Oxford Forest Conservation Area

Walking Trail
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Oxford Forest Conservation Area, Waimakariri

Walking:
2 hrs - 6 hrs, medium difficulty

About the trail
7 km loop. one way.
Various tracks with both loop and one way options. return.
Walk to the five-tier Ryde Falls. A panel by the, now closed, Ryde Tramway tells of the area’s rich saw milling history.


Dog friendly: Yes

Things to know

Dogs on leash only. Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light-coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.

Coopers Creek car park to Ryde Falls (Ryde Falls Track)

  • Time: 3 hr one way
  • Distance: 7 km one way

This well-formed track initially crosses cleared private land with views of the plains and surrounding hills. It enters the beech forest and finally descends to Coopers Creek to view the five-tier Ryde Falls.

A panel by the, now closed, Ryde Tramway tells of the area’s rich sawmilling history.

Getting there:

2 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodside Road. Follow this for 7 km, then turn into Mountain Road and continue to Coopers Creek car park at the end.

View Hill car park to Ryde Falls

  • Time: 1–2 hr one way
  • Distance: 3 km one way 

Leave the car park on Wharfedale Track. Turn off this track about 20 minutes into the forest and descend to Coopers Creek to view Ryde Falls.

Getting there: 

4 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodstock Road. Follow this for 10 km then turn into Ingrams Road, then into Limeworks Road, which becomes Perhams Road. An AA sign here indicates the turn-off to the start of the Wharfedale Track where the View Hill car park is located.

In times of heavy rain, two fords on Perhams Road may become impassable and the road may be muddy. 4WD vehicles are advisable.  

Link Track

Use this track to make a circuit walk to Ryde Falls from either View Hill or Cooper Creek car park.

You can also walk between View Hill and Cooper Creek car parks on this track (3 hr, 7 km).

Getting there

These tracks are accessed from SH72 (Inland Scenic Route), just south of Oxford.

Know before you go

Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light-colored clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.

Source: Department of Conservation

 

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