Parking
Small informal roadside parking on Lovers Leap Road, a right turn off the gravelled Glenorchy–Paradise Road about 20 minutes from Glenorchy; the track starts on the true left bank of Earnslaw Burn. No public transport.
Overview
About Earnslaw Burn Track
Earnslaw Burn Track is a rough, technical out-and-back through beech forest to a forest-edge viewpoint with impressive views of an icefall on Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi. The official DOC track is 8.3 km one way (about 16.6 km / 10.3 miles return) and takes 4–6 hours one way (about 8–12 hours return). The route starts on the true left bank of Earnslaw Burn partway along Lovers Leap Road, about 20 minutes from Glenorchy. DOC describes the track as advanced and warns of windfall, slips and river crossings. The track ends at the forest edge; there is no marked or DOC-managed track beyond it. The waterfalls farther up the valley are an optional, unmarked extension outside this stored route and the DOC track time.
Why go
- Forest-edge viewpoint gives impressive views of an icefall on Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi
- Dramatic beech forest, tussock basin and waterfall scenery reward the sustained effort
Heads up
- Advanced, rough track with windfall, slips and river crossings; progress can be slow
- The unmarked upper valley beyond the DOC track is not part of the stored route and has additional access and hazard constraints
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation373–859 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Earnslaw Burn 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
Earnslaw Burn Track: A Hike to a Waterfall WallListen
“Up ahead is the trailhead for the Earnslaw Burn Track. This is a challenging, full-day out-and-back hike that follows a river deep into a glacier-carved valley.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Famous Paradise Sign Photo Stop
- Making Middle‑earth at Paradise
- Mōhua in the Rees–Dart: The Lemon‑Headed Songbird
- Muddy Creek: Start of the Rees–Dart Alpine Circuit
- 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!!!!”
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.
