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Key facts
- Distance
- 10 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 4 hr
- Track grade
- Expert
- Location
- Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park
- Seasonal restrictions
- This track is closed from lambing between 1 October to 1 December annually.
- 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
This is a scenic walk with open views, following the route of a historic coal mine tramline.
This DOC directory entry covers Broken River Coal Mine Track in Canterbury, within Korowai/Torlesse Tussocklands Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 10 km return via same track
- Walking time: 4 hr
- DOC grade: Expert
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
This track is closed from lambing between 1 October to 1 December annually.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The walk begins through open tussock land, following a gentle climb along the historic tramway that once transported coal from the Broken River Coal Mine. Along the route, visitors can discover remnants of this mining heritage.
After approximately 3.5 km, you will reach the top of the incline, which was originally used to lift coal from the mine bellow. This section of track is steep and exposed, and extra care should be taken.
Near the river, the track turns left and joins the old pack track, forming a loop that returns to the tramway. Some sections of the pack track are narrow and exposed and require caution.Return to the car park via the same route.
The Broken River Coal Mine Track has been cleared and is maintained by the Over Forties Tramping Club in partnership with DOC.
Getting there
From State Highway 73, turn onto Craigieburn Road (23 km from Arthur's Pass Village or 125 km from Christchurch) and follow the road for 20 km to the track start.
Craigieburn Road is an unsealed gravel road with more than 15 gates along the way. Leave each gate as you find it.
Know before you go
This track follows a legal easement through Flock Hill Station and is open to foot access only. Remain on the easement at all times and do not deviate from the marked route.
Camping, firearms, hunting, and shooting are not permitted.
History and culture
From 1917 to 1928, the Mt Torlesse Coal Company mined coal in the Broken River Valley. An extensive tramway system, powered by horses and steam engines, carried coal from the mine up a steep incline, across the hillside, and down a second incline to Avoca railway station. The coal was then transported throughout Canterbury by rail.
The industry's fortunes changed with the opening of the Otira Tunnel in 1923, which enabled cheaper West Coast coal to reach Canterbury markets. Increased competition contributed to the closure of the Broken River operation just a few years later.
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.
