Place · 6 mi away
Also listed as the Pearl Harbour to Hope Arm Track, this is a classic Fiordland wander through mature beech forest to a sheltered crescent of Lake Manapouri. Expect a mostly gentle, rooty tramping track, glimpses of water through the trees, and a legitimately pleasant beach at Hope Arm where people swim on calm summer days. Hope Arm Hut sits nearby if you want to linger.
Logistics first: the track begins on the far side of the Waiau River opposite Pearl Harbour in Manapouri. You’ll need to arrange a water taxi (common in summer) or a boat/rowboat crossing to the jetty across the river before you can even step onto the track. From there, it’s an out-and-back forest walk to Hope Arm, roughly 18 km/11.2 miles total return. Some walkers link with other tracks to create variations (one local loop option is about 16.4 km total), but the straightforward version is there-and-back.
DOC manages this as a tramping-standard route, so think uneven footing, mud after rain, and a less manicured feel than Great Walks—great if you want solitude without a huge effort. The scenery is pure Fiordland: red/beech forest, mossy understory, lake margins shaped by ancient glaciers, and the odd peat flat.
The best add-on is The Monument, a short, steep side trip near Hope Arm with chains/scrambles and a 290 m climb to a rocky summit. On a clear day the payoff is huge: a wide-angle of Lake Manapouri’s island-dotted surface and surrounding ranges. Prefer something mellower? From the Hope Arm area, the Stockyard Cove tracks wander to West Beach (nice lake views) or small waterfalls above the cove.
Best time to hike: summer into early autumn for stabler weather, operating water taxis, and that post-walk swim. Winter and stormy spells are cold, wet, and quiet; services thin out, and the track can be boggy. If you’re aiming for The Monument’s views, pick a clear day.
Who will like it: hikers who want a peaceful Fiordland day out with options—swim, hut stop, or a punchy little summit. Who won’t: anyone expecting a groomed, signed-to-the-hilt Great Walk or a dry track after heavy rain.
Pros
- Short, steep side trip to The Monument delivers outsized lake-and-mountain views
- Sheltered bay at Hope Arm is a genuine swimming spot in summer
Cons
- You must arrange a boat/water taxi to cross the Waiau River to the start
- Heavy rain is common; track can be muddy and slow in poor weather
Parking
Use Pearl Harbour in Manapouri; then arrange a water taxi/boat across the Waiau River to the far-side jetty where the track begins.
Caution
Access requires crossing the Waiau River to the far jetty. Track is tramping-standard with roots, mud, and slippery sections after rain. The Monument side trip is steep with chains/scrambles—attempt only in good weather. Fewer services operate outside summer.
