Mavora Lakes Road starts almost halfway between Te Anau & Mossburn on SH94 and heads 35km north east before tee’ing off to the North-West and heading to the Mavora Lakes after which the road is named. The road also continues straight and ends on the southern shore of Lake Wakatipu at Walter Peak station, changing it’s name to Von Road on the way.
The Mavora Lakes are stunning in a rugged way and can be quite windy. From where Mavora Lakes Road tee’s off the main road it’s only a few km’s to the South Lake and another 5-6 to the North Lake. Well signposted DOC Camping is available at the North Lake and you can find all the relevant information at the DOC link below. From the North Lake you can make your way further Northwest though the track sometimes follows the lake shore which is deep soft sand/gravel and can be hard going on a big bike.
All the sections of road are generally kept in good condition, near Walter Peak station the road can be a bit bumpy due to a few humps and corners that get worn by traffic but South of that the road tends to be quite smooth and is very open. Stock wanders freely over the road but as most of the road allows excellent distance visibility any cows can usually be seen well in advance. There can be one River crossing on the Von Road which depending on recent rain and grading may be no worse than a bumpier section of dry track, or could have water flowing.
Southern Discoveries will take your bike on their Catamaran to and from Queenstown to Mt Nicholas Station at the North end of The Von Road. As at January 2020 the cost was $80 for bike & rider & the trip takes roughly 45 minutes and needs to be booked in advance.
DOC information on Mavora Lakes Park
DOC information on camping at Mavora Lakes
Southern Dicoveries Catamaran
Access to the tracks around the Mavora Lakes is now being managed under a gate with key code system after DOC has had to control access to the tracks due to damage caused by 4wd’s and thefts from huts and vehicles.
You can read about the access requirements on the DOC website: https://www.doc.govt.nz/mavora-vehicle-access.
Contributed by: @eddieb
Track type: Gravel Road
Track composition: Bumpy, Loose, Undulating
Slippery when wet?: No
Suitable for bikes <650cc? Intermediate
Suitable for bikes >650cc? Intermediate
River crossings? No
The first crossing in this video was just after leaving the carpark by the North Mavora Lake and starting to head around the lake.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_Hoo8364OJw
There are/were a number of tracks worth exploring North of the Mavora lakes sidetrack however as of this week these have been closed due to 4wd’s creating significant damage in the area.
Have a look at this post on the Christchurch 4wd Club on Facebook for some pictures: https://www.facebook.com/christchurch.4wd.club/posts/1582275911788512
from: Real Journeys Contact Centre <contact@realjourneys.co.nz>
date: 23 Sep 2019, 10:28
subject: RE: Enquiry: Walters Peak to Queenstown – 2pax + 2 x motorcycles
Hi there,
Thank you for your email.
I am afraid we will no longer be offering motorbike transfers as of 1st October 2019.
If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Kind Regards
Bethan
As noted you can no longer take your bike on The Earnslaw however Southern Discoveries will take bike on their Catamaran which goes to mt Nicholas Station. $80 for bike & rider & roughly 45 minutes. I did this on Saturday & they were really helpful.
Enjoy
Thanks @Hanafi and @andylangford I’ve updated the page info above.
Did either of you happen to get any pics of the Catamaran or a GPS track of gthe section from Mt Nicholson station over to Walter Peak station that I could update things with?
Did this trip to Walter Peak and back on 25 Nov 2020. 1200GS and DRZ250.
After the 35kms of gravel to the Lakes turn off its another 50kms to the end of the road at Walter Peak Station. There were 2 fords both about up to the hubs or more. Not very wide. We rode through a couple of times for fun. There are also a couple of fords beside narrow bridges which you can do too. It took us 3 hours from the Lakes turn off to get there and back including a leg stretch and quick bite at the Lake and mucking about in the fords
Theres a pretty steep section with some epic drop offs just before Mt Nicholas Station which you pass through to get to Wakter Peak Statipn. Sorry Eddie i didnt gps it.
We didnt take the boat so it was a long day from Bannockburn at around 550 kms. Te Anau would be a better base so this would be a natural trip to add to a ride to Milford Sound. If youre coming in from Mossburn end you take Centre Hill Rd which joins up with Mavora Lakes Rd a few kms in.
The Von and Mavora Lakes roads are both excellent and well worth riding in and out. The views are stunning and for a day on gravel its up there with Molesworth i think. No power lines to spoil the view here.
Very very dusty though.
Access to tracks around the Mavora Lakes is now being managed under a gate with key code system after DOC has had to control access to the tracks due to damage caused by 4wd’s and thefts from huts and vehicles.
You can read about the access requirements on the DOC website: https://www.doc.govt.nz/mavora-vehicle-access.
Apply for a vehicle access code: https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/southland/places/mavora-lakes-conservation-park/vehicle-access-at-mavora-lakes-conservation-area/register-for-vehicle-access-into-mavora/.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/125521460/doc-closes-off-access-to-mavora-lakes-track-because-of-damage-from-4wds
For those that want to know about the ferry crossing from Mt Nicholas/Walter Peak Station wharf to Queenstown. Still $80 for rider and bike. Only 3 bikes max at a time due to limited space. Its pays to ring them to book in advance. 0800264536. Sailings from Thursday till Monday departing 2pm and 4pm
Hi folks. My brother and I thinking about catching ferry from Queenstown across to do the Von road south on our way to invercargill. Couple of 1250 adventure bikes , so heavy but good on the gravel. Conflicting info on whether there’s river crossings or not?? And how long the ride from Walter peak to SH94 out the other side ? Cheers in advance
The river crossing will obviously change depending on the time of the year and recent rain
I went through in February and it was not challenging
The two tracks at the top of Movora lakes are more challenging the one to boundary hut is easier than the one to forks hut
A guy on a r1250gs was struggling and turned round at the hut at the top of Movora lake
You are meant to get the key code from DOC if you ride beyond the gate at the top of the camp ground but when I was up there the gate was open.
If you are have any problem getting your bike on the boat to Walter Peak there is a barge that crosses to Nicholas station on demand the number is 02123118960
Have a good trip
The time it will take is determined by how many times you stop to take pictures
If you go straight through without much stopping I would guess two hours
If you turn right and go and have a look at Movora lakes which I would recommend you do add a minimum of another hour
A note to update the price of TSS Earnshaw. They informed me its $149 for a 2pm, 4pm, 6pm sailing from Queenstown to Walter Peak, for this November
The Pricing is still the same when we came up from the Burt – $149 per bike and rider, times vary but usually 2-3 a week.
You need to book a day up front as the staff need to know .
Pity because last year when the Cat was running you could just ride up the gangplank – it was $80.
My mate balked at the price hike so we had a massive breakfast in Mossburn instead.