The cycle from Millers Flat up to Lake Onslow turn off, a 633 Mt climb will give you a fantastic view of the Teviot valley and a birds eye view of the middle section of the Clutha Gold Cycling Trail.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: South Island
  • Distance: 13 kms
  • Time needed: 2 Hours
  • Difficulty: Hard
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Double back
  • Elevation: 898m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: Yes
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes
  • Last Updated: November, 2019

We’ve partnered with Macpac outdoor walking & hiking gear to bring you the very best products designed exclusively for our New Zealand climate. They’ll ship for FREE within NZ on orders over $100 (if under $100 it’s only $5). Worldwide international shipping is available except to the USA. Bulky orders will be $20.

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Millers Flat is the halfway point in the Clutha Gold Cycling Trail from Lake Roxburgh to Lawrence. Stay the night in Millers flat and take a ride up into the hills for a better view of the Clutha River Valley. From Millers flat you climb to the top of Tima Burn Road, 698 Mt to The turnoff to Lake Onslow Road. From the Lake Onslow T section you look back down to the Clutha River and the country towns serving the farming community, like Roxburgh, Ettrick, Millers Flat and off in the distance Beaumont and the End of the Clutha Gold Cycling Trail Lawrence. On my first 13Km ride up the 633 Mt hill to the Lake Onslow T section was a extreme work out for me but the pain was canceled out by the amazing views of the valley below, or was that the bone freezing wind.

Track Quality

The road is very good, a very smooth fast gravel surface with almost no pot holes, there were two tight corners that were very muddy. On this ride I saw two farmer 4×4 and one tractor on the road, otherwise, very quiet.

Hazards

Unknown

Transport

Unknown

Water

There is no water on this ride. From what I have been told it can get very hot and dry on the Lake Onslow Road in the summer

Driving Instructions

Unknown

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

Unknown

Area & Trail History

Around 1888, ‘Dismal Swamp was dammed to supply water via a number of causeway to the gold miners in the lower Teviot valley. After a 18 foot bam was built the swamp turned into a 830 ha Lake and was renamed Lake Onslow after the Earl of Onslow. In 1924 the water was used for irrigation and to produce power for the Teviot Valley. To day you can try your hand at catching a Brown Trout, some fishing tails boast of Brown Trout weighing in at 3Kg.

Map Location

Motorhome Rental Deals

Find motorhome deals
specials

Save up to 75% off tours

Find cheap tours
specials

Points of interest along the walk​

Faigans cafe
Turn off to Lake Onslow Road
Millers Flat

Millers Flat

From out the front of faigans Cafe bike up river or towards Roxbury on the Teviot Road for 1Km turn Right onto Oven Hill Road cycle for 600 Mt, now you are on Tima Burn Road

Looking back to Millers Flat

Half way

Tima Burn Road, follow the sealed road for 1,2 Km and that is the end of the sealed road as well as the easy cycling, now it is a  challenging 633 Mt climb to Lake Onslow T section. I hope I haven’t put you off the ride, there is a number of slight downhill cruises to give the legs a rest and give you time to look around. One of my excuses for stopping  halfway up one of the hills was to turn around and take advantage of the amazing view back down the valley.

50 Mt to Lake Onslow Road
Lake Onslow Road
Looking down to the Teviot Vally

Lake Onslow Road

You are only minutes away from the Lake Onslow Road when you see a small aerial sitting on the ridge line as you round the last left hand corner. As you reach the top it was interesting to see how much land has been cultivated. The colours between the green paddocks and the untouched tussock land was like looking at a famous landscape painting. To day a heavy and bulky SLR with a 500mm lense would have been the camera to take, instead of the light and compact gopro The only shelter you will fine to get you out of the cold wind is to double back the 50 Mt to the Aerial and stand behind the small building. I stop at the shed, to drink my hot coffee hoping it would warm up my freezing body. Looking back down the Teviot Valley to Millers Flat, the anticipation of the downhill rush that is to follow took away the cold feeling in my hands and feet. I was ready for another  super fast 63 KPH downhill white knuckle, burning brake pads ride to the bottom, what a big buzz compared to my Avs of 7 KPH crawl to the top. Next week I will bike up here again and may be ride through to Roxbury if the sun is out.

Join our Facebook Group

Join Here
FACEBOOK

North Island Walks

All Walks & Hikes
free walks

South Island Walks

All Walks & Hikes
free walks