Last Updated: 13th Oct 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

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Timaru High River Track

Lake Hawea, Otago

Submitted by Sierra Alef-Defoe

Last Updated: 13th Oct 2023

Beginner - Intermediate

Save Trail Save

I've done it Done

Suggest edit Edit

Open

Grunt Factor: 25 ?

Gnarl Factor: 34 ?

13.6km

Length of run

1207m

Total Ascent

1207m

Total Descent

757m

Highest point

Driving Time

Driving Distance

Directions to start

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Trail Map

Type of Run

Front country - easily accessible

Out and Back

Undulating, some big hills

Native bush

Riverside

Open tussock/grasslands

Run Makeup

70%

30%

Farm Road / 4WD Track

Easy Single Track

Average Uphill Gradient: +31.3%

Average Downhill Gradient: -31.3%

Trailhead

Estimated Times to Run

3:00

Slow

2:15

Moderate

1:30

Fast

GPX File

Topo Map

3D Satellite

Guide

This track is great for a short out & back when you don't want to get your feet wet / when the river is running too high.

The Timaru River valley is green and lush in a way that it feels like you're not in Central Otago anymore. Most of the track is a well-formed farm track, though at times it's a poled single track, and there are a few places where there have been rock falls/landslides that you can scramble over without difficulty. Just pass the turn-off to Corner Peak and you're on your way. The track is mostly undulating until the last kilometer, when you drop steeply down to Deer Spur Creek. This route finishes at Junction Hut, which is a sandfly fest but technically provides shelter if needed.

Transport and parking:

Timaru Creek carpark down the gravel road on the east side of Lake Hāwea.

Distance from Lake Hawea:

6 km

Driving time from Lake Hawea:

17 minutes

Dog friendly:

Unknown

Landowner permission required:

Navigation Rating:

Easy.

Cellphone Coverage:

Patchy.

Suggested Gear List:

Windproof jacket, Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Whistle, First aid kit, Extra food for emergencies, Cellphone, Map

Availability of Water:

A few streams cross the track, and you could fill up at Deer Spur Creek at the turnaround point.

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Overlapping Trails

These overlap with this trail to some degree. You may wish to combine them but please note that to qualify for FKTs on these runs you should record a separate activity for each.