The Long Hilly Walking Track explores regenerating native bush and relics from the days of Chinese gold mining activity in Southland and was the largest Chinese settlement in New Zealand.

Gold was discovered in the area in the 1870’s however the Europeans first on the site abandoned it shortly after. A group of Chinese took over the site and established the township at Round Hill known as Canton. In 1891 the population consisted of around 50 Europeans and 350 Chinese.