This walk starts just east of the Pukaki River spillway. It is signposted off the southern side of SH 8 where there is a designated car park area. From the car park the walk follows a 4WD track into the Pukaki Terminal Moraine Conservation Area. Turn off the 4WD track onto a grassy track which leads to a distinct kettlehole. The track circles the rim of the kettlehole and then returns the same way.

The views along this track are spectacular, as it passes through moraine hummocks covered in scattered short tussock and mixed shrublands typical of the less-modified moraine landforms in the Mackenzie Basin.

Getting there

The Mackenzie Basin is situated in the centre of New Zealand's South Island. It features mountains, lakes, rivers, beech forest remnants and rolling tussock country.

All of the walking tracks described here are easy to access from main roads and offer fantastic views of the Mackenzie high country, with the exception of Marker Bay which ends in a nestled cove beside Lake Pukaki.

Some of these walks include easements through private farmland. Please respect the landowners’ rights by keeping to the marked easements. These are well-signposted and marked by orange poles. Please ensure all public access gates for walkers are closed behind you.