Parking
Isthmus Peak Track/Stewart Creek car park off SH6, north of Lake Hāwea township. Park off the highway and cross SH6 carefully to the signed track start; do not park on the shoulder.
Overview
About Isthmus Peak Track
Isthmus Peak Track is a steep, rewarding out-and-back between Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea. From the Isthmus Peak Track car park beside SH6, cross to the signed track and follow the poled route along the true right of Stewart Creek through forest and farmland. The route then joins a steep, rocky 4WD track and climbs by sustained switchbacks to the skyline ridge. At the signed junction, turn right for 1,385-metre Isthmus Peak; the left branch leads toward Matatiaho Conservation Area and is not part of this hike. Return to the car park by the same route. Allow about 16 km/9.9 miles total and 5–7 hours return, with roughly 1,000 m/3,280 ft of climb.
Why go
- Commanding views of both Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea from the summit ridge
- A well-marked, less-crowded alternative to Roy’s Peak
Heads up
- Long, steep and exposed ascent with little shade, no water and rapid weather changes
- Highway-side parking and the SH6 crossing require extra care
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation360–1,374 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 Isthmus Peak 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
Isthmus Peak Track: Big Views Without the CrowdsListen
“The parking area coming up is for the Isthmus Peak Track.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Hāwea's Landlocked Salmon
- The Neck: A View of Two Lakes
- The Hāwea Fault: The Lake’s Hidden Earthquake Maker
- 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 Isthmus Peak Track
Route SnapshotThis is a continuous out-and-back visitor route.
This is a continuous out-and-back visitor route. The stored line follows the connected access path, named Isthmus Peak Track path, and named Isthmus Peak Track 4WD track from the car park-side start to the mapped summit. The mapped one-way corridor is about 7.9 km/4.9 miles; the visitor distance is the return total. Expect a well-marked but steep, rocky ascent, exposed tussock and ridge walking, and sections where mountain bikers may need to dismount and push.
What You’ll SeeThe summit and skyline ridge open views over both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, with the Southern…
The summit and skyline ridge open views over both Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea, with the Southern Alps visible in clear weather. The route passes through forest, farmland and higher tussock terrain before reaching the summit ridge.
Logistics and FacilitiesThere is no water source on the track, so carry plenty of water.
There is no water source on the track, so carry plenty of water. Two eco-toilets are reported along the route; bring toilet paper. The route crosses private land: stay on the marked track, leave gates as you find them, use stiles where provided, keep your distance from livestock and do not camp before the conservation-area boundary. Dogs are not allowed. Mountain biking is permitted, but the steep sections often require pushing.
DirectionsPark only at the Isthmus Peak Track/Stewart Creek car park off SH6, north of Lake Hāwea…
Park only at the Isthmus Peak Track/Stewart Creek car park off SH6, north of Lake Hāwea township and about 30 minutes from Wānaka. The car park is opposite the track start, so cross the highway carefully and follow DOC signs. Do not park on the highway shoulder.
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.
