OTAGO CANTERBURY Oteake Oteake Further information Conservation Park Ka Moana Haehae/Alexandra office Conservation Park 43 Dunstan Rd Alexandra, 9320 Haere mai, welcome Traverse the tops of mountains PO Box 176 Explore and experience Oteake, a vast PHONE: 03 440 2040 landscape of golden tussock and EMAIL: [email protected] changing light. www.doc.govt.nz Oteake is 67,000 ha of mountainous high country, tussock plateaus, scree slopes, shrubland and wetland. The distinctive flat-topped Hawkdun Range is the park’s centrepiece, often featured in painting, photography, poetry and prose. Oteake Conservation Park and adjoining public conservation land covers 79,000 ha, including large sections of the Saint Bathans, Ewe, Hawkdun, Wether, Ida and Saint Marys ranges and parts of the upper Manuherikia basin. The park offers spectacular 4WD opportunities and tramping, mountain biking, fishing, backcountry skiing, horse riding, photography and hunting Cover: 4WD tracks in Oteake. Photo: ©Stef Cotteret Back: The ranges of Oteake Conservation Park at sunrise. opportunities. There are many significant Photo: Crystal Brindle gold-mining sites to explore, including Buster Diggings and the Scandinavian
Published by: Water Race. Department of Conservation Ka Moana Haehae/Alexandra office 43 Dunstan Rd Alexandra, 9320 December 2019 Editing and design: DOC Creative Services
This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. R145906 Oteake highlights History Plants and animals Experience the landscape of changing light • The Kai Tahu iwi believe that Oteake (‘place Oteake’s landscape comprises rounded tussock-covered with a 4WD along the tops via Mount Buster Rd of the ake’) is named for the ake ake: Olearia hills, grey shrubland on the valley floors, and alpine to Johnstones Creek Track. avicenniifolia, a conspicuous shrub daisy found herb fields and fell fields in the hilltops. Otago species • Travel the backcountry tracks linking in the park. Oteake is also the indigenous name reach their northern limits here, and Canterbury species Saint Bathans with Omarama. for both the Kye Burn and a stream on the other reach their southern limits. The park protects numerous • Stay overnight in a high-country mustering hut. side of the range. communities, including cypress hebe, native coral broom and scree pea. • Enjoy unique native shrubland and waterfall Oteake was important to tangata whenua from views with a walk along the Little Kye Burn. coastal Otago kāika (settlements) for mahika kai The New Zealand falcon/kārearea, geckos such as the • Explore Buster Diggings, spectacular quartz – places for gathering food. Weka were hunted Otago large gecko (Woodworthia sp.), and rare native fish gravel sculptures. and plants gathered. Stone quarries in the upper like the roundhead galaxias (Galaxias anomalus) and • Mountain bike the Ida Water Race Track Manuherikia are evidence of iwi activity. flathead galaxias(Galaxias depressiceps), are found here. with your family. Oteake’s European history began in the 1850s, laxia e ga s. Ph when pastoral leases were issued throughout pin ot al o: a R ki o the South Island’s high country, creating large ri d Check, Clean, Dry e M h u o Stop the spread of didymo and other freshwater leaseholdings such as Hawkdun, Omarama, n r r a i s pests. Remember to Check, Clean, Dry all items Otekaike and Morven Hill stations. These were M before entering, and when moving between, waterways. subdivided over time, and more recently have become Oteake Conservation Park. No unauthorised drones An authorisation is required from DOC to use drones The park shows evidence of gold mining with on public conservation land. To apply, visit www.doc.govt.nz/drones. remains of water races, prospecting pits, hut sites and alluvial mining sluicings. Buster Diggings, and falco eal n. P a spectacular sculptural landform created by Z ho ew to N : / K alluvial gold mining, was once New Zealand’s a re L a a e n highest goldfield at 1,200 m. r g ā e K Coral broom. Photo: K McKinley