Sawpit Gully Track

Start from Arrowtown’s Butlers Green by the Historic Chinese Settlement and follow the Arrow River Trail. About 1.5 km in, take the signed left up Sawpit Gully; if you reach the Norman Smith Footbridge, you’ve gone too far. Anti‑clockwise is the preferred direction for a gentler, more sustained climb. The track climbs to a saddle between German Hill and Brow Peak, then descends through historic Sawpit Gully, passing the Big Hill Track junction before looping back to town. There’s a brief rock scramble near the turnoff and several small creek crossings. A shorter taste is possible as an out‑and‑back (about 2.4 miles total) turning around in the gully.

Rated moderate, with a few steep, rough sections and narrow benched bits with short drop‑offs that can rattle anyone uneasy with heights. Crossings are usually straightforward but run higher after rain. Expect mud and slick footing when wet, and icy patches in winter. Avoid poor weather—this track feels far less friendly when it’s sloppy or frozen.

Park at Butlers Green, then use the Arrow River Trail connector to the Sawpit Gully turnoff; the mileage above includes the full loop. The track crosses private land—stay on the marked route. No dogs, and no bikes or motorbikes. Waterproof footwear pays off for the creeks; poles can be awkward on the narrow sidles. From the saddle, a rough, unmarked side trip up German Hill expands the views if you have the legs and conditions are stable.

Watch for beech forest pockets low down, tussock and open grass slopes higher up, and scattered gold‑mining relics in the gully—including a small stone hut on a terrace before the final climb.