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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: -42.49701, 172.83983. 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
- 2.1 km one way
- Walking time
- 1 hr 30 min one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Hanmer Forest Park
- Dog access
- Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. 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 track takes you from mountain beech forest to the attractive 41 metre-high Dog Stream waterfall.
This DOC directory entry covers Waterfall Track in Canterbury, within Hanmer Forest 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: 2.1 km one way
- Walking time: 1 hr 30 min one way
- DOC grade: Easy
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 allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
A steady climb from the car park at the end of Mullans Road climbs through mountain beech forest to the attractive 41 metre-high Dog Stream waterfall. Mosses, ferns, lichens and native orchids are interesting features on the track.
The junction with Spur Track is around 1 hour 15 minutes, 1.8 km, into the walk. It's around 15 minutes to the waterfall from here. Just before the waterfall, there's a junction where the Mt Isobel link track connects and provides access to Mt Isobel Track.
A suggested round trip is to return via Spur Track and Fir Trail to the waterfall carpark.
Getting there
From Hanmer Springs travel north-east along Jollies Pass Rd for 2.2 km.
Turn left onto McIntyre Road and follow it for the next 1.5 km
Turn left onto Mullans Road and follow it until you reach the Hanmer Forest Park carpark.
The track is signposted from the carpark.
Know before you go
Entry to Hanmer Forest on foot is unrestricted except in times of fire danger or for public safety. Some tracks may be closed for harvesting operations – respect the signs.
A red flag flying outside the information centre and community hall indicate all tracks are closed because of extreme fire danger.
Report all suspicious fires immediately – call 111.
Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.
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.
