Orari Gorge track- an easy canterbury hike

Orari Gorge Track in the Geraldine area is a good option if you are looking for an easier hiking track in the Canterbury region. As much as I love to hike and get up high in the sky, sometimes it’s just nice to get on an easier trail. Because this is New Zealand, there is still a challenge to the track. We did work up a sweat but the elevation gain is small and it’s not an overly long track.

The Orari Gorge track would also be a good track for beginner hikers or if you’re looking for more of a bush walk as most of it is in the forest.

Track details: 190 m gain | 3.2 km loop | 1- 1.5 hour return

The Orari Gorge track

Pretty much all of the Orari Gorge track is in the forest so it’s a good option if you want a shady walk. However being in the forest, it can get quite wet and muddy in there. Sometimes slippery with leaf litter on the path. I wouldn’t suggest going after a rainfall or a wet season unless you’re prepared to walk through quite a bit of mud.

When we hiked the track, we did it counterclockwise which is the way it suggests you go. You could do this track clockwise as well. Going counterclockwise, the route starts off undulating crossing over a few bridges before coming to short steep sections to ascend to the ‘top’. The ‘top’ is essentially a clearing in the trees where you get a brief view of the hills nearby before descending down the track.

Near the clearing, we saw a lot of evidence of pigs being around and tearing up the ground. I wouldn’t be too worried about running into any but you’ll just want to watch your footing as they did a real number on the track.

Some of the descent is steep but not overly hard. The challenge in coming down would be if the track was slippery.

You will notice while hiking the amazing birdlife within the forest. Fantails and wood pigeons are very active flying around and making noise. There are also very large tōtara, mataī and kahikatea which are pretty cool to see.

When to go

The best time to go would be in the summer. This is mainly because the track would likely be the driest in this season. If you’re not too worried about hiking a muddy track, it would be fine to do year-round and a good option if you want some outdoor time but the mountains aren’t as accessible.

Things to know

the track can get quite muddy- after a rain or in a rainy season, boots and gaiters would be best
dogs are not permitted on this track
No cell phone service in the area
There is a DOC campsite at the track. More info can be found here