10 October 2026
Cloudy, with isolated showers from late afternoon, possibly heavy and thundery inland. Cloud lowering at night. Northeasterlies.
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1 / 10Dunedin City
Mt Cargill Walk
At 676m tall, Mt Cargill offers some of the most spectacular views over Dunedin and the surrounding area. In Māori legend, the three peaks of Mt Cargill represent the petrified head, body and feet of a princess of an early Otakou tribe.
Distance
6 km
Walking time
3 hrs return
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
Allowed — check local rules
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
No active alerts found. Conditions can still change, so check again before leaving.
Weather outlook
Dunedin forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 4:55 pm
11 October 2026
Areas of early low cloud otherwise fine, then isolated showers developing late afternoon. Northeasterlies, turning southerly early evening, then light winds late evening.
12 October 2026
Fine. Northerlies developing before dawn.
13 October 2026
Partly cloudy with showers developing in the afternoon. Northerlies, dying out in the afternoon.
14 October 2026
Rain, with heavy falls until afternoon. Southerlies developing in the afternoon.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Mt Cargill Walk on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Mt Cargill Walk
The Mt Cargill Walking Track is a well-maintained and constructed walking track that takes you from Bethunes Valley up through the pine forest and into the native bush with some very large Hall’s Totara and Rimu trees along the track edge. The track remains forested until you reach the alpine zone, where it transitions into scrub/ grassland with Manuka, Coprosma, Flax, Veronica, Dracophyllum and Ozothamnus dominating the vegetation. As you walk up the track, keep an ear peeled for Tui and Bellbird songs and an eye out for Wood Pigeon scoffing berries in the tree tops. The track ends at the top of Mt Cargill with excellent views of Dunedin and beyond. The walkway links with a number of other walking tracks in the area.
Essential information for Mt Cargill Walk
Mountain bikes are restricted to the lower part of the track only. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash.
Getting there for Mt Cargill Walk
Mt Cargill Walk can be accessed from the Mt Cargill Summit at the end of Cowan Road or from Bethunes Gully off Norwood Street.
Helpful resources
Dunedin City Council This track is part of the Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa track database. Herenga ā Nuku has maps and advice about public access to the outdoors . We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping/field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
Before you walk Mt Cargill Walk
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.