By Outdoor Next Editorial standards
On this page
Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -44.70317, 169.38555. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Various from 11 - 21 km one way
- Walking time
- Various from 3 - 8 hr one way
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Wānaka area
- Seasonal restrictions
- Two sections are closed annually for lambing: Deep Gully Track – 30 September – 4 November Eastern Hills Track – 26 September to 7 November
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Short tussock and pasture grasslands contrast with grey shrublands, dry shrublands and kanuka shrublands make up this unique conservation area.
This DOC directory entry covers Awa Nohoaka Conservation Area access tracks in Otago, within Wānaka area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Various from 11 - 21 km one way
- Walking time: Various from 3 - 8 hr one way
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Seasonal restrictions
Two sections are closed annually for lambing: Deep Gully Track – 30 September – 4 November Eastern Hills Track – 26 September to 7 November
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
These tracks provide access to the 2 discrete blocks of land that make up Awa Nohoaka Conservation Area. Once in the Conservation Area, there are no formed tracks and no public access beyond the Conservation Area.
All access tracks branch off the Grandview Ridge Track.
Time: 3-5 hr one wayDistance: 11 km one way
From the Sandy Point carpark, cross the road to find the marked track and stile. Both Deep Gully and Eastern Hills tracks begin here.
Deep Gully Track is the left hand track. This track follows the toe of the hill then begins to climb up Deep Gully and on to the skyline ridge, where it meets the Grandview Ridge Track.
Turn left to follow Grandview Ridge Track for 5 km before turning right onto South Awa Nohoaka Track. Follow this track for 1.5 km before reaching the Conservation Area boundary.
Time: 4-5 hr one wayDistance: 13 km one way
Time: 7-8 hr one wayDistance: 21 km one way
From Grandview Ridge Track junction with Awa Nohoaka Track, there are two options: turn right and travel for 5 km; turn left and travel for 1 km.
Getting there
The main access points to Awa Nohoaka Conservation Area are:
Sandy Point car park - SH8, 17 km from Wānaka.
Nook Road car park - approximately 5 km from Hāwea township. From Cemetery Road continue on to Gray Road. Turn left at the end of Gray Road onto the Hāwea Back Road for 200 m before turning right onto Nook Road. Travel for 500 m before reaching the Nook Road carpark and the beginning of the Grandview Mountain Track. Walk or bike up this track for 9 km before reaching Grandview Ridge Track.
Know before you go
No fires.
In winter and spring these access points travel through ‘challenging’ avalanche terrain before entering ‘simple’ avalanche terrain on the tops – view avalanche information if planning a trip between May and November.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
