Turnbulls Tramping Track

This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.

This tough tramping track provides insight into the historic goldmining undertaken in this area in the 1800s.

From Riverton travel west on SH99 for 15 km. Turn right onto Round Hill Road, continue for 1 km. Turn right into the carpark. Then follow the Round Hill walking track anti-clockwise for 1.4 km to the Ports race junction. Turn right onto Ports Race track and then left onto Turnbulls Tramping Track. (Look out for TA Trail symbol on the signs).

Or for Southbound:
Leaving Martins Hut, follow the trail for 100 m and turn right at the marked junction.

Track goes through private land so may be restricted at certain times of year.

Dogs are not permitted on this track but are allowed further along on Foveaux Walkway on leads.

Southland’s Longwood Ranges became a major centre for gold mining from the mid 1860s to the 1950s. Gold mining began at Round Hill in the 1870s, but the initial workings were not particularly successful. After the original miners abandoned the site Chinese miners moved in. By 1882 there were 500 Chinese living at the Round Hill township, named ‘Canton’. This was the largest settlement of Chinese in New Zealand, and the southernmost settlement of Chinese in the world.

The mining enterprises at Round Hill and elsewhere in the Longwoods were dogged by a lack of water. A series of races were built to service the workings including Turnbull’s Race, Martin’s race and Port’s Race.