Walks and tracks include several that traverse sections of the South West New Zealand World Heritage Area. View brochures:
List these tracks by category:
All track categories Easy access short walk Short walk Walking track Great Walk/Easier tramping track Tramping track Route Mountain bike track Horse riding
The Arawata Bridle Track follows part of the original bridle trail that connected Queenstown and Glenorchy. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 45 min one way
This is a fully interpreted walk through Arrowtown’s restored Chinese Settlement. Category: Easy access short walk Completion Time: at your leisure
You can see many historic gold mining features from Atley Track and there are superb views from the summit of Mt Dewar. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 5 - 6 hr (walking)
The Ben Lomond Track is a demanding climb, but on clear days trampers are rewarded at the summit with spectacular panoramic views. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 3-4 hr return to Ben Lomond Saddle, 6-8 hr to return to Ben Lomond Summit
On Bob's Cove Bridle Track you'll follow history along the original bridle track that linked Queenstown and Glenorchy. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 1-2 hr return
Along the Bob’s Cove Track and Nature Walk you'll find historic sites, swimming beaches and fishing opportunities. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy Completion Time: 20 mins one way (walking)
Traverse rugged Skippers Creek to see New Zealand’s first industrial hydro power scheme or take the trail to the heart of Skippers’ quartz reef mining history. Category: Tramping track
The Cascade Saddle Route links the West Matukituki and Dart Valleys in Mount Aspiring National Park. It’s recommended for experienced trampers as a fine weather, summer route. It spans both Wanaka and Wakatipu areas and this page takes you to the Wanaka area. Category: Route Alert: This route is for experienced trampers only.
Retrace the miners’ daily walk from their homes in Skippers to the Crystal Mine, their workplace in the 1930s and 40s. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 1 hr one way
Climb up to the saddle and get great views of the Wakatipu Basin. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 5 - 6 hr Skippers Saddle to Coronet Peak Rd (walking)
The track at Diamond Creek follows the true left bank of the creek to Lake Reid. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 30 min one way
Following Earnslaw Burn through bush to the tussock basin at the head of this valley for impressive views of an icefall on Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 4 - 6 hr one way
Along the Fernhill - One Mile Track you'll see a mixture of exotic and beech forest, with alpine tussocklands at the highest sections. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 3 - 4 hr loop
The well-used Frankton Walkway provides a pleasant stroll or bicycle ride along the lakeshore between Queenstown and Frankton. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Beginner Completion Time: 1 hr 30 min one way
The Gibbston River Trail is a walking and mountain bike track that stretches 11km from the historic Kawarau Suspension Bridge along the south bank of the Kawarau River to Waitiri Creek Wines. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Distance: 11km one way Completion Time: 1 - 2.5 hr one way
At Glacier Burn you'll climb through beech forest to Glacier Basin. Follow the creek beyond to view the Humboldt Mountains. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 2 - 4 hr return
The Glen Allen track is a walk in Kingston through native beech forest. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 2-3 hr one way
Glenorchy Walkway offers excellent opportunities to view bird life as its boardwalk traverses wetlands. A great family walk ideal for picnics with views of Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 1 - 2 hr loop track
The track follows the historic Welshmen’s Water Race through several creeks, then steadily climbs to Ben Cruachan with good views of Lake Wakatipu, the Basin and Nevis Bluff. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 3 - 4 hr one way, 8 hr return (walking time)
The Caples and Greenstone tracks start from the car park at the end of Greenstone Road, 86 km from Queenstown, via Glenorchy. Alternatively, they can be started from Howden Hut on the Routeburn Track. Category: Great Walk/Easier tramping track Completion Time: 4 - 5 days
Built by miners in the 1880s, the Invincible Gold Mine Track is an uphill walk that offers wonderful views of the Rees Valley and Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 3 hr return
A walk with superb lake and mountain views over undulating open grassland and scattered scrub, ending at Jack's Point. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 2 hr one way (walking)
It takes half a day to climb to this beautiful sub-alpine tussock basin beneath Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 4 - 5 hr one way
The Kelvin Peninsula Track follows along the southern side of Frankton Arm and alternates from sidling below homes to traversing through regenerating native bush. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 1 hr 30 min one way
A steady climb to the picturesque glacial Lake Alta. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 1.5 hr return
From Lake Dispute you can walk to Moke Lake. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 3 - 4 hr one way
