Everything you need to know about the tough Dingle Burn Peninsula Track in NZ
New Zealand, oceania
56.6 km
N/A
extreme
Year-round
Deep in New Zealand's South Island lurks the Dingle Burn Peninsula Track, a real bruiser!
Hugging the eastern edge of Lake Hawea, this completely unpaved route is a wild ride of steep inclines, exposed sections, and loose gravel. They say it's one of the most exhilarating backroads around. Be warned, it gets seriously narrow as it snakes around some seriously high bluffs – not for the faint of heart!
This 56.6 km (35.16 miles) engineering marvel stretches from Gladstone (Otago) up to the Canterbury border, running south to north. The first 16km, from the start to Dingle Burn, are apparently the toughest – a seriously scary cliff-side road.
Keep in mind, this track cuts through private land and is sometimes closed to vehicles. You might even be held up for up to five hours while livestock are moved along the route. The weather can change on a dime out here, and avalanches are a real risk, especially from May to November. So, tell someone your plans and set a return time, just in case.
Built in the 1950s and opened in 1963, the track sits high above Lake Hawea in the Hāwea Conservation Park. Landslides are pretty common, but on a clear day, the views, including Mount Aspiring/Tititea to the northwest, are absolutely breathtaking!
Where is it?
Everything you need to know about the tough Dingle Burn Peninsula Track in NZ is located in New Zealand (oceania). Coordinates: -41.9556, 175.1763
Road Details
- Country
- New Zealand
- Continent
- oceania
- Length
- 56.6 km
- Difficulty
- extreme
- Coordinates
- -41.9556, 175.1763
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