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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: -44.64316, 170.35623. 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
- 2 km one way
- Walking time
- 1 hr one way
- Track grade
- Intermediate
- Location
- Lake Benmore and Lake Aviemore area
- 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
Walk within a flooded canyon to a shady picnic or fishing spot near Lake Aviemore in the Waitaki Valley.
This DOC directory entry covers Deep Stream Track in Canterbury, within Lake Benmore and Lake Aviemore 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: 2 km one way
- Walking time: 1 hr one way
- DOC grade: Intermediate
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.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The track goes along steep faces within a flooded canyon. The track is benched with steps in steeper sections but is narrow with steep drop-offs below. Take care when walking with young children.
The track is well defined and easy to follow to the stream delta where it comes to an end amongst the shady willows. A table is available along the way for a lakeside picnic.
Getting there
Turn off SH83 at Aviemore Dam onto Te Akatarawa Road.
Know before you go
Map: NZTopo50 CA16 Otematata
Nature and conservation
Plants you may see include prostrate kōwhai, Sophora prostrata, which flowers in August/September, and two rare native brooms, Carmichaelia curta and Carmichaelia kirkii - both threatened species.
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 published in DOC's official route gallery with an explicit reuse licence. Its original caption and credit are retained; it does not establish current track conditions.
