Straddling the boundary between south Canterbury, in the MacKenzie Country, and north Otago, the Hawkdun Range and its auxiliary the Ewe Range form a 50km barrier separating the Manuherikia River and Clear Stream. This boundary is very distinct where a steep escarpment on the western face of the range runs for almost its entire length, while in the east huge post-glacial basins prevail. Farther south, these morph into a virtual tableland than extends for many square kilometres at ridge top level.