Please note these tracks are managed by Department of Conservation and it is advised to always check their website for any closures prior to embarking on your journey
Beech forests, snow tussock and views of the Canterbury Plains into Lees Valley.
An alternative descent returns to Coopers Creek car park via Ryde Falls Track (7-8 hours round trip).
View Hill car park. From Oxford, drive west on SH72 for about 2km, turn right into Woodstock Road. Travel 10km, turn right up Ingrams Road which turns into Perhams Road. Take the sign posted road to the Wharfedale Track at the View Hill car park. (Heavy rain may stop access on fords). Leave gates as you find them. From the car park, follow the Wharfedale Track to the Korimako Track turn-off to Ryde Falls.
View Hill car park. From Oxford, drive west on SH72 for about 2km, turn right into Woodstock Road. Travel 10km, turn right up Ingrams Road which turns into Perhams Road. Take the sign posted road to the Wharfedale Track at the View Hill car park. (Heavy rain may stop access on fords). Leave gates as you find them. From the car park, follow the Wharfedale Track to the Korimako Track turn-off to Ryde Falls.
Canterbury Plains and hills, beech forest.
Take the Wharfedale Track about 10 minutes into the forest from the car park and join take the Link Track which connects further with Ryde Falls Track east to Coopers Creek car park.
View Hill car park. From Oxford, drive west on SH72 for about 2km, turn right into Woodstock Road. Travel 10km, turn right up Ingrams Road which turns into Perhams Road. Take the sign posted road to the Wharfedale Track at the View Hill car park. (Heavy rain may stop access on fords). Leave gates as you find them. From the car park, follow the Wharfedale Track. Branch off Wharfedale Track about 20 minutes from View Hill car park.
View Hill car park. From Oxford, drive west on SH72 for about 2km, turn right into Woodstock Road. Travel 10km, turn right up Ingrams Road which turns into Perhams Road. Take the sign posted road to the Wharfedale Track at the View Hill car park. (Heavy rain may stop access on fords). Leave gates as you find them. From the car park, follow the Wharfedale Track to the Korimako Track turn-off to Ryde Falls.
Viewing: Beech Forest, Dobson Stream.
Accommodation: Standard 8-bunk hut, purchase hut tickets from Kaiapoi i-SITE or any DOC office beforehand.
This is a 4WD track from the end of Wharfedale Track to Lees Valley across private farmland. Access may be restricted during lambing. Townshend River is crossed twice; this might not be possible if river levels are high.
Begin confluence of Wharfedale and Townshend tracks and climb steadily to the hut.
Accommodation: Standard 6-bunk hut, purchase hut tickets from the Kaiapoi i-SITE or DOC office beforehand.
Turn off Wharfedale Track approx 3-4 hours from View hill car park and climb steeply along the ridge to the hut.
Accommodation: Standard 6-bunk hut, purchase hut tickets from the Kaiapoi i-SITE or DOC office beforehand.
From Wharfedale Hut.
Adjoining Tracks: Descend either View Hill Car park or carry on to the summit and then descend to Coopers Creek car park.
Note: This is a very steep rough track suitable only for experienced back country trampers with suitable equipment.
Please note these tracks are managed by Department of Conservation and it is advised to always check their website for any closures prior to embarking on your journey.
Visit the Kaiapoi i-SITE Visitor Information Centre or the DOC Rangiora Office for more information, hut tickets and local topo maps.
Department of Conservation: 32 River Road, Rangiora. Open 8.30am-4.30pm Monday-Friday. 03 313 0820 | waimakariri@doc.govt.nz