Derek Turnbull Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Just a short drive from Invercargill, this track is well gravelled and graded. You'll see ancient podocarps, abundant birdlife and weather worn limestone boulders.

This DOC directory entry covers Derek Turnbull Track in Southland, within Central Southland area / Invercargill 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: 11 km return via same track
• Walking time: 4 hr return
• DOC grade: Easiest

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

Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

The Derek Turnbull Track is a well gravelled and graded track with occasional muddy patches and a few moderately steep sections. It must be walked both ways unless a vehicle is arranged for pick up at either end. The gradient is milder when starting from the Tussock Creek end, though the track can be walked in either direction.

Enjoy the lush forest populated with ancient podocarps and abundant birdlife, as well as a dramatic section of weather worn limestone boulders. There is also a signposted weta cave 1 hr 55 min from the Tussock Creek Picnic Area or 10 min from the Forest Hill North road end.

Side trip

You can also do a loop track from the Derek Turnbull Track.

Time: 30 min loopDistance: 1.5 km loop

This is a well gravelled track that can be accessed via the Derek Turnbull Track, either 15 min from the Forest Hill North Picnic Area, or 1 hr 50 min from the Tussock Creek Picnic Area. Taking in the same lush podocarp forest as the Derek Turnbull Track, the loop takes you up to a viewing platform with a sprawling view from around 200 metres above the Southland Plains.

Getting there

Tussock Creek road end

• From Invercargill Central head north on SH6 for 19 km towards Winton.

• Turn right onto Wilsons Crossing Road (signs for Tussock Creek, Forest Hill Scenic Reserve.)

• Travel east for 7 km. Turn left onto Pettigrew road.

• Travel north for 2 km on Pettigrew road to reach the Tussock Creek Picnic Area carpark. The carpark is large and gravelled. Space is generally not a problem for vehicles.

Forest Hill North end

• From Invercargill Central head north on SH6 for 20 km towards Winton.

• Turn right onto Forest Hill Crossing Road (signs for Forest Hill Reserve.)

• Travel east for 7 km to reach the Forest Hill North carpark. The carpark is large and gravelled. Space is generally not a problem for vehicles.

Know before you go

At the Tussock Creek Picnic Area there is a large shelter with a kitchen bench, a toilet block, several picnic tables and a large grassy area for recreation and relaxation.

At the Forest Hill North Picnic Area there is a single toilet and a smaller grassy area for recreation and relaxation. Keep to the track as sink holes (collapsed limestone caves) are a feature of this landscape and could cause serious injury or death.

Nature and conservation

Mixed podocarp forest with a dense understory of vines and shrubs. This area is managed by the Forest Hill Foundation Trust, in association with DOC.

The trust is responsible for an extensive trapping and monitoring network through out the reserve, which has had huge success in reducing possum numbers and restoring the canopy. It now has healthy populations of grey warbler, bellbird, tūī, fantail, tomtit, rifleman, silver eye, kererū and brown creeper. Morepork and shining cuckoo are also regularly recorded.

History and culture

Forest Hill was originally known as Puke Ngahere/Puke Kahere and was part of a mahinga kai or food gathering route. Besides edible plants, the forest also contains many plants used in rongoā, or traditional medicine. Forest Hill was first protected for its scenic values in 1938, and gazetted as a reserve in 1979.

In 2007 the track was renamed in honour of world renowned, home-grown athlete Derek Turnbull. As well as being a passionate environmentalist, Derek Turnbull used Forest Hill as a training ground to become one of the most successful veteran runners in the world.

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.