Access to a historic Central Otago walking track has been reopened after it was closed to the public late last year.
A section of the Roaring Meg pack track, which crosses crown pastoral lease land farmed by the McLean family of Lowburn Station, was closed late last year.
Used historically by both local Maori and gold-miners, the track traverses the Pisa Range and links the Cardrona Valley with the Kawarau Gorge.
At the time, the family said the track was closed for the safety of the public because it was used to shift livestock.An unformed legal road aligns with the track in some places but not in others.
The 5814ha Lowburn Station is a family farm run by Anne Nielsen and partner Dave McLean and their children.
Talks about reopening a section of the Cardrona to Cromwell pack track on the same land were still ongoing. New Zealand Walking Access Commission regional field adviser Ange van der Laan said the commission had worked closely with the McLean family to secure free access through the Lowburn Valley.
"We are delighted that the family has reopened the Roaring Meg track to walkers in time for the summer holidays."
New signs had been installed at the entrance of the track illustrating what was required for people using the track, she said.
Ms van der Laan said the family were keen walkers and bikers themselves and the closure had not sat well with them.
