Rock and Pillar Conservation Area
Name |
Rock and Pillar Conservation Park |
Location |
Clarks Junction |
Co-ordinates |
1361294 4952636 |
Alternative co-ordinates |
11362957 4959783 |
Configuration |
Network |
Distance |
20 km |
Status |
On-leash |
Grade |
Moderate-Difficult |
Access |
Although dogs are permitted in the park, they are prohibited from adjacent private land. This makes access to the park exceedingly difficult, and unfortunatelty the DoC website is totally confusing about access arrangements. As far as I can ascertain, the only legal access is via Old Dunstan Road, either from Clarks Junction on SH87 in the south-east, or from the north (Ranfurly), via Pateora and Paerau. From the south, simply follow Old Dunstan Road until it reaches the park boundary (ca. 25 km), and Stonehurst Track starts soon afterwards. From the north, continue on Old Dunstan Road until you meet ther 4WD track nerar McPhees Rock, and take that. If you want to drive in, then note that the road is rough and unmettalled, so 4WD is recommended. It is also shut to traffic from May 1st to October 31st, so visiting in this case is a winter-time occupation, when the road and the weather can be challenging. If you walk in, then you're pronbaly best to approach from the north - and even that's a 10 km hike to reach the conservation area boundary. So this area isn't for the faint-hearted. |
Description |
From the dog-accessible entries to the park, three main tracks are available. Approaching from the south, the first track is Stonehurst Track which starts about 1 km inside the park boundary and heads across the relatively flat plateau until it reaches the other side of the park and turns north to run along the boundary. About 5 km north of the start of Stonehurst Track you come to a 4WD Track (Rock and Pillar Ridge Road) that heads east past McPhees Rock. This will eventually take you to two more dog-friendly tracks. GlenCreag Track runs for 4km down the face of the Rock and Pillar range past Big Hut, and - as far as dogs are concerned - again terminates at the park boundary. Two kilometres further on, Rock and Pillar North Track continues along in a northerly direction the plateau for 6 km or so, then veers right (north-east) and after another 4 km right again to reach the top of the face - and then is no dog. All in all, these are walks that need to be worked for, and are perhaps only worth doing for that reason of achievement. But it's also a landscape with a difference, and that, too, makes it worthwhile. |
Connecting tracks |
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Further information |