Please click on the following link to find out about walks in the Hanmer Springs village.
The following information has been taken from the Hanmer Springs Walks brochure, pick up your own copy (complete with map) from the Hanmer Springs i-SITE Visitor Centre.
SHORT WALKS
Conical Hill Walk (1 hour return – moderate walk)
A popular hill walk with magnificent views from the lookout shelter. Originally covered in tussock the walk now climbs through mature exotic plantations of Lawson’s cypress, Japanese cypress, giant fir, Atlantic cedar and laburnum – all planted around 1910. A plaque near the shelter commemorates Duncan Rutherford who helped develop the Hanmer basin.
Woodland Walk (1 hour return –easy walk)
This pleasant walk can be accessed from Torquay Terrace or from the Jollies Pass Road car park. It passes through typical woodland, meadowland and stands of exotic trees including Douglas fir, poplar and redwood trees. Suitable for families, it features a stream, flax wetland and ponds with associated bird and aquatic life. The walk is picturesque in all seasons.
Majuba Walk (20 minutes one way – moderate walk)
The walk connects to the Conical Hill and Woodland Walks providing an enjoyable circuit close to the village. Much of the walk is through recently planted Douglas fir. Majuba takes its name from Majuba Hill in South Africa where in 1881 a British force, including Hanmer men, was defeated by Boer troops.
Dog Stream Reserve (30 minutes one way – easy walk)
The closest walk near the village with access points from Jollies Pass Road, Cheltenham Street, Bath Street and Fraser Close. The track meanders through alder, sycamore and willow trees and is suitable for pushchairs. It also has access points onto the Forest Heritage walks.
Upper Dog Stream Track / Jolliffe Saddle Track / Timberlands Trail Circuit
(1½ hours circuit – moderate walk)
A varied walk starting from across the walk bridge below the picnic area on Jollies Pass Road. Take the track to the right. It then follows Upper Dog Stream through recently replanted Radiata pine before climbing through Mountain beech to Jolliffe Saddle. Follow the track down to Jolliffe Road and join Timberlands Trail after turning right on this forestry road. Timberlands Trail was built by the Hanmer Springs Lions Club and it features a small stand of redwood trees.
Nature Trail (20 minutes return – easy walk)
The track follows both sides of Mt Isobel Stream and is one of the few short walks with native plants. It features Mountain beech with its associated under storey of broadleaf, putaputaweta and five finger/whauwhau.
Fir Trail (45 minutes return – moderate walk)
The track passes through magnificent stands of European larch and Douglas fir planted in 1956. Walkers can use this track to make a circuit with the Waterfall and Spur Tracks.
These walks all begin and finish at the Herman’s Avenue gate opposite the car park on Jollies Pass Road. They are marked with green and yellow direction posts.
Forest Amble (30 minutes – easy walk)
Follow the Forest Walk through some of the oldest stands in the Hanmer Basin. At the first junction turn left to meander through European larch planted in 1904. A feature of this section is the understorey of ivy. A further left turn leads the track through 1978 plantings of Ponderosa pine to return to the car park.
Forest Walk (1 hour – easy walk)
A pleasant circuit which threads its way through some of the oldest stands in the Hanmer Basin with a variety of exotic conifers and broadleaf species. Included are European larch which is one of the few deciduous conifer species in the world. Other species are Corsican pine, European alder, Austrian pine and Norway spruce – all planted in the early 1900s. Understoreys of sycamore, oak silver birch and rowan provide a colourful display in autumn. Also of interest are wild fungi in autumn and native orchids in late spring.
Forest Journey (1 ¼ hours – moderate walk)
Follow the first half of the Forest Walk to Mansfield Road. The walk then meanders through Macrocarpa planted in 1927 before emerging back onto Mansfield Road. A left turn leads onto Dawson’s Drive which has trial plantings of cedar, cypress and redwood trees. The Forest Journey then passes through 1904 plantings of Ponderosa pine and larch before finally following the forest edge back to the car park.
Waterfall Track (2 ½ hours return – moderate tramp)
From the car park at the end of McIntyre Road climb through Mountain beech forest to the spectacular 41 metre high Dog Stream Waterfall. Mosses, ferns, lichens and native orchids are interesting features of the walk. A suggested round trip is to return via the Spur Track and Fir Trail.
Spur Track (3 hours return (including Waterfall Track) – moderate tramp)
The track provides an alternative route back from the Dog Stream Waterfall. Begin 15 minutes before the waterfall and climb to the bush line before descending to the Nature Trail. Views of Hanmer Basin, sub alpine plants and plantation forest are features of this track.
Chatterton Rriver Track (2 ½ hours return (to Jacks Pass) – moderate tramp)
The track follows Chatterton River to an old stock route before cutting across to the original Jacks Pass bridle track. An extension is to follow the old stock route to Jacks Pass. Most of the walk is through Mountain beech with views of the Hanmer Basin near the top. Also suitable for mountain bikes.
For experienced walkers and trampers. Four alternative tracks / routes lead to Mt Isobel (1324 metres).
Visibility can be limited in low cloud. Tracks may be closed due to snowfall in winter.
Mt Isobel Track (From Clarence Valley Road Car Park - 5 hours return – track)
This is the most popular track to the summit. It starts from the Clarence Valley Road car park, located 2 km from the Jacks Pass Road turnoff. The track climbs through European and Japanese larch before entering sub alpine scrub. Climb onto an open ridge and continue to the summit for panoramic views of Hanmer Basin and beyond.
Via Waterfall Track (6 hours return – track)
Start from the McIntyre Road car park and follow the Waterfall Track. Turn off just before the waterfall and climb up a steep zigzag to meet the Mt Isobel Track below the top ridge. NOTE: this section of track is prone to slips. Good footwear required.
From Jacks Pass (On Clarence Valley Road - 3 ½ hours return - route)
This is a steep, exposed and rocky route marked by poles. The route meets up with the Mt Isobel Track along the ridge to the summit. For fit, experienced trampers only.
From Near Jollies Pass (On Jollies Pass Road - 4 ½ hours return – route)
The poled route starts 800 metres north of Jollies Pass and climbs through Mountain beech, manuka and sub alpine scrub before joining the eastern ridge to the summit. It is the least used access to Mt Isobel. The upper part of Jollies Pass Road is steep and not suitable for campervans or vehicles with low ground clearance.
