Up in the hills above Arrowtown, this one follows the Arrow River through a valley ringed by big mountains to the old gold-mining town of Macetown. The drawcard is the 20-plus river crossings each way, weaving up the river before you reach the stone ruins and restored buildings at the end. There's a short walk and interpretation panels once you get there, and a fair bit of history to take in.

After most crossings the track narrows to one vehicle wide with steep drop-offs of 100m or more to the river, so passing oncoming traffic takes real care. A UHF helps. The second half gets scratchy, so expect some bush rash, especially in a wide vehicle. River levels rise fast after rain, so check the Arrow River flow before you commit. In high water crossings can go over the bonnet, and a snorkel and good line choice are advised, though in low summer flows plenty of fairly stock 4WDs get through fine.

There are some great overnight spots with cracking views, but the sandflies and mozzies can be fierce, so bring serious repellent. No cell reception out here.

A gate and paid permit system is now in place, so register and pay online before you arrive. Leave no trace.