Coral broom. Scree pea. Photo: G Crowcroft Scree Buster diggings. Photo: Amanda Ware section overleaf. For more walking tracks, see the ‘Track descriptions’ remarkable Buster Diggings. Kye Burn stream through native shrubland uptothe KyeBurn Track is agreat summer day walk along offer views, and picnicand swimming spots. Little 4 Walking and tramping find them. leaving gates as you formed tracks and this by keeping tothe private land. Respect Several access routes cross backcountry skills. tracks inthe park require goodroute-finding and Track, which is for walkers only). The many unmarked mountain biking and walking (except Little Kyeburn All marked tracks are suitable for horse riding, 4WD journeys and more. Oteake offers spectacular walking and tramping, Things to see and do appropriate tothe conditions and terrain. be self-sufficient and carry recovery equipment difficult to reverse or pass other traffic. You should Do not attempt routes ifyou are unsure. Itmay be 4WD vehicles onsteepand rough terrain. shown onthe map. You musthave experience driving All vehicles muststay onthe formed marked tracks susceptible todamage. 30 April, but may beclosed atany time as tracks are WD and motorbike tracks The park’s 4WDtracks are opento vehicles between Labour Weekend and All tracks inthe park are suitable for walking/tramping and many
Oteake. Photo: Matt Sole Oteake 4WD. Photo: Phil Tisch Ski tour. Photo: R Wardle Other activities Fishing Horse riding Dogs: Hunting: Park but mustalways beunder control. for apermit.Donot huntoutside the park. Oteake Conservation Park. Visit www.doc.govt.nz Dogs are allowed inOteake Conservation There is goodhunting for deerand pigs in Ski touring/ snow shoeing
explore Oteake. Rd, are nearby and provide goodbases from which to Danseys Pass Recreation Reserve, off Kyeburn Diggings campsite withinthe park. StBathans Domain and The Homestead off Hawkdun Runs Rd is the only Camping You need tobuy ahutticket before your stay. The park has tenhuts and abasic campsite (see below). Huts or Otago Central Railway. mustering hutsrelocated from the Roxburgh dam memorable overnight experience. Some are former You can stay inone ofthe distinctive hutsfor a See map for hutlocations. Places to stay and follow the Leave No Trace rules. your sitecarefully tominimise damage tothe landscape, streams. You can camp anywhere inthe park. Choose All campsites are ‘basic’ campsites –they are free Basic hut:Basic shelter withlimitedfacilities. Standard hut:Has mattresses, water supply and tussockland –there are no trees. wood ifyou plan touse them, as this is Free. Some hutshave fireplaces. Bring your own of charge, have toilets,and use water from nearby 10 years free. toilets. One hutticket pernight,children upto
Untreated water – Water at huts is not treated or Mountain biking tested, and may not be suitable for drinking, food preparation, tooth brushing or washing dishes. Oteake offers tracks for everyone, from beginners to Boil water before use. adventurous bikers, with half- and full-day options. No fires – as the huts do have fire places. Some popular mountain bike tracks include:
Note: Ida Railway and Tailings huts have a shared-use arrangement with the Mount Ida syndicate. These huts may Half day: Mount Ida Water Race Track be in use from 7 January to 30 April – call DOC to check 18 km availability (see back cover). A great family trip with views and opportunities for smaller loops.
TOP TO BOTTOM: Ida Railway Hut. Photo: Phil Tisch Wire Yard Hut. Full day: East/West Manuherikia Track Loop Photo: DOC Buster Hut. Photo: Tessa Bunny 50 km from Hawkdun Runs Rd, or 43 km via Saddle Ridge Track 43 km starting from Broken Hut Rd There are many river crossings on West Manuherikia, and a steady climb after Top Hut. Saddle Ridge Track is steep; for an easier gradient but longer ride, take Broken Hut Rd. For more mountain biking tracks and details on track
grades, see the ‘Track description’ section overleaf. Photo: Phil Oliver East Manuherikia Track.
Track gradients