Biking
There are many Mountain biking tracks available close to the Omarama area.
Some of these include:
Wairepo Kettle holes: Distance 3.5 km to the kettleholes
Otamatakou Scenic Reserve: 5 km one way
Oteake Conservation Area: Has several biking tracks
Ahuriri Conservation Park: Has several biking tracks
The Alps 2 Ocean Cycle Trail will stretch 312 kms through the Mackenzie Basin and down the Waitaki Valley to Oamaru and the Pacific Ocean; beginning at the base of New Zealand’s highest peak and passing a number of glacial lakes while descending 780 metres to the Pacific Ocean,.
The trail will continue through The Mackenzie Basin, past Lake Ohau, Omarama, Otemetata, Lake Benmore, Lake Aviemore, Lake Waitaki, Kurow, Duntroon, past Elephant Rocks and Vanished World sites and into Oamaru
For more information on the Alps2Ocean
More information on these tracks can be obtained from the Department of Conservation
Dunstan Downs offers the ability to cycle farm tracks- Find out more
www.dunstandowns.co.nz,
Phone-03 4389862
Hiking
There are numerous opportunities for exploring the Omarama/Waitaki region on foot with excellent access into Aoraki Mount Cook, the Ben Ohau Ranges, Mount Dobson and Hopkins Valley areas.
Walks range from half hour, to multi-day and all are within easy access of Omarama. Options are available for independent hikers (from a few hours to multi-day), guided day walkers, heli-hikes and bush or river walks.
Walks near Omarama
Wairepo Kettle Holes: 2 hours return , 7 km, Entry point is 14 km along Quailburn Road(which starts approx 4 km north of Omarama on SH8)
Quailburn Historic Area: 30 mins This is within the Ahuriri Conservation Park and is at the end of Quailburn Road. The site has a wool shed, sheep dip and homestead and hut ruins dating from 1866. A short walk through beech forest involves crossing Quailburn Stream and provides a veiwpoint from above the bushline.
Ewe Track Range:3 hours , 7km. Ewe Track Range is within the Oteake Conservation Park. This is a steep climb to the top of the range but worth the view amongst the rock outcrops.
The Department of Conservation website has details of available walks in the region.