Nicholsons Track
Alexandra · Otago · Out & Back
Route and dog-access details for this walk come from the Department of Conservation, licensed CC BY 4.0. DOC’s own wording: “Dogs allowed. Keep dog under control at all times. Other pets on conservation land rules. That is the Department of Conservation's current wording on its own page for this track, in the Kopuwai Conservation Area”. Evidence: a hand-checked correction against the authority. How we check dog rules.
Good to know
Dogs are allowed here. Watch for ground-nesting birds and stock, and read the signs at the gate.
About Nicholsons Track
This moderate-length track follows 2.7 km as an out-and-back, near Alexandra in Otago.
A short, steep high-country track in the Kopuwai (Old Man Range) Conservation Area, Central Otago, dropping from Symes Road at about 1,600 m down to Nicholsons Hut at around 1,400 m. It crosses open tussock country past visible gold-mining heritage such as water races and rock tailings. Nicholsons Track climbs away from the top of Symes Road through tussock country to Nicholsons Hut, in the Kopuwai Conservation Area. This is not a casual outing with a dog. DOC grades it an advanced tramping track, Grade 4, it starts at about 1600 m and drops to around 1400 m at the hut, and DOC allows 1 hr 30 min return. DOC's own warning for the area is worth reading twice: "In winter this area is blanketed in snow, extremely cold, and exposed". The dog rule is DOC's own, off the same page: dogs allowed, kept under control at all times.
Graded hard, it stays flat overall, and takes about 31m to walk.
Dogs are welcome here.