Sawyers and Parsons Creek to Freehold Creek Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

Climb up past mountain beech and native mistletoes to an ancient glacial moraine terrace in the Lake Ōhau area. This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.

This DOC directory entry covers Sawyers and Parsons Creek to Freehold Creek Track in Canterbury, within Ahuriri Conservation 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: 12 km one way
• Walking time: 8 hrs one way
• DOC grade: Advanced; 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.

Dog access

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

Description

This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.

To get to Freehold Creek Track you'll need to get to Freehold Creek bushline

Parsons Creek to Freehold Creek bushline

Track category: Tramping trackTime: 2 - 3 hrDistance: 6 km

This track has always been a favourite with visitors to Lake Ōhau. Look out for the DOC sign and car park just before the one-lane bridge over Parsons Creek on Lake Ohau Road.

Climb up past mountain beech and native mistletoes to an ancient glacial moraine terrace. A gravelled track for the Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail goes along this terrace and makes easy walking. Watch out for mountain bikers on any hidden corners. Cross Freehold Creek bridge and turn right to walk uphill on Freehold Creek Track, on an old beech logging trail. Check out the distinctive curved nature of the track which is where bullocks (young bulls) dragged large beech and totara logs from the forest over 100 years ago.

At the bushline the vegetation changes to sub alpine scrub, scree slopes and tussock country.

Sawyers Creek access to Freehold Creek bushline

Track category: Tramping trackTime: 45 minDistance: 2 km

This track provides a more direct route to Freehold Creek and starts at Glen Mary Ski Club huts. It is also part of Te Araroa. Please park in the designated area near Lake Ohau Road, not by the huts. Toilets are here for public use.

Freehold Creek bushline to Dumb-bell Lake

Track category: RouteTime: 4 hrDistance: 4 km

There is a lightly marked route in Freehold Creek basin to follow uphill. Travel past a tarn at 1479 m and climb up to the ridge. Sidle through the low part of the ridge between high points 1922 m and 1817 m. Head north to Lake Dumb-bell outlet.

Mountain biking

This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.

Getting there

To reach the start of the Freehold Creek and Tarnbrae Track, turn off SH 8 onto Lake Ohau Road, 13 km from Twizel.

Know before you go

Map: NZTopo50 BZ14, BZ15

Fire damage

These tracks are open but were affected by the Lake Ōhau fire in October 2020. The landscape is still recovering from the severe fire damage.

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.