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Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed; check the manager's route description.
- Walking time
- 1 hr (DOC does not specify one way or return)
- Track grade
- Easy to intermediate walking track
Checked against official sources on 1 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
A forest link between Glenfern Road and Port FitzRoy Hill, with an optional steep lookout branch that requires care around slippery rock.
Choose the same meeting point
Old Lady Track links the harbour side with Port FitzRoy Hill, with access from Glenfern Road or Aotea Road. Choose the entrance that matches your transport and tell everyone whether you are returning there or meeting a driver at the other end. DOC supplies an hour without a direction qualifier. Do not present that as a verified return time; allow separately for retracing the route and for any lookout stop.
Treat the lookout as a choice
The main route follows a stream through remnant gully forest containing puriri and kohekohe. A steep side track leads to a natural lookout rock above the harbour. That rock can be slippery and has a significant fall risk, so reaching it is not a requirement for enjoying the forest walk. Decide whether to take the branch before the group spreads out. Stop short if anyone is uncomfortable, and keep photographs secondary to secure footing.
Prepare before entering the gully
Bring drinking water because DOC identifies no water sources on the track. Poor mobile coverage also makes an agreed meeting plan more useful than expecting to arrange a pickup midway through the walk. Check the island forecast and pack for rain, wind and sun. Clean soil from footwear and use cleaning stations to protect kauri, keeping to the formed route. Recheck notices before leaving your accommodation, then reassess conditions at the entrance rather than relying only on the short duration.
Read the official track description and notices immediately before travelling. The source-check date is not a live access or safety report.
