From WikiOutdoors

Swampy Ridge Track

The Low Down

This track runs along Dunedin's mountain backbone, and was the original bullock track north from the city when forest and swamp blocked all other routes. It links Flagstaff above the city to Double Hill above Waitati, from which point the historic road north continued along what is now Mountain Road through Silverpeaks Forest. Here the track is described starting from Double Hill and heading south. This hike is in New Zealand.

Vital Information

Location (country, state/province): New Zealand, Dunedin
Distance:
Time:
Elevation change: few hundred feet
Bathrooms Available: No
Water Available: No
Dogs allowed: No

Table of contents

6) Activities Allowed

7) For more Information

8) Related WikiOutdoors articles

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Getting There.

From Dunedin, drive north to Waitati and after the Blueskin General Store on State Highway One take the first left up Double Hill Road. Remember to be careful about on-coming vehicles on this narrow gravel road: farmers using the road won't be expecting you. Park by the water-body on your right opposite the first DoC sign on the left, about 5-6km from the turn-off at Waitati.

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Route Finding

Walk up the rough and uninviting 4WD track opposite the car park.. It is clayey but things get better very soon. Wander along a grassy mown track to the sign Swampy Summit where you bear left for a couple of hours. You'll walk through stunted bush and tussock before arriving at the vehicle track which links the string of radio and communication installations which are spread along the tops of Swampy Summit: these include (from north to south)a space research field station of the University of Otago, an Airways Corporation radio beacon for air traffic at the airport and a long-distance microwave link of Telecom New Zealand. Along this vehicle track (closed to public) there are great views over the Taieri Plains, Dunedin International Airport at Momona, and the surrounding countryside. It is almost always blowing a gale here but you can shelter in the lee of the cream-coloured building and have some lunch, if you've brought some. From the southern end of the summit the vehicle track forks. The left fork goes to the Telecom tower and the start of the Leith Saddle Track down Swampy Spur to Leith Saddle at the top of the Northern Motorway. The right fork heads away along a power line towards Leith Valley. Swampy Ridge Track branches off this and continues south to meet up with the Pineapple-Flagstaff Walk and its connections to the city.

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Trail Resources

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Helpful Hints

Enjoy it by wearing boots, taking sufficient clothing, and packing plenty of liquid and a good waterproof.

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Activities Allowed

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For more Information

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