Parking
Park at the Glenorchy Waterfront Car Park by the wharf and follow the signed walkway toward Mull Street; do not park or access the track from Glenorchy–Paradise Road.
Overview
About Glenorchy Walkway
A gentle, family-friendly loop through Glenorchy’s wetlands with big-mountain backdrops, boardwalks, and birdlife. From the Glenorchy waterfront trailhead, the full visitor route is about 5.5 km/3.4 miles return and usually takes 1–2 hours at an easy pace. A shorter lower loop is available from Lake Road.
Why go
- Boardwalks and a mostly flat route give easy access to the wetland and its birdlife.
- The full loop offers mountain and lagoon reflections, with a shorter lower-loop option from Lake Road.
Heads up
- Sandflies can be persistent, especially in warmer months.
- Lagoon boardwalks can flood after heavy or prolonged rain.
- Little natural shade; the route can be exposed to sun and wind.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation311–319 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 Glenorchy Walkway, 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
Glenorchy's Famous Waterfront and Red ShedListen
“The view opening up ahead is the famous Glenorchy waterfront, the main destination at the head of the lake. That iconic red shed on the shoreline is the town's most famous landmark.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Glenorchy: Gateway to the Backcountry
- Glenorchy Hub: Lodging, Food, and Supplies
- Glenorchy Lagoon: Mirror Views and a Key Tip
- The Rees and Dart: Braided Rivers
- 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 Glenorchy Walkway
Route PreviewStart at the Glenorchy waterfront near the wharf and follow the signed walkway north through…
Start at the Glenorchy waterfront near the wharf and follow the signed walkway north through town and into the wetland. The route crosses the lower lagoon section, then makes the full northern lagoon loop over gravel paths and boardwalks before returning along the same waterfront approach. Views open toward Mt Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi, Mt Alfred/Ari, and the surrounding ranges.
What You’ll SeeThis is prime wetland habitat: look for pied stilts, black swans, South Island pied…
This is prime wetland habitat: look for pied stilts, black swans, South Island pied oystercatchers, Australasian bittern, New Zealand shovellers, grey teal, grey duck, scaup, and—if you’re lucky—New Zealand falcons or swamp harriers. Boardwalks provide access over the wetland without trampling sensitive plants.
LogisticsPark at the Glenorchy Waterfront Car Park by the wharf and follow the signed walkway toward…
Park at the Glenorchy Waterfront Car Park by the wharf and follow the signed walkway toward Mull Street; do not try to park or access the track from Glenorchy–Paradise Road, where DOC warns of serious road-safety risk. There are no water refill points on the loop.
Tips and HazardsBring insect repellent, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes.
Bring insect repellent, sun protection, and comfortable walking shoes. The boardwalk can flood after heavy rain, and the exposed route can be windy. The Queenstown–Glenorchy road may be hazardous or closed in poor weather, so check travel conditions before driving.
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.
