walking tracks
The Otago Peninsula Tracks provide access to special areas of coastline, historic sites, high points and other areas of interest. Those which cross private and public land were sign-posted by the Dunedin City Council, working with the Otago Peninsula Track Working Party in 1992.
The tracks cater for people with varying degrees of fitness and ability. Remembering that Dunedin's weather is quite changeable, carry a waterproof jacket and wear sound footwear. After rain parts of the tracks get boggy, and may be slippery.
Generally the tracks are well defined and formed, although not all of the tracks are maintained. Most tracks are suitable for people of average fitness; however some tracks are quite steep and require particular skills. These areas are noted in their description.
Many tracks have either uphill or downhill sections and few are of a relatively even gradient. The suggested times are rough estimates only and are an average of the uphill and downhill times. It is important to tell someone where you have gone, and when you are due back.
Some of the Peninsula tracks are unformed legal roads and recognised mountain bike rides. With some planning enjoyable round trips can be undertaken using a combination of roads and tracks
Walking Track Descriptions
Peg Road This track provides a link between Ocean Grove and Highcliff Road. Access to the track in Ocean Grove is off Oregon Street. An attractive walk around Tomahawk Lagoon then climbs through gorse and native bush. Turn right towards Soldiers Memorial through paddocks with gorse sometimes obscuring the rock walls. Access to Soldiers Memorial via stile on brow of hill. Limited parking is available at the Highcliff Road end of the track. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: Approximately 45 Minutes.
Karetai Road - Provides access from Smaills Beach to Karetai Road. Four wheel drive track through muddy farmland is deeply rutted in some places when wet. Stupendous views along coastline and across to Saddle Hill. Mountain bikes allowed. Dogs allowed.
Classification: Moderate
Time: Approximately 30 Minutes
Boulder Beach Track System A range of roads and tracks listed below, providing access to and from Boulder Beach and the Wildlife Refuge and a series of good loop walks. Access to the Beach and refuge is closed for 3 months from August 1 to October 31 to allow the penguins to breed. No Dogs.
Highcliff Track links Karetai Road to Boulder Beach. Initially a well formed track that could be used by people using wheel chairs although only as far as the first lookout. The track provides a feeling of history with some of the dry stone walls as well as a sense of exposure on days with a strong southerly blowing. After the lookout the track swings inland, descending steeply in places before joining Buskin Road. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: 1 Hour Average
Buskin Road Access track from Highcliff Road to Boulder Beach. A track down an unformed legal road, over farm land connecting with Highcliff track, Paradise Road, or Braidwood Road and providing loop walks. One of the recognised mountain bike tracks in Dunedin. No dogs
Classification: Moderate
Time: 45 Minutes Average
Paradise Road. A fenced farm track from Highcliff Road to Boulder beach with good views of the coast. One of the recognised mountain bike rides in Dunedin. There is a good representation of Peninsula native shrubs on the right as you go down. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 45 Minutes Average
Braidwood Road. Access from Braidwood Road to Boulder Beach down a four very rough wheel drive track in places, please observe the sign indicating where to park. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 20 Minutes Approximately
Seal Point Road to Sandfly Bay. Access to a Department of Conservation observation hide at Sandfly Bay Wildlife Refuge. Great sand dunes down to the beach - a long trudge back up but its well worth it. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 40 Minutes
Ridge Road connecting Sandfly Bay and Ridge Road. A longer but flatter access than the track from Seal Point Road, crossing farm paddocks and dunes to Sandfly Bay. Very limited parking at the beginning of the track. Please park with consideration about 200m before the start of the track, and keep to the marked route. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: Approximately 40 MInutes
Sandymount to Sandfly Bay. Access from Sandymount Track to Sandfly Bay via sandhills. No dogs.
Classification: Route
Time: Average 45 Minutes
Sandymount Track Network provides loop access to the Chasm and Lovers Leap from Sandymount Road, access also for Sandymount Summit. No dogs.
