But, as some in the area say, town may be a little close for comfort.
Residents, forestry operators and the Dunedin District Council all count road safety, verges and reserve areas being ploughed up by four-wheel-drive vehicles, fire from abandoned vehicles and illegally dumped rubbish as "serious issues".
Flagstaff Rd property owner Alan MacLeod said a "constant concern" for motorists, horse riders, recreational cyclists and pedestrians using the road was being "confronted by an out of control car travelling at 80kmh or 90kmh".
"On quite a few occasions, we've encountered cars on the wrong side of road and out of control.
"It's a good thing for young blokes to find out how to drive on gravel, but this is not a safe place to do it.
"The [logging] truck drivers are very careful because, unlike kids in cars, they know they have to be able to stop.
"And when it snows, it is like living on a four-wheel-drive testing ground.
"It's a potentially lethal combination."
Last year, a car went out of control and left the road near Mr MacLeod's home.
The young men in the vehicle, who were not injured, assured him a four-wheel-drive would be called to remove the car.
"But I went back later and the number plates were gone and it had been burnt out.
"There hasn't been a fire in the area for about 15 years and the tussock and gorse are very dense.
"One day, there will be massive fire," he said.
He estimated an average of two cars a week went out of control on the road.
Residents believed corners on a section of road near Taieri Rd should be widened and the speed limit lowered from 100kmh to 80kmh, he said.
"Ninety percent [of road users] are fine, but 10% will go out of the way anywhere they can to try out vehicles.
"It's such a pity, because it's a very picturesque area."
City Forest chief executive Grant Dodson said vandalism, rubbish dumping and motorcycles and four-wheel-drive vehicles accessing fire breaks and forestry tracks illegally was a "significant issue" in the Whare Flat Rd area.
The council-owned forestry company would become more aggressive in prosecuting people for wilful damage and trespass in forestry areas, he said.
"We genuinely want recreational use, but that needs to be permitted and happen in orderly fashion for health and safety reasons and for conservation.
"People have to realise someone has to clean up - and removing boulders is no different from cutting a gate.
"The majority of forest estate has already been closed because a small minority were irresponsible," Mr Dodson said.
Using heavy machinery to repair tracks and rock barriers in the Whare Flat area could cost the company "several thousand dollars".
Mr Dodson agreed it was "only matter of time" before cars being burnt in the area caused a large scale fire.
The company recently removed about 1000 dumped car tyres from the area.
Dunedin City Council acting manager transportation operations Pieter Besuijen said while fewer cars were being abandoned and burnt in the area than in recent years, the council had "followed up on rubbish dumping" regularly.
"We are very unhappy about damage being done and plan to put more simple post and board barriers in there soon.
"Fencing the area off is not really an option in a rural area.
"We would like more information of a reasonable quality so we can do more enforcement," he said.
Coucil Parking Services removed 28 abandoned vehicles from the area between July 2007 and June 2008.
Flagstaff Rd road resident Bernard Hunsche said he "would like to see [the] council put some effort in to enforcement and catching people dumping rubbish".
Rubbish, including refrigerators, domestic waste and car parts, was left near his home up to four times a week.
"I ring [the] council on a regular basis - so much so, they automatically know my address when I ring."
Residents in the area all picked up dumped rubbish and added it to their refuse when they were travelling to the Green Island landfill, or contacted the council regularly to have rubbish removed.
Mr Hunsche was also concerned pony club horses eating discarded grass clippings would get colic.
