Up near the top of the South Island, this technical loop runs through the remnants of New Zealand's first major goldfield. The Aorere Goldfields Conservation Area gives it a real sense of history, and the views from up top are the payoff.

Most people run it as a loop, usually starting from the Devils Boots Road end, and it takes a couple of hours. The track is a mix of rocks and clay with steep climbs and some genuinely gnarly, technical sections, though the hardest bits can normally be skipped. Expect tight, overgrown bush in places, with gaps under a metre wide and a high risk of bush rash, so leave the shiny prized vehicle at home.

Well within reach of most capable 4WDs in the dry, but the steep uphills get considerably harder when it's wet and slippery. A consistently well-rated, much-loved trail.