Classification: Route
Time: Average 1 hour for the loop. 20 Minutes to the Chasm and Lovers Leap
Nyphon Road Links Sandymount Road to Hoopers Inlet Road. Please keep to the marked track. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: 45 Minutes
Highcliff Road to Hoopers Inlet. Very steep track to Hoopers Inlet, suitable for experienced and agile parties only. No dogs.
Classification: Route
Time: 1 Hour Average
Allans Beach Access from Allans Beach Road to Allans Beach.
Classification: Route
Time: 5 Minutes
Mt Charles Access over private land from Allans Beach Road to Mt Charles Summit. Mt Charles is the highest Point on the Otago Peninsula. Permission must be sought from the landowner; Mr. J Clearwater, Cape Saunders Road, RD 2, Portobello. Telephone: 03 478 0274. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: Average 3 Hours Return
Okia Connects Dicks Road via Riddell Road to the Pyramids and Victory Beach. You are free to wander the reserve area. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: Approximately 1 Hour to the beach
Quoin Cliff Track on private land from Pipikaretu Road to Quoin Cliff. There is a 20 minute walk along the road to start of track, cross the stile and follow marker pegs to the trig at top of cliff (121m). Views of Pipikaretu and Ryans Beaches. With caution, follow the markers to link with the Pipikaretu track, then back to the car. Please stay on marked route. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: Approximately 1 Hour 15 Minutes Return.
Bacon Street to Highcliff Road. Provides access from Bacon Street to Highcliff Road, a steep walk through some trees then alongside a strand of native bush. Dogs allowed.
Classification: Hard
Time: Average 30 Minutes
Camp Road connecting Larnach Castle and Broad Bay with lovely views of Broad Bay and the Harbour. Please leave cars on Portobello Road and walk up hill past the rural houses onto a clay track. This levels off onto pasture before joining Camp Road. It is a further 20 minutes along Camp Road to the entrance of Larnach Castle. Mountain bikes allowed. Dogs allowed.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 40 Minutes to the formed Camp Road
McTaggart Street provides access from McTaggart Street, Company Bay, to Camp Road, Broad Bay. Track goes along private land on a well defined farm road. Please leave gates as you found them. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 15 Minutes average
Lime Kilns. This track provides access from Sandymount Road to three historic lime kilns. The kilns were used from the 1860's until 1938 when kilns in other areas became more economically viable. No dogs.
Classification: Moderate
Time: 5 Minutes Average
Greenacres Street connecting Greenacres Street in Macandrew Bay to Highcliff Road in Pukehiki. There is inadequate parking at either end of the track. We suggest parking in Macandrew Bay. Walk up Greenacres Street and turn right at the Dunedin City Council sign, following the track through some macrocarpas and alongside dry stone walls. Good views of the city. Dogs allowed.
Classification: Moderate
Time: Approximately 40 Minutes
District Road. A steep track linking Portobello Road to Highcliff Road, limited Parking is available on Portobello Road - 100 m along road toward Portobello. No dogs.
Classification: Hard
Time: Average 40 Minute
Environmental Care
The tracks are provided so that you may enjoy the area, many tracks cross private property. Please remember that access through private property is a privilege not a right and a few simple rules must be observed:
- Keep to the marked tracks.
- Use gates or stiles, leave gates as you find them.
- Report obstructions or hazards to the Dunedin City Council.
- Respect restrictions on dogs, keep them under control at all times.
- Respect all stock and wildlife encountered - give animals a chance to get out of your way.
- Tracks may be closed for the lambing season of September and October each year.
- Fire lighting is prohibited.
- All litter must be carried home.
- No firearms to be taken on walks.
- Give way to other track users.
- Park vehicles with care, respecting other road users.
- Remember all land is owned or administered by someone, please respect it.
Please Note: Information contained in these pages is intended as a general guide only. While every effort has been made to ensure information is accurate, the changing nature of the physical environment and access to private land means the information contained may not be completely accurate over time.
Information on Otago Peninsula Walking Tracks has been taken directly from a Pamphlet titled: Otago Peninsula Tracks published by Community and Recreation Planning, and the DCC. May 1997. Reprinted in 2000.