Ahuriri Conservation Park protects a wide sweep of river valley, tussock, beech forest, wetlands, and mountain country northwest of Omarama. It is the wilder side of the area, better suited to walkers, anglers, and people with a vehicle than to anyone expecting a tidy roadside lookout.
The Ahuriri River valley is especially good if you want to understand the high country beyond the highway. Conditions can change quickly, and distances are larger than they look on a map, so check Department of Conservation information before heading in.