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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: -41.88292, 172.33184. 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
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 1 hr 30 min return
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Murchison area
- 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
Explore what remains of the old Six Mile hydro power station.
This DOC directory entry covers Six Mile Walk in Tasman, within Murchison 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: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 1 hr 30 min return
- 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
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
The track zigzags 50 metres uphill beside the old penstock to the intake and water storage reservoir. This height provided the necessary head (or fall) for the water to drive the station’s turbine. From here the track initially follows the water race before continuing in the forest on a higher terrace.
The track then leads to a viewing platform above the old weir which diverts some of the Six Mile Creek down the water race. Below the weir in the narrow granite gorge are waterfalls and rapids that produce spectacularly turbulent water.
On the return there is the option of a loop track which descends from the upper terrace to follow along the water race, before rejoining the main track.
Getting there
The track is 10 km from Murchison, on Matakitaki Road. It starts and finishes at the old Six Mile hydro power station by the Six Mile Creek Bridge.
Know before you go
Wasps can be a nuisance, particularly from December until April. Carry antihistamine if you are allergic to their stings.
Sandflies: The presence of biting sandflies can detract from your experience in Murchison, especially during the summer months. The problem can be easily remedied by coating exposed skin with a good quality insect repellent.
History and culture
The Six Mile hydro power station and hydro scheme were officially opened on 25 January 1922; the occasion being marked by a public picnic, performances by the town band, speeches and a banquet at the Commercial Hotel.
The hydro scheme provided power to Murchison and the scattered homesteads in the Six Mile valley and Four Rivers Plain. It operated for 54 years before being deemed uneconomic and closed in November 1975.
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.
