Alexandra | Cromwell Tracks Brochure
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OTAGO Welcome to Central Otago Nau mai, haere mai Alexandra and Cromwell townships are good bases from which to Alexandra explore Central Otago, a popular outdoor destination for mountain Further information biking, walking, four-wheel driving, fishing and sharing picnics. Cromwell tracks The vast ‘big sky’ landscape offers a variety of adventures and places Tititea/Mt Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre to explore. 1 Ballantyne Road Central Otago Wanaka 9305 Key PHONE: (03) 443 7660 Mountain bike tracks Walking tracks EMAIL: [email protected] Grade 1: Easiest Walking track www.doc.govt.nz EASIEST Grade 2: Easy Short walk Grade 3: Intermediate Tramping track Grade 4: Advanced Route ADVANCED No dogs No horses 4WD Ski touring Historic site Picnic Horse riding Fishing Swimming Dog walking Hunting Lookout Motorcycling Mountain biking Published by: R174401 Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park Visitor Centre New Zealand Cycle Trail Ardmore Street, Wanaka PO Box 93, Wanaka 9343 Managed by Department of Conservation Phone: 03 443 7660 Email: [email protected] Managed by Central Otago District Council September 2020 Editing and design: Managed by Cromwell & Districts Te Rōpū Ratonga Auaha, Te Papa Atawhai Promotions Group Creative Services, Department of Conservation This publication is produced using paper sourced from Landmarks well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. Toyota Kiwi Guardians Front page image photo credit: Bannockburn Sluicings. Photo: C. Babirat Mountain Bikers of Alexandra (MOA) Some quick recreation ideas History Choosing a picnic spot Māori Great picnic spots can be found at Lanes Dam, Alexandra (Aronui Although there were never large numbers of Māori living in this area, Dam), Mitchells Cottage and Bendigo/Logantown. For picnic spots there are strong connections between tāngata whenua and Central with swimming opportunities, visit Blue Lake in St Bathans and Otago. Moa hunters lived at sites near Hawksburn, Cromwell, Lower Manorburn Dam. For the more adventurous, explore Hyde Bannockburn, and in the Manuherikia. Stone shelters along the Rock or the Come in Time Battery. Clutha River/Mata-Au were used by moa hunters, and, later, by Māori who were travelling from kāika/villages in coastal Otago. Choosing a track They went inland to hunt weka and to source stone for tools, especially the prized pounamu/greenstone found on the West Coast. Later Track grades these same shelters were used by European and Chinese gold miners. Short walk: Easy walking for up to an hour. Otago Central Rail Trail tunnels. Photo: Otago Central Rail Gold mining Trail Trust Gold was discovered in Otago Walking track: Easy to moderate walking from a Mountain bike track grades in 1850 but the first rush did not few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed; occur until 1861. Miners endured some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Grade 1 (easiest): Fairly flat, wide, smooth track or arduous conditions in their search Walking shoes required. EASIEST gravel road. for wealth. Central Otago’s climate can be unforgiving, and bitterly Grade 2 (easy): Mostly flat, some gentle climbs on smooth Tramping track: Challenging day or multi-day cold winters and swollen rivers tramping/hiking. May have steep grades. Suitable for fit, track with easily avoidable obstacles such as rocks and potholes. claimed many lives. Gold mining experienced and adequately equipped people. Backcountry has left fascinating relics on our skills, including navigation and survival skills, required. Grade 3 (intermediate): Steep slopes and/or avoidable landscape and there are many sites Tramping/hiking boots required. obstacles, possibly on narrow track and/or with poor traction. to explore. There may be exposure at the track’s outside edge. Route: Challenging overnight tramping/hiking. Unformed, Pastoralism suitable only for people with above-average fitness, and Grade 4 (advanced): A mixture of long, steep climbs, narrow ADVANCED The first big stations were started high-level navigation and backcountry skills and experience. track, poor traction and difficult obstacles to avoid or jump in Central Otago in the 1850s, with Sturdy tramping/hiking boots required. over. Generally exposed at the track’s outside edge. Some sections are easier to walk. run-holders driving their stock inland over untracked and difficult terrain. Bannockburn Sluicings. Photo: DOC It could take over a year to get the Check, Clean, Dry sheep from the coast to inland stations. Stop the spread of didymo and other There was little timber available, so freshwater pests. Remember to Check, stone and sods were the main building Clean, Dry all items before entering, and when materials for the earliest run-holders. moving between, waterways. There are many examples of old