Walking & Hiking Information

The Methven region offers visitors an array of hiking & walking experiences.

The region's walkways feature a combination of short walks suitable for the whole family, to challenging multi-day hikes across high country conservation land for the serious tramper.

Hakatere Conservation Park

Hakatere Conservation Park covers nearly 60,000 hectares of rugged mountain country, tussocklands, beech forest and sparkling clear rivers and lakes between two mighty rivers the Rakaia and Rangitata. More info

Lake Coleridge Walks

A variety of easy walks around Lake Coleridge Village and longer day and multi-day hikes on public tracks in the Lake Coleridge basin. More info

Methven Walkway

An easy walkway mainly following grass verges beside private farmland and the Rangitata Diversion Race, a dual purpose irrigation and hydro-electric channel carrying water from the Rangitata River to the Highbank Power Station on the south bank of the Rakaia River. More info

Mt Alford Conservation Area

Trampers on the new Mt Alford Track will pass through the Alford Scenic Reserve, climb beside a stream gully which emerges onto tussock grassland before climbing through subalpine vegetation to the summit of Mt Alford (1,171m). More info

Mt Hutt Forest

Mt Hutt Conservation Area takes in the upper catchments of Dry Creek and Pudding Hill Stream, and west to waterfall Creek. From the summit of Mt Hutt (2189m), the land falls steeply down to the Canterbury Plains. More info

Mt Somers Tracks

In 1983 Mt Somers and Staveley locals formed the Mt Somers Walkways Society. This led to the creation of what is now known as the Mt Somers Track. The track officially opened in 1987, the year the management of the area passed to the Department of Conservation (DOC). More info

Peel Forest Park

Peel Forest, located south of the Rangitata River, covers 700 hectares of rich and diverse forest that provides a variety of native bush, bird-life and a series of tracks for walkers. More info

Rakaia Gorge Walkway

The Rakaia Gorge Walkway offers several features of geological and historic interest as it traverses the edge of the Rakaia River. The Rakaia River is one of the largest braided rivers in New Zealand, it rises in the Southern Alps, travelling 150 kilometres before entering the Pacific Ocean 50 kilometres south of Christchurch. More info

Sharplin Falls

As well as being a popular picnic spot, Sharplin Falls car park is one of the starting points for the Mt Somers Tracks which provides a number of day walks and multi-day tramps. More info

Te Araroa National walkway

The Te Araroa Walkway is a route that runs the length of New Zealand, connecting Cape Reinga and Bluff through public walkways and tracks. Officially opened in December 2011, the route passes through the spectacular high country in our region. More info

Tenehaun Conservation Area

Tenehaun is part of Moorhouse Range, which is to the east of the Rangitata River. It includes Mt Tripp (1368m), the highest peak in Moorhouse Range, as well as walking and mountain-bike public access easements above Rangitata Gorge. More info

Woolshed Creek

As well as being a popular picnic spot, Woolshed Creek carpark is one of the starting points for the Mt Somers Tracks which provides a number of day walks and multi-day tramps. More info