Parking
Follow Lillburn Valley Road from Tuatapere about 36 km to the Lake Hauroko road end; around 20 km is unsealed. Park by the jetty and boat ramp, where the signposted track begins.
Overview
About Lake Hauroko Lookout Track
Why go
- Quiet route with a dramatic lookout over Lake Hauroko
- Clear jetty-to-lookout route with strong wilderness character
Heads up
- Steep, rough, muddy track with roots, rocks, creek crossings, and treefall
- Remote unsealed access road and limited phone coverage
Lake Hauroko Lookout Track climbs through Fiordland rainforest to a rugged lookout above New Zealand's deepest lake, with wide views toward the Takitimu and Princess Mountains. It is a quiet, rewarding route for experienced hikers who want a hard-earned panorama.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy goMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Fiordland map
Full mapElevation157–541 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Your drive to Lake Hauroko Lookout Track, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tourRecorded for this area
Lake Hauroko: New Zealand’s Deepest LakeListen
“You're at Lake Hauroko, the deepest lake in New Zealand. It plunges 462 meters into a trench carved by glaciers. The lake’s Māori name, Hauroko, literally means 'roaring wind,' and it’s a name to take seriously.”
Plays near this trailhead in the Parkwolf Fiordland Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Wairaurahiri Track: A Remote Backcountry Journey
- Dusky Track: Fiordland’s Ultimate Test
- Mātātā/Fernbirds in the Lillburn Scrub: The Skulker You’ll Hear First
- Pounamu of Fiordland: Stone, Story, and Respect
- 126 audio storiesacross Fiordland’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Fiordland Penguin, Blue Duck, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 68 trails, 124 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Lake Hauroko Lookout Track
The hikeStart beside the jetty and boat ramp at the Lake Hauroko road end.
Start beside the jetty and boat ramp at the Lake Hauroko road end. The track follows the lake edge for roughly 1.5 km before turning inland and climbing steeply through dense native bush to the lookout. Expect roots, rocks, mud, small creek crossings, treefall, and indistinct sections. Orange markers help, but careful navigation matters.
The route is an out-and-back: the stored line follows the physical corridor once from the jetty/carpark to the lookout, while the visitor distance is the return distance. Allow about 3 hours for the full return, with extra time for wet ground, photos, or a slower descent.
Access and conditionsFrom Tuatapere, follow Lillburn Valley Road about 36 km to the Lake Hauroko road end; around 20…
From Tuatapere, follow Lillburn Valley Road about 36 km to the Lake Hauroko road end; around 20 km is unsealed. Park by the jetty and boat ramp, then follow the signposted track from the lakeshore. The remote road, limited phone coverage, and changeable Fiordland weather make a conservative plan important.
Gear and safetyWear sturdy boots and carry warm, waterproof layers.
Wear sturdy boots and carry warm, waterproof layers. The track is often muddy and slippery, especially after rain, and fallen trees or flooded lakeshore sections can complicate the start. Do not bring dogs. If walking late for sunset, carry a headtorch and allow enough time for the rough descent.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Fiordland
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
