ABOUT
Important Information
Here is some useful information for you, please read it carefully and bring this with you on your trip.
Download either the Great Rides or Great Hikes App to your phone, select Welcome Rock Trails and start your tour!
We are happy to move your booking or refund you if your booking is affected by Covid restrictions.
Riding is not permitted during winter. Walking to the Mud/Slate Huts can be arranged directly with us during winter.
The Trail
The Trail is open for hikers & bikers from 1 October until 30 April.
Winter
Riding is not permitted during winter. Walking to the Mud/Slate Huts can be arranged directly with us during winter.
The Red Shed
Open & available all year round, located near the homestead!
Mud Hut & Slate Hut
Contact us for winter access.
Riders to wear helmets, bring spare tyre tubes and inform walkers as they approach Walkers give way to cyclists
We have a ‘Pack-in Pack-out’ policy. Please take all of your rubbish away with you.
Please note there is limited cell phone coverage on the trail. We have a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) available for hire, please contact us if you wish to hire one.
For riders the trail is considered an Intermediate: Grade 3 cross country ride. Please bring spare inner tubes and repair kit for your bike as you could encounter a few spiky plants along the way.
For walkers the trail is considered a backcountry track. Ensure you have good walking/hiking boots
Check the weather forecast before your trip so you are prepared for all weather conditions. The weather can be very unpredictable in the high country. We recommend Metvuw.com
Park your car at the Historic Southland Ski Hut located 8kms up the Nevis Road from Garston. The trail starts just behind the Ski Hut.
Our trail is in the mountains where you can experience quickly changing and extreme weather conditions at any time of the year. Please bring warm layers of clothing and wet weather gear to be prepared for these changes. While we have built the loop with a mellow grade suitable for a range of people, we recommend you have a good level of fitness, and that children are at least 15 years of age and accompanied by an adult.
Phone 111 and quote our name and address which is Welcome Rock, 86 McLean Road, Garston, Southland. Tom and Katie O’Brien: 027 239 2628 & 027 406 7334.CIES
Please contact us if you need to, if we do not answer our phones leave a message and we will call you back: Katie 027 239 2628, Tom 027 406 7334.
Staying in the huts
Bring with you
- Candles, matches and firestarters
- Sleeping bags
- Pillow
- Food for all your meals
- Lots of warm clothes for all weather conditions
- A torch
- Toilet roll
- Bags for your rubbish
- Dish towel
- Dish cloth
- Towel
We Provide at the huts
- Basic gas elements for cooking
- Gas for cooking and for the bath
- Basic utensils, pans and cutlery
- Long drop toilet
