The Ahuriri Conservation Park is in North Otago, South Island. The closest townships are Omarama and Twizel.
Getting to Ahuriri River Lodge – Birchwood Station
From Omarama – travel 17.4kms on SH8 south towards Cromwell – the dirt road turnoff is on your right and is signposted “Ahuriri Conservation Park” and “Birchwood Station” (Google Maps)
From Tarras – travel 61.6kms on SH8 north towards Omarama – the dirt road turnoff is on your left and is signposted “Ahuriri Conservation Park” and “Birchwood Station” (Google Maps)
PLEASE NOTE – this is a gravel road and after the Ben Avon Lakes the road does get a bit rougher – still drivable by normal vehicle but please take care ……
Directions from the turnoff on SH8
Simple directions
Set your vehicle odometer to zero and follow the power lines and power poles. At 24 kms you should get to us. We are the last Station/Homestead – we are literally at the end of the lines!
For those that prefer the ‘mud map’ approach ……
0.0km – Cattle grid at the start of the dirt road
5.0 km – White railed bridge over the Ahuriri River on the right hand side – always worth a look over the edge Trout Spotting ….
6.6 km – Road crosses a small bridge over a creek
12.6 km – Continue straight – the road to the left side is driveway to Garry Herberts Hunting Lodge
15.8 km – Continue straight – the road to the left leads to Ben Avon Station – our closest neighbour
18.0 km – The lakes you see to your right are the start of the Ben Avon Lakes and Ben Avon Wetlands
Here the road gets a bit more exciting!
20.5 km – 1st major scree slip (you won’t miss it …)
21.5 km – 2nd major scree slip (ditto)
23.0 km – Sign on right demarcating the start of the Ahuriri Conservation Park
24.1 km – Cross over the small (sometimes!) creek (runs next to Birchwood Station)
24.3 km – Take the left fork to enter Ahuriri River Lodge and Birchwood Station Homestead – signs are at the gateway
Note: The Road that continues straight ahead and over the cattle grid leads further into the Ahuriri Conservation Park. The road comes to a dead end at a carpark after about 10kms.