Parking
Park at Fantail Falls car park on State Highway 6.
Overview
About Brewster Track
From Fantail Falls car park on State Highway 6, the Brewster Track launches straight into an unbridged Haast River crossing, then climbs relentlessly through beech forest to the bushline and along a narrow ridge to Brewster Hut. It’s steep, rough, and slippery when wet—expect around 1000 m of gain over roughly 2.8 km one way (about 5.6 km return). Allow 6–8 hours for the return trip.
Why go
- Fast access to a true alpine hut and ridgeline views
- Memorable sunset outlook toward Mt Armstrong and Brewster Glacier
Heads up
- Immediate unbridged river crossing can become uncrossable quickly
- Unmarked, serious terrain beyond the hut sees frequent rescues
This is an advanced tramping route for fit, experienced parties comfortable on rough, unformed terrain with sustained steepness and tree‑root hauling. Good balance and footwear with excellent grip are essential. Rapid weather changes and whiteout are common year‑round, and hypothermia is a risk even in summer.
Parkwolf’s verdictDifficulty and Who It’s ForMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation483–1,467 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
1 active Queenstown-Lakes District alert
- ClosureSkippers Bridge closed to all trafficSkippers Bridge is closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; do not cross.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide
Your drive to Brewster Track, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand. 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 Queenstown-Lakes District audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Fantail Falls and the Demanding Brewster TrackListen
“The parking area coming up is for Fantail Falls, which is just a very short, easy walk from the road. This spot also marks the start of the Brewster Track, a really serious tramp for experienced hikers.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The One-Lane Bridge Playbook
- From Bridle Track to Highway at Davis Flat
- 164 audio storiesacross Queenstown-Lakes District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Kākā, Kererū, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 37 trails, 111 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 Brewster Track
What You’ll SeeThe lower forest is classic beech, giving way to snowgrass and a sharp ridge with big alpine…
The lower forest is classic beech, giving way to snowgrass and a sharp ridge with big alpine vistas. From the hut area, views reach Mt Armstrong and the Brewster Glacier, with famously good sunsets. In summer, alpine flowers add color around the tops.
Key Hazards and LogisticsHaast River (unbridged): can be safe in the morning and uncrossable by afternoon after rain or…
- Haast River (unbridged): can be safe in the morning and uncrossable by afternoon after rain or snowmelt. If in doubt, don’t cross—be ready to wait or turn back.
- Beyond the hut there is no marked track to Mt Armstrong or Brewster Glacier. The terrain is exposed and complex; many rescues have occurred and fatalities have been recorded. Stay well back from the glacier face and any ice caves.
- May–November is an alpine undertaking only for those with mountaineering skills, with avalanche terrain and icy slopes possible. Carry the right skills and gear if going in winter conditions.
- Carry a distress beacon, emergency shelter, spare food, and full storm layers even in summer.
Hut InfoBrewster Hut has 12 bunks with mattresses, a water tank, and a long‑drop toilet.
Brewster Hut has 12 bunks with mattresses, a water tank, and a long‑drop toilet. There’s a kitchen bench but no gas or heating. Bookings are required from Labour Weekend (late October) to April 30 due to popularity.
AlternativesIf conditions or experience don’t line up, consider the Blue Pools Track for an easy option, or…
If conditions or experience don’t line up, consider the Blue Pools Track for an easy option, or Isthmus Peak for a challenging day out without the Haast River crossing.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Queenstown-Lakes District
189 sightingsKeaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
18 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
195 sightingsKererūMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
48 sightingsWekaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
239 sightingsTūīMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
97 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Queenstown-Lakes District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
