Climbing over the tops through the gorge in Central Otago, this farm track links the Bendigo area with the Omakau end. It connects nicely with Hawksburn Road for a day out of Queenstown, and works well as a back-country run towards St Bathans and the Manuherikia.

The views across the gorge and down to the stream are the main draw, and there's a real slice of history near the top. An old gold mining area sits up there with a tunnel and battery, well worth the short walk.

Surface is mostly gravel and farm road, with some steep climbs and descents and a few shallow water crossings. The steep, loose sections can carry big ruts, so low range comes in handy and a 4WD is the safe bet. The crossings are usually shallow but can get deeper and trickier after rain, so it's best in dry weather.

Be ready for a lot of gates, somewhere around 16 to 20, especially towards the Omakau end, so allow extra time to open and close them.