A Riverside Reserve for Swims and Picnics
Leithen Glen, also known as Leithen Valley, is a quiet riverside reserve on the Pomahaka River near Tapanui in West Otago. It’s the kind of place you want to visit and use like a local: a dip on a hot day and an unhurried picnic, on a long, lazy afternoon where time isn’t the point.
It’s at its best in summer, when the grass is inviting, and the river is the main attraction. Even on grey days, the reserve still serves as a calm pause on a road trip, with soft light on the water, shelter from the surrounding trees, and plenty of room to spread out.
The Pomahaka River and swimming spots
This stretch of the Pomahaka has the mix that families look for. There are pebbly edges and gentler shallows for paddling and exploring, plus deeper, slower pools that suit more confident swimmers. The water movement keeps things interesting without feeling hectic, and kids tend to find their own entertainment quickly, skimming stones, building tiny dams, or edging along the shallows.
As with river swimming, conditions can change with upstream rain, so stay alert and take a minute to assess the flow before jumping in.
The Dusky Plantation backdrop
Part of Leithen Glen’s appeal is its setting in the exotic pine landscape of the Dusky Plantation. The pines give the reserve a sheltered, campground-like feel, which makes it comfortable in windier conditions and adds a sense of being tucked away, even though you’re not far from the road.
That “forest edge” atmosphere is a big part of why it’s easy to stay longer than planned: there’s shade when you need it, open grass when you don’t, and the river is always close by.
A Forestry Story that Predates the Reserve
Leithen Glen is associated with an early forestry camp established in 1898, a reminder that this exotic pine landscape was once a working place before it became a place for recreation. There is little evidence of this industrial history today, aside from the road, and Leithen Glen remains enchanting despite the impact of farming and commercial forestry along the river..
The Pomahaka River
The Pomahaka River is a significant 125 km waterway that rises in the Umbrella Mountains, flows through West Otago, and joins the Clutha River / Mata-Au near Clydevale. It is valued for its recreational fishing for both trout and sea-run salmon.
It is also significant as a traditional mahinga kai (food-gathering) site for Ngāi Tahu and Ngāti Mamoe, historically noted for kanakana (lamprey) and birds such as weka. Ngāi Tahu connections to the Pomahaka are formally recognised through the Treaty of Waitangi settlement, and the river is also a focus for ongoing ecological restoration efforts.
How to Get There
From Tapanui, take State Highway 90 north to Wooded Hill Road. Turn west and continue to Paradise Flat Road, via a short section of Ardmore Road. This road becomes gravel as it approaches the Dusky Plantation. The drive is 18 minutes and 17.3 km.
Other nearby places to visit include Kelso, Gore, Bannerman Park, the Hokonui Moonshine Museum and Distillery, the Eastern Southland Gallery, Dolamore Park, and the Whiskey Creek Track in the Hokonui Hills.
