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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: -44.90597, 169.44965. 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
- 17 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 4 - 6 hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Dry Creek and Neinei i kura Conservation Areas
- Seasonal restrictions
- The upper section of the Dry Creek Track is closed annually for lambing from 10 October to 21 November inclusive.
- 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
Dry Creek Track provides great backcountry opportunities for short walks, tramping and mountain biking with access to the Dry Creek and Neinei i Kura Conservation areas.
This DOC directory entry covers Dry Creek Track in Otago, within Dry Creek and Neinei i kura Conservation Areas. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 17 km return via same track
- Walking time: 4 - 6 hr
- 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
The upper section of the Dry Creek Track is closed annually for lambing from 10 October to 21 November inclusive.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
For a short walk or bike ride, follow the marked track through to the conservation area of the same name before continuing up along a dry creek bed through shrub lands to the Neinei i kura Conservation Area.
Getting there
The car park access to Dry Creek, Cloudy Peak and Neinei i Kura is located on Ardgour Road, Tarras. Ardgour Road is a loop road with access either 2 km north or 6 km south of Tarras.
Know before you go
In summer, very hot and dry conditions are common so make sure you carry plenty of water and have adequate protection against the sun.
Alpine conditions may be experienced at any time of the year, with the higher country being subject to snow during the winter months. Ensure you carry suitable clothing and study boots. Be prepared.
These public access tracks cross through a working high country station. Respect the landowner’s livestock and property; stay on the marked track until you reach the conservation lands, leave gates as you find them and use stiles where provided.
Camping is permitted on conservation land only.
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.
