Herbert DabsIntermediate

Description

NB flooding (Jan 2020) has caused some treefall. Pay close attention for orange markers when crossing creeks if you have to divert

Starting at the Swallows Car Park, have a look at the track map - you'll be doing the full circuit (Total Loop 4.5 hours, though that's walking time0. There are 3 distinct sections of the trail, joined up with forestry tracks. It is fairly well signposted with orange arrows most of the way, but there are one or two places it is easy to miss the track so if you haven't seen an orange marker for a while, always backtrack until you do,

To start, head up the left track into the bush (Swallows Track) and follow this for about 1.5k, gradually at first then steeply up to arrive at a cave. Continuing past the cave, you'll come to the 4WD track, where you turn left signposted Podocarp Track. After a further 0.5k or so, you'll see a white sign for Podocarp taking you off down to the right.

The next couple of km take you through some absolutely breathtaking bush, with ancient moss-covered trees, plentiful birdlife, creek crossings, waterfalls. Savour it and remind yourself why you don't run on pavement! When you hit the intersection for Glenburnie Loop, TURN LEFT.

The tracks rejoin again a bit later at a glade with 2 huge trees. Follow the sign for Hoods Creek track (through the trees), then you'll soon come to a steep downhill section where a rope has kindly been provided to help you down. At the next junction, the trail splits and you can go either way to finish the Podocarp loop - go right to follow this route.

You'll soon come out onto the next forestry track, where you turn left and head uphill. Now comes the bit that's easy to miss. As you cross a junction of foresty roads, look out for a track map and orange arrow on the right. The Hoods Creek track begins behind the map heading down into the bush. Don't continue up the forestry road. Hoods Creek Track also has lots of creek crossings (take care to look out for the orange markers when you cross them) and at the end of this one you get a nice surprise in a 5m steel ladder you get to descend next to a waterfall!

The track then spits you out on the forestry road, where you turn right and have a 3k run back to the car park. It's fairly well signposted - you head uphill, turn left at the next intersection (onto Breakneck Rd) then downhill, turning right at the locked gate (now on Couches Rd) which winds down and back up, before another right turn signposted Swallows Car Park. Ignore the sign for Swallows Track you'll come to heading up to the right (that would take you back to the cave) but instead carry straight on downhill to lead you back to the car park.

Features of interest

Herbert Forest is one of the last native podocarp forests of north-east Otago. It was saved from destruction in the 1960s when 15km of walking tracks were built leading through ancient podocarp stands of rimu, kahikatea, matai, miro and totara trees.

Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 20%

Moderate Single Track: 30%

Easy Single Track: 20%

Gravel Road: 30%

Route Data