Parking
The signed start is on SH6 just south of Bella Vista Motel. Plan parking in Fox Glacier township, then walk to the entrance.
Overview
About Te Weheka Walkway/
Why go
- A distinctive landslide viewpoint at the end of a short forest walk.
- Easy-to-intermediate grade on a shared, formed route.
Heads up
- There is no glacier view.
- The first 400 m runs beside SH6.
At the end, the view opens across New Zealand's largest active landslide. That is the reason to keep walking: you get a close look at the unstable landscape that shapes this valley, with forest on the approach and a broad riverbed below the slope.
Parkwolf’s verdictThe payoffMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Westland Tai Poutini map
Full mapElevation159–221 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Westland Tai Poutini alert
- CautionActive landslide zones on Copland TrackDo not stop in either of Copland Track’s signposted active landslide zones; take extra care during and after heavy rain.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Westland Tai Poutini Tour Guide
Your drive to Te Weheka Walkway/
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Westland Tai Poutini National Park. 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 Westland Tai Poutini audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Minnehaha Walk: Rainforest and Glowworms0:00 / 0:27
“The entrance to Minnehaha Walk is coming up at the edge of Fox Glacier township.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Westland Tai Poutini Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Fox Glacier South Side: Forest and a Distant View
- Mount Fox Route: a Full Mountain Day
- Why Crevasses Open
- Which Way Is the Ice Moving?
- 49 audio storiesacross Westland Tai Poutini’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Blue Duck, Kererū, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 31 trails, 53 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 Te Weheka Walkway/
What this walk isTe Weheka is a 5 km return shared walkway and cycleway from Fox Glacier township to a viewpoint…
Te Weheka is a 5 km return shared walkway and cycleway from Fox Glacier township to a viewpoint across the active landslide in Fox Glacier Valley. On foot, allow about 1 hour 20 minutes; the route is rated easy to intermediate. It is a good short forest outing, but it does not give you a glacier view.
The routeStart at the signed entrance on SH6 just south of Bella Vista Motel.
Start at the signed entrance on SH6 just south of Bella Vista Motel. The path enters forest and follows the highway for about 400 m before turning east into Fox Glacier Valley. It then climbs steadily but easily through bush to the viewpoint, then returns on the same line. The 5 km figure is the full round trip; the route map shows the outbound corridor once. Minnehaha Track branches off and rejoins near the beginning, but it is a separate walk. Watch for cyclists at the crossings.
Before you set outDogs aren't allowed.
Dogs aren't allowed. The track is shared with mountain bikers, and riders should take care where Minnehaha Track crosses. The signed entrance is on SH6 just south of Bella Vista Motel; plan parking in Fox Glacier township before walking over. Check track conditions at the visitor centre before setting out.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Westland Tai Poutini
89 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
10 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
80 sightingsKererūMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
38 sightingsTūīMost seen around 5 AMSighting map
10 sightingsNew Zealand FalconMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
28 sightingsYellow-crowned ParakeetMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Westland Tai Poutini. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
