Description

A great place for a family picnic with fantastic all-round views and some interesting history. The Lookout is a rare building sitting on a rocky outcrop above the Hurunui River. Once you have walked the short 4WD access track up to the Lookout, you are rewarded with stunning views to the north over a wide area of the Balmoral Forest, the surrounding hills, the Hurunui River, the Amuri Plain and the Culverden Basin. The Lookout building is not open to the public, but you can see the inside through the windows. The entrance to the conservation area is off Hurunui Bluff Road and approximately 1.2 km north of the Historic Hurunui Hotel off SH7 (the main highway to Hanmer and the West Coast). Drive the unsealed Hurunui Bluff Road for a short distance. There is a DOC sign near a stile to identify the entrance. Park here and after crossing the stile follow an old 4WD access road up to the lookout at a steady grade. This track is a bit rough in places. Return the same way. The walk takes between 30 and 40 mins one way.