Parking
No road access. Park at Manapouri’s Pearl Harbour and arrange a water taxi or launch a kayak to the Hope Arm shoreline trail marker.
Overview
About Monument Track
Why go
- Boat-in access keeps crowds low and the outing feels adventurous
- A fixed chain makes the crux manageable for confident scramblers
Heads up
- Access by water adds cost and logistics
- Exposed, crumbling rock is dangerous in wet or windy conditions
- Sandflies can be relentless at the lakeshore
The summit gives wide views over Lake Manapouri (Moturau, “a hundred isles”) and the surrounding Fiordland ranges when visibility is good. The short distance makes the viewpoint a high-reward side trip, but the climb is demanding.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Fiordland map
Full mapElevation180–451 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Your drive to Monument 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 tourMore stories near here in the app
- Pearl Harbour: A Quiet Walk to a Swimmable Bay
- Old Coach Road: A Lakeside Stroll
- Manapouri Track: A Lesser-Known Fiordland Hike
- Where the Waiau Was Tamed: Manapouri’s Managed River
- 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 Monument Track
What to expectMonument Track is a short, steep out-and-back from the beach track marker in Hope Arm, Lake…
Monument Track is a short, steep out-and-back from the beach track marker in Hope Arm, Lake Manapouri, to the summit of The Monument. The full visitor outing is about 1.2 miles (2 km) return; the stored line follows the mapped one-way corridor and is not duplicated for the return. From the landing, the track climbs roughly 290 m through beech forest and along a narrowing ridge before reaching exposed rock.
The climb and cruxDOC grades this an advanced tramping track.
DOC grades this an advanced tramping track. Expect steep, rough footing, loose rock, narrow ledges, and exposure near the summit. A fixed chain assists at the trickiest move, but this remains a serious scramble for confident trampers rather than a casual walk.
Logistics and accessThere is no road access to this trailhead.
There is no road access to this trailhead. The beach track marker is about 2 km north of Hope Arm Hut and must be reached by water taxi, private boat, or kayak; Manapouri’s Pearl Harbour is the practical launch point for arranging transport. The landing has no facilities, so carry water, food, and navigation essentials.
Conditions and safetyLoose, exposed rock can be hazardous when wet, icy, or windy; use the fixed chain carefully and…
Loose, exposed rock can be hazardous when wet, icy, or windy; use the fixed chain carefully and turn back if conditions are unsafe. Sturdy footwear and sure footing are essential. Sandflies can be heavy around the lake and in the forest, so bring repellent.
Bottom lineMonument Track is a demanding 1.2-mile return climb to a distinctive Fiordland viewpoint.
Monument Track is a demanding 1.2-mile return climb to a distinctive Fiordland viewpoint. Boat access adds planning, but calm conditions and the dramatic summit make this a worthwhile outing for experienced trampers comfortable with steep scrambling and exposure.
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.
