Long Gully LoopBeginner

Description

Make your way across the road from the DOC carpark and up the hill to the DOC track sign and split stile. Step over the stile to your left and make your way through the pine forest following the orange triangles. Once out of the forest turn left and follow the orange DOC poles. This is the only spot you may get lost as the matagouri has grown high and the first pole or two are hard to spot. After the first two poles the track follows the farm fence through brush and bracken fern.

Once you reach an open field turn right to follow the fence, past the bee boxes. Enjoy the sound of the creek nearby as the single track takes you onto a farm track which you follow up to Long Gully Conservation area. Step over the stile into the conservation area and follow the poles up the hill and then sidling around the hill to your right along a disused farm track. Over another stile and you are now on the Grandview Ridge Track.

Taking the righthand 4wd track follow this for approx 500m to a junction, to continue the loop take the righthand farm road (If you want to add a little extra vert and views you can go straight ahead up to the radio towers and then head back to the junction) and follow the signs taking you back to the pine forest where you started. Step over the stile to your left and run through the paddock beside the forest to the split stile where you began.

Features of interest

Gorgeous views across the Clutha Valley to Lake Hawea and Wanaka, as well as to Pisa and Cromwell. This run can be run either direction, although I prefer to run it anticlockwise so I can run down the farm tracks at the end.

Make Up of Run

Technical Single Track: 10%

Moderate Single Track: 20%

Farm Road / 4WD Track: 70%

Route Data