North Otago residents are being encouraged to discover some of the Herbert Forest walking tracks this weekend, when the North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club holds its open day.
The club is offering guided trips tomorrow on the Swallows and Podocarp-Glenbernie Loop tracks in the Herbert Forest.
North Otago Tramping and Mountaineering Club president Jane Green said it was an opportunity for locals to discover the ''little gems'' on their back doorstep and the only segment of mature podocarp forest left in North Otago.
''We hope people will turn out and enjoy the native forest that we have here that most people just don't know about,'' she said.
There will be a variety of different tour options; the full Swallows, Podocarp-Glenbernie Loop and Hoods Creek (walk time 3 to 4 hours), the Podocarp Loop (1 hour), Podocarp Loop and Glenbernie Loop (1 hour), the Swallow Track (1 hour) and Hoods Creek (1.5 hours).
Most abilities will be catered for, in terms of length and intensity.
The first guided tour will leave at 10am and the last tour will leave at noon.
