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Canterbury · Hiking

Te Awa Awa Walk: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

Te Awa Awa Walk is a short walk within the Mount Hutt Forest area.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

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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 information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -43.56141, 171.52801. 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
430 m one way
Walking time
15 min
Track grade
Easiest
Location
Mount Hutt 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

Te Awa Awa Walk is a short walk within the Mount Hutt Forest area.

This DOC directory entry covers Te Awa Awa Walk in Canterbury, within Mount Hutt 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: 430 m one way
  • Walking time: 15 min
  • DOC grade: Easiest

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

This short walk starts in Awa Awa Rata Reserve and climbs gently through native bush before joining the end of the metalled road through the reserve.

Getting there

Mount Hutt Forest can be accessed from Awa Awa Rata Reserve at the end of McLennans Bush Road. This road is off Arundel Rakaia Gorge Road and is 12.5 km from Methven.

The area can also be accessed from Mount Hutt Skifield access road. During summer, there is a locked gate at Scotts Saddle – you will need to walk from here.

Know before you go

Wasps may be present in high numbers, particularly during summer. Consider carrying an antihistamine product and if you are allergic to stings, ensure you bring your medication.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Te Awa Awa Walk: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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