On the Lake Dispute Track you'll climb steeply through shrubland before reaching this high country lake. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate ; Mountain biking - Advanced Completion Time: 1.5 hr return
Stroll, walk, run or cycle around a lake surrounded by spectacular mountains. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy Completion Time: 2 - 3 hr return (walking)
A steep climb through red beech eases before reaching picturesque Lake Rere, a popular tourist destination in the late 19th century. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 4 - 6 hr return
This well-defined track leads through old moraine river terraces and tall red beech/tawhai raunui to pretty Lake Sylvan in Mount Aspiring National Park. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 40 min one way or 1 hr 40 min returning via tramline loop
This steep track follows the pipeline from the dam and leads you to the foot of a rock bluff. A further walk through beech forest takes you to the stream in the Lower Wye Creek basin. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 4 hr return
This popular short, undulating walk through grassland is surrounded by mountains and goes right round the lake. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 2 - 3 hr return (walking)
A good zigzag track climbs three quarters of the way up Mt Alfred. From there you'll follow a marked route to the bushline. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 3 - 4 hr one way
Twelve Mile Creek Gorge was worked intensively by gold miners and you can still see signs of sluicing. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 2 - 4 hr loop
Starting with a steady climb to Mt Rosa, the track crosses the top with great views of the Nevis Bluff, the Kawarau Gorge and the lower Wakatipu Basin. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 3 -4 hr one way
One Mile Creek Walk follows an old pipeline up to One Mile Dam, once one of New Zealand’s first hydro-electric power schemes. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 1 hr 30 min return
A short easy walk to a viewpoint that overlooks the historic Oxenbridge Tunnel river diversion and an old steam engine. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 20 min return
The 500-metre climb up Queenstown Hill Time Walk to the summit of Te Tapu-nui (mountain of intense sacredness) is well rewarded by the views. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 3 hr return
The Rees-Dart Track is a 4-5 day tramping circuit which follows the Rees River and the Dart River, through leasehold farmland and the southern part of Mount Aspiring National Park. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 4-5 days Alert: The Snowy Creek Bridge has been removed for winter
An easy going, well interpreted loop track ideal for a family walk. It passes through beech/tawhai forest and other vegetation, similar to what the famed Routeburn Track passes through. Category: Short walk Completion Time: 40 min - 1 hr return
The Routeburn Track spans both Otago and Southland areas. This link will take you to information about this Great Walk in the Te Anau area of the website. Category: Great Walk/Easier tramping track Distance: 32 km Completion Time: 3 days
This route to a bush-line musterers' hut is for experienced trampers. It is irregularly marked, steep and in parts obscure and washed out. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 8 - 10 hr return
Seven Mile Track and Wilson Bay Track are dual-purpose tracks for walkers and mountain bikers. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy ; Mountain biking - Intermediate ; Mountain biking - Advanced Completion Time: 1 hr 30 min one way
A track climbing through beech forest following the Shirtail Stream in Kingston. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 1-1.5 hr return
The Shotover Canyon Track drops steeply from the Devils Creek Track, giving access to the Shotover Creek Conservation Area. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: 30 min one way
There are a number of short walks in the Skippers area, providing an insight to the early pioneer mining era. Category: Short walk
This marked track traverses moraine through beech forest from Lake Sylvan. Category: Tramping track Completion Time: 6-8 hr (Routeburn carpark - Rockburn Hut) Alert: January 2013: Rockburn Hut is closed until further notice due to severe storm damage
Sunshine Bay Walk is a native bush walk that follows along the lakeshore to the Sunshine Bay jetty and carpark. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy Completion Time: 45 min return
The Te Kere Haka Track follows the shore of Lake Wakatipu. Category: Walking track Completion Time: 30 min one way
From Twelve Mile Delta to Bob's Cove Track is a 1.5 hour/one way walk where you'll see ancient marine sediments. Category: Walking track ; Mountain biking - Easy Completion Time: 1 - 2 hr one way (walking)
The track takes you to the Wentworth Conservation Area with views of the Pisa and Old Woman Ranges and Nevis Bluff. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate Completion Time: Time: 2 - 3 hr to the conservation area boundary, 5 - 6 hr one way to track end, full day return
Tramping tracks in Whakaari Conservation Area near Glenorchy. Category: Tramping track ; Mountain biking - Intermediate ; Horse riding
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