High in the Otago high country, the Dobson Valley track begins with access through Glen Lyon Station. Permission is required to use the four-wheel-drive track on the true left of the river, and it's usually granted unless there's potential for track damage. This is a working high-country station, so leave your dog at home and don't disturb stock.

The route starts as an easy gravel road through to the Hopkins Valley, where you meet the station owners, then continues on private farm track before dropping down into the riverbed. Above Stony Stream it cuts out into the river and includes a number of channel fords, ending at Station Hut (private). Beyond the hut there's no established track — just occasional tyre marks — so you navigate the valley as suited on the day, picking the shallower crossings and avoiding boggy sections.

A genuinely beautiful, remote day out. A snorkel, all-terrains or muds, and a lift are recommended for the crossings, which can reach door height even in low summer levels. To arrange access, contact Glen Lyon Station.