Lake Rere Loop Track

Overview

A classic Otago day loop, the Lake Rere circuit strings together open farm flats, ancient beech forest, a tumble of creeks and waterfalls, a quiet picnic-ready lakeshore, and a dramatic Greenstone River finish. It’s a 14.3 km total loop (about 8.9 miles) that typically takes 5–6 hours, with moderate climbs and a few rough patches. Expect mud after rain and some unbridged streams. If you like variety and a dash of history, it’s a satisfying, under-the-radar outing.

Route Snapshot (clockwise)

From the Greenstone carpark, cross the bridge and follow markers across Greenstone Station paddocks for roughly an hour with easy walking and wide views toward the Richardson Mountains. Keep an eye out for quirky wooden “Wisdom Sponge” figures along this section. A short, steep drop reaches Elfin Bay on Lake Wakatipu—the old steamer landing for 19th‑century day‑trippers (it was once called Sandfly Bay). From the bay, a steep 100 m climb threads up a beechy gully beside a lively stream with small waterfalls and boulders to reach Lake Rere. The lake’s west end opens to grass—an ideal picnic or swim spot on a warm day with Tooth Peak peeking south. The loop continues west and down through pasture, scrub and forest, crosses a rocky stream, then tackles an enormous gravel slip with big views of the Greenstone River’s rapids and gorge. Finish by following the river closely, crossing a swing bridge to join the Greenstone Track through beech forest ravines and waterfalls, then over the Caples River swing bridge and back to the carpark.

Difficulty & Conditions

Moderate overall due to length and a few steeper, slower sections. The track can be muddy and rooty, and there are several unbridged streams that become tricky after heavy rain. Stock may be on the paddocks. Sandflies can be persistent at lake and river level—take repellent and consider breaks in shaded forest.

History Flavor

Lake Rere and Elfin Bay were popular late‑19th‑century picnic destinations, reached by steamboat from Queenstown. Some of today’s benched sections echo early tourist routes and shelved ambitions for a road up the Greenstone Valley toward Milford.

Natural Notes

You’ll walk through red/mountain beech with frequent South Island birdlife (listen for tomtit, fantail, rifleman, brown creeper, and South Island robin). Beneath your boots is classic Queenstown‑Lakes geology: hard Mesozoic schist carved by ice and rivers, with valley floors mantled by younger fluvioglacial gravels and tills.

Best Time to Hike

Pick a fine spell—after rain, both the vehicle fords to the trailhead and on‑track stream crossings can be unsafe, and footing gets very muddy. In winter and early spring, expect cold, icy patches in shaded forest. For photos, morning light is kind to the farm flats and Elfin Bay; midday suits lunch and a swim at Lake Rere; late afternoon warms the Greenstone gorge on the walk out.

Getting There & Tips

Access is via Glenorchy–Paradise Road, Kinloch Road, then the gravel Greenstone Station Road to the Greenstone carpark. That final stretch includes several fords; it’s generally 2WD‑friendly in dry conditions but can be impassable after rain. Carry layers, sturdy waterproof footwear, poles for stability in streams, and a way to treat water. Respect farm etiquette—stick to markers and leave gates as you find them.