By Outdoor Next Editorial standards
On this page
Key facts
- Distance
- 15 km one way
- Walking time
- 4 hr 30 min – 5 hr one way
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Rock and Pillar Conservation Area
- Seasonal restrictions
- Old Dunstan Road is closed 1 June – 30 September each year.
- 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
This 4WD track follows the ridgetops along the southern half of the Rock and Pillar Range.
This DOC directory entry covers Rock and Pillar Ridge Road in Otago, within Rock and Pillar Conservation 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: 15 km one way
- Walking time: 4 hr 30 min – 5 hr one way
- 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
Old Dunstan Road is closed 1 June – 30 September each year.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track is suitable for 4WD vehicles, as well as horse riding and mountain biking.
From Old Dunstan Road, an initial climb leads up to McPhees Rock (2.5 km one way) before joining the main Rock and Pillar Range and following it north to Summit Rock, 1450 m above sea level.
From Summit Rock it is possible to join Kinvara Road (a further 10 km one way) to exit down the eastern side of the range to SH87.
Vehicles and mountain bikes must keep to the road to preserve the environment.
Getting there
This 4WD track starts 300 m north of McPhees Creek ford on Old Dunstan Road.
Know before you go
Weather: The Rock and Pillar Conservation Area is very exposed and subject to extreme temperatures – hot and dry in summer, freezing cold and covered in snow in winter.
Avalanches: Avalanche terrain is classified as 'simple' at the northern end of the Rock and Pillar Range and on the tops, and 'complex' on the eastern faces. If you plan to be in this area in winter or spring be avalanche alert.
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.
