Lindis Hotel
Track Overview
Approx 5km of easy rolling and flat dirt road each way.
This is a fantastically scenic, beautiful and easy going ride along side the Lindis river.
Starting just up the road from the beginning of Old Faithful Road you cruise adjacent to the main highway up the valley and to the historic, ruined and SUPER cool Lindis Hotel.
There are a few cattle stops but they all have good gates.
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You are likely to encounter sheep, possibly cattle and vehicles/campers travelling up the road. There can be a bit of road noise from the traffic on the main highway but its far enough away to not be an issue unless your horse reacts to some traffic noises.
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At the end of the road there is the Nine mile reserve with the Lindis Hotel, a non flush toilet and a camping ground.
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Cruising around after our ride we found the most fantastic swim hole!
Just stunning for hot weather and hot horses for a splash!
Just at the beginning of the clearing (float parking) follow the river up maybe 100m to where the stock are accessing the creek. There is a man made kind of rock wall and a deeper water spot with minimal rocks.
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NO dogs allowed
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Keep left here and go through the gate.
Directions and Float Parking
A 12 minute (16km) drive from Tarras township towards the Lindis Pass.
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Enter Old Faithful Road into Google Maps.
The turn off is on a sweeping corner so please indicate early on entry and be very careful when exiting onto the main highway when you leave, but don't be put off its definitely doable.
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Travel up the road for approx 800m and it opens to a large paddock with loads of room to park.
Stay to the river side of the road as the river side of the road is public marginal strip but the other side is private property.
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Watch out for the ditch running through the middle of paddock
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Ditch runs road towards river on far side of the closest float.
Accommodation
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The Nine Mile Reserve is a DOC campsite and is next to the Lindis River. It has a non-flush toilet.
There is loads of grass areas around the campsite for horses. You will need your own fencing.
Please stay out of the fenced off farm paddocks.
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Please keep all horse poo out of the camping area!
Mata-au Scientific Reserve
Track Overview
As long as you like to explore or approx 2-3 hours.
A flat and easy reserve area of 180ha, great for training and winter riding. No established trails, but you will find 4x4 tracks to follow. The reserve is mostly just a big flat open space with minimal growth and rabbit holes to watch out for. It's quite exposed and can get windy in NWly. You can find your way around to some great river access (Clutha River) as you can see on the map below. The 4x4 track left takes you to a river access gate and another at end of track that goes right.
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DOC signs says NO dogs.
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Click for Maps
Directions and Float Parking
Access to the reserve is opposite the beginning of Jolly road, off Luggate-Tarras Highway.
(see photo below)
The arrow and red dot on the map above show the location.
There is a steel farm gate with a small green DOC sign attached to it.
Plenty of room for parking inside the gate, be wise in wet weather and please respect the reserve's effort to preserve the plants and insects and please don't leave float poo around the gateway etc.
Entrance is 10km from Tarras and 13km from Luggate.
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Access Gate
Accommodation
Check out the "Where to Stay" tab for places to stay, with your horse, in the area.
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Thomson's Gorge Road
Track Overview
Total road is 30km from Bendigo to Matakanui (Omakau)
Starting from Thomson's Gorge Road in Bendigo (Tarras), you follow the road up to Thomson Saddle and continue down to Matakanui near Omakau.
Access to the Bendigo Conservation are is on this side of the saddle. Details TBC