10 October 2026
Scattered showers, possibly heavy and thundery with hail, easing this evening.
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1 / 1Hakatere Conservation Park
Stour Track
Walk or mountain bike on this track beside the Stour River.
Distance
15 km
Walking time
5 hr one way
Difficulty
Intermediate
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
Canterbury High Country forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 9:23 pm
11 October 2026
Showers about the Divide, clearing in the evening, otherwise fine.
12 October 2026
Fine.
13 October 2026
Partly cloudy with isolated showers.
14 October 2026
Rain, with heavy falls.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Stour Track on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Stour Track
Lake Emily gives access on old farm tracks to Stour Bridge car park. From the lake, the route is mostly down hill, making it an easy walk. It is difficult to mountain bike ride due to extensive flood damage in May 2021. This is a shared-use track. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.
Essential information for Stour Track
There is no shade so sunscreen and a hat is recommended. These are shared use tracks so you may encounter horses and mountain bikers.
Getting there for Stour Track
Lake Emily is accessed from Hakatere Heron Road, about 31 km west of Mount Somers. Leave Mount Somers on Ashburton Gorge Road, then turn right into Hakatere Heron Road (23 km). Turn right again just before crossing Jacobs Stream Bridge at Castleridge Station. 2WD vehicles can park on the verge of the farm track (be considerate of other users and farm vehicles). 4WD vehicles can travel a further 1.4 km to a car park on the public conversation land. Use this location on Google Maps to help find your way there.
Helpful resources
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 . Level up in your outdoor knowledge with these interactive 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 .
Dog access for Stour Track
Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times.
Before you walk Stour Track
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.