Image: Phil Wilson | ©
A small waterfall pours into a small lake in a forested area.
Ryde Falls tracks

Located in Oxford Forest Conservation Area in the Canterbury region

Walk to the five-tier Ryde Falls.

Coopers Creek car park to Ryde Falls (Ryde Falls Track)

Time: 3 hr one way
Distance: 7 km one way

This well-formed track initially crosses cleared private land with views of the plains and surrounding hills. It enters the beech forest and finally descends to Coopers Creek to view the five-tier Ryde Falls.

A panel by the, now closed, Ryde Tramway tells of the area’s rich saw milling history.

Getting there:

2 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodside Road. Follow this for 7 km, then turn into Mountain Road and continue to Coopers Creek car park at the end.

View Hill car park to Ryde Falls

Time: 1–2 hr one way
Distance: 3 km one way 

Leave the car park on Wharefedale Track. Turn off this track about 20 minutes into the forest and descend to Coopers Creek to view Ryde Falls.

Getting there: 

4 km south of Oxford, turn off SH72 (Inland Scenic Route) onto Woodstock Road. Follow this for 10 km then turn into Ingrams Road, then into Limeworks Road, which becomes Perhams Road. An AA sign here indicates the turn-off to the start of the Wharfedale Track where the View Hill car park is located.

In times of heavy rain two fords on Perhams Road may become impassable and the road may be muddy. 4WD vehicles are advisable.  

Link Track

Use this track to make a circuit walk to Ryde Falls from either View Hill or Cooper Creek car park.

You can also walk between View Hill and Cooper Creek car parks on this track (3 hr, 7 km).

These tracks are accessed from SH72 (Inland Scenic Route), just south of Oxford.

The track is narrow and can be slippery near the waterfall view point. Take care, especially with children.

Wasp populations reach high numbers from January to March – wear light-coloured clothing and carry antihistamine cream/tablets as a precaution.