The rural township of Herbert sits on sheltered hills, and makes a good base for explorations into the native forest.
Herbert is a quaint village set on sheltered hills and named after British Secretary of War, Sidney Herbert. Stay at the Herbert Forest Camp Ground, Camp Iona or the DOC managed Glencoe Campsite, also set within a sheltered area, surrounded by beech and podocarp forest with a river and walking options nearby.
In addition to a quirky second-hand store on the main road, Herbert is well-known for its walking and mountain biking tracks in Herbert Forest. Access to the forest is granted by owners Port Blakely and this access is sometimes restricted due to forestry operations. Please respect any closures and do not ride/walk in other areas of the forest. The Mountain Biking North Otago Facebook page notify fans of closures where possible.
Just down the hill, south of Herbert, Waianakarua (the 5 A's) is home to the oldest stone bridge still used on a New Zealand highway.
The historic Mill House provides a venue, dining and accommodation while the nearby Waianakarua River offers swimming and picnic spots with camper/tent sites and motel units available at the Riverside Haven Holiday Park.
The Waianakarua also has a hunting block where you may find red deer, feral sheep and pigs. Permits are required to hunt here and can be obtained from the Department of Conservation.
