old track built for horse drawn vehicles to the beach (30 min). You can then either return the way you came, or continue along the beach and follow a track back through the forest to the Old Coach Road (allow 3 hrs for the round trip), or you can loop right to the end of the beach and up an access track that takes you back to Ratanui and Sharks Creek Roads and on to MacLennan and the carpark. This is a distance of about 12 km and takes 1/2-1 day. A good level of fitness is required.

Picnic Point Track: This is an easy circuit track that can be walked in either direction. Leaving from the picnic ground at Papatowai, you go along the coast to the memorial to a local artist, Edna May Peterson. This marks the entrance to the bush track that takes you through rimu, matai, kamahi and rata forest, and emerges on the edge of Papatowai township. Allow about 40 min, longer if you want to explore the rock pools at low tide.

Kings Rock: This is a side track off the main Picnic Point track, (medium fitness required), it goes through forest, follows a poled route across farm land, and along the coast to Kings Rock which is an eroded pillar. Allow an hour for the round trip to Kings Rock. (low tide essential).

Tautuku Dune Forest: This is an easy short self-guided nature walk, with the entrance to the track off the Southern Scenic Route, opposite the Tautuku Outdoor Education Centre. A pamphlet is available from the Education Centre. Allow about 15 min one way.

Lake Wilkie: This lake is nestled in a dune hollow between the road and the beach. A boardwalk with interpretive panels explains the process of forest succession and the different types of plants that can be seen. The entrance is again off Southern Scenic Route, just south of the nature walk entrance.

Tautuku Estuary Boardwalk: This boardwalk was constructed by the Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society and provides access out into the middle of the Tautuku Estuary, crossing areas of wetland and jointed rush where the native fernbird makes its home. Allow 15 min one way.

Lenz Reserve: Access is from the south side of the Fleming River Bridge. There is a short nature walk, a wetland walk (one hour return) and a longer blazed trail that follows the old tramlines that were used to haul out the native timber to the Clarkes sawmill that operated in the area in the early 1900's. The Trials Tractor Historical Walk is a short 10 minute (return) from the Fleming River Bridge on the Southern Scenic Route.

Cathedral Caves: Access to the caves is across Maori land, for which there is a small charge. From the carpark the track takes you through kamahi forest down to Waipati Beach, where the 30 metre high caves can be found at the northern end. In the event of unsafe access or tidal conditions, the access gate will remain closed in the interests of public safety.
Tide times are displayed at the shop at Papatowai, the Catlins Information Centre and the Dolphin Visitor Centre at Waikawa.

McLean Falls: Access to these falls is off Rewcastle Road, 1 km south of the Cathedral Caves turnoff, with the easy track taking you through scrub land and forest to the 22 metre falls on the Tautuku River. Allow 40 min return for the walk.

Curio Bay: This is an area of international significance where an area of petrified forest can be seen at low tide, in places whole tree trunks can be seen amongst the rock shelf. The 160 million year old fossilised forest includes conifer trees similar to Norfolk pines and kauri. Curio Bay is in the southern area of the Catlins, with further information on the local area's attractions available from the Dolphin Information Centre at Waikawa.

Check out the Department of Conservation website for more information on tracks: www.doc.govt.nz/templates/summary.aspx?id=36590

Invercargill

Short walks:
Stretch your legs and wonder at the harmony of nature on one of Invercargill's manageable bush trails. Walk through totara forest at Sandy Point Domain, just 7km west of the city and admire the fantastic views of the New River Estuary, which borders the domain.
The track at Greenpoint Domain is a ships graveyard and offers a more tangible view of history, 2km north of Bluff. Other tracks around the Bluff and Stirling Point area include the Foveaux Walkway and the Glory Track.
A variety of short bush walks are available at some smaller reserves close to Invercargill. Contact the Parks Division at the Invercargill City Council for more information.

Fiordland

Milford Track: The Milford Track, described as the finest walk in the world, extends for 54 km from the northern end of Lake Te Anau, to Sandfly Point near Milford Sound. This four day, three night tramping trip follows the Clinton and Arthur Valleys and crosses MacKinnon Pass (1073 m) in Fiordland National Park, part of the South-West New Zealand World Heritage Area. The track is renowned for its glacially - carved valleys, alpine flowers and waterfalls.

Kepler Track: The Kepler Track is a 67km, moderate walking track which takes three to four days to complete. It traverses lake edges, beech forest, alpine mountain tops and a U-shaped glacial valley. Resonable fitness is required to complete the full circuit and trampers must be well equipped. During winter and spring the alpine section of the track may be impassable because of snow and ice. Sections of the track are suitable for day walks.

Hollyford Track: The Hollyford Track is the only major track in Fiordland at low altitude which can be walked in any season. It is a 56km, four day (one-way), moderate, tramping track from the Hollyford Road end to the old port of Martins Bay. Beginning among the sheer rock walls of the Darran Mountains, the track follows the Hollyford River/Whakatipu Ka Tuka on its journey to the sea. Features of the track are the two lakes Alabaster/Waiwahuika and McKerrow/Whakatipu Waitai. The latter is the site of the now abandoned Jamestown which was established in 1870. The forest is a mix of native lowland species and there are views of the Darran Mountains. The remote and often wild coastline is inhabited by seals and penguins.

Routeburn Track: The Routeburn Track is a 32 km, two to three day, moderate tramping track which links Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Park via the Harris Saddle (1277m). Over the summer it is one of New Zealand's most popular tramping tracks. During winter it becomes extremely hazardous and impassable with high avalanche danger. Features of the track include waterfalls, forested valleys, rich birdlife, lakes and spectacular mountain scenery.

Dusky Track: The Dusky Track offers trampers the widest range of experiences of any track in Fiordland. It is an 84 km, challenging tramping track which requires at least eight days to complete. It links Lake Hauroko with Lake Manapouri, includes a two day detour to Supper Cove in Dusky Sound, traverses three major valley systems and crosses two mountain ranges. The track is suitable for well equipped and experienced groups. Flooding of parts of the track is not unusual and can cause delays.