farm buildings dotted around the area, some built with such skill that they are largely intact today. Paddle found at Bendigo. Photo: Otago Museum, Dunedin, New Zealand Oteake Conservation Park Carrick Range NZTopo50 map CA14–16, CB14–17 Traverse the mountain tops by 4WD and experience the landscape of changing light, or travel up backcountry tracks that The Carrick provides a wide range of recreational opportunities. link St Bathans with Omarama. See the DOC brochure Oteake It has three conservation areas and two historic reserves (connected Conservation Park for more information. by easement tracks) that provide plenty of amazing views and places to explore. See the DOC website for more information. Kopuwai and Old Woman Range Note: NO DOGS on any Carrick Range tracks. Conservation Areas Otago Central Rail Trail. Photo: J. Robinson Nevis Road to Nevis valley Railways NZTopo50 map CD13, CD12 The Central Otago railway was built between 1879 and 1920, with Kopuwai provides many recreation opportunities linking the Bannockburn to Garston, 65 km the section between Middlemarch and Clyde taking 16 years. Old Man Range and Old Woman Range. Explore the Fraser NZTopo50 map CC12, CD11 basin and stay overnight in a DOC hut. In summer there is Riding the Otago Central Rail Trail gives you a chance to appreciate the For tracks accessed from the Nevis valley refer to the DOC website. engineering effort involved in linking Central Otago with the coast. good 4WD access throughout the conservation area. Note: the roads climb to 1600 m and so are inaccessible in winter. Our local nature Thomson Gorge Road For more information, see DOC’s Kopuwai Conservation Area brochure. Central Otago is characterised by hot, dry summers and freezing Homestead Campsite 8A Cluden Creek winters. It has many unique species that have adaptations that Conservation ´ Area Mt Ida Conservation help them survive in what can be a challenging environment. The Tarras St Bathans Oteake ! Area Lauder Basin Domain Campsite Conservation Falls Tarras to Omakau, 30 km Conservation Oteake Park distinctive blocky mountains, with their rock tors and sweeping Dam Area Conservation Pisa Park NZTopo50 map CB13, CB14 tussocks are inhabited by the Otago skink, the mountain stone wētā, S N Conservation I A Area T T H and the New Zealand falcon/kārearea. Alpine flowers display their O N The road bisects the Dunstan Range from Lake M U S O O N 6 G M O R G Danseys Pass E R Dunstan to the Manuherikia Valley. The gravel road fragile beauty in spring, occasionally carpeting the tops in subtle Bendigo O AD ! Campsite Conservation N Becks Naseby ! 8 Area A Kakanui T colour. The valleys and river terraces have poor, fragile and often S is windy and narrow, and is exposed to strong winds. E Conservation C N U G 6 A ! Area D Lauder D R ! Cromwell I R From Ardgour Road, the road travels along the flat salty soils, where threatened cushion plants and rare invertebrates R I E C G H K Omakau ! N G ! A U like the Cromwell chafer beetle live. Central Otago’s reservoirs and R before climbing steeply up the Dunstan Mountains Bannockburn R ! A O 85 N R Ranfurly G Y H rivers are also home to rare galaxiid species (small native fish). E D and levelling out at Thomsons Saddle (900 m), before T H E A W K S G R D BU 85 O A R N G O I S R RO AD NE V Clyde A N descending to Racecourse Road near Omakau. During ! R Above 1,000 m, temperatures can drop quickly, even E this trip you will see evidence of historical gold mining G D ! I in midsummer. Take warm and windproof clothing. Alexandra R and pastoral farming. Leave gates as you find them. H Poolburn It is recommended that 4WD vehicles travel in pairs Flat Top Hill G Dam U Kopuwai Conservation Conservation O Area R with recovery gear. D Area U N Manorburn S Rock and Pillar T Dam A Conservation Serpentine N Bendigo Scenic R Area O 87 Reserve A D 8 Manorburn ! Middlemarch Rock and Pillar Campsite Conservation Area Conservation Otago Central Rail Trail Area Roxburgh 0 10 km Many recreational opportunities are available here – Public Conservation Land ! Lake Onslow see DOC’s Discover the Bendigo area brochure. Poolburn Reservoir Please note • The maps in this brochure are a guide only and should not be used for navigation. You should carry the appropriate 1:50,000 topographical maps (CC12, CC13, CB12, CB13, CDD12 and CD13) • Track times are for walking one way unless otherwise stated. This scenic dam sited among rock tors is a popular fishing spot, Bannockburn Sluicings. Photo: Ross Becker and was a filming location forThe Lord of the Rings film series. • Where horse riding is allowed, an access key or lock combination may be required. Check with the local DOC office. Hawksburn Road to ‘The Pylon Road’ • Many tracks in this brochure cross private land. Respect the Serpentine Scenic Reserve landowner’s property: stay on the marked track, leave gates as you find them and use stiles where provided.