Milford Sound
Glenorchy sits at the head of Lake Wakatipu, 45 minutes from Queenstown along one of New Zealand’s most scenic drives. Small, quiet and framed by the snow-capped Humboldt and Richardson Mountains, it’s the jumping-off point for three Great Walks and some of the wildest alpine scenery in the country.
While many visitors pass through on the way to the Routeburn Track, Glenorchy itself has excellent walks for every fitness level. Here are the best walks in and around Glenorchy.
Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway: the easy classic
The Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway is the town’s essential short walk. A flat, boardwalked loop of around 2km circles a wetland reserve at the edge of the village, with views back across Lake Wakatipu to the Cecil and Walter Peak ranges.
Allow 30 to 45 minutes. The lagoon is a haven for waterbirds, black swans, paradise shelducks, scaup and the occasional bittern, and the jetty at the western end is one of the most photographed spots in the South Island. Early morning or golden hour offers mirror reflections and soft light on the peaks.
This is one of the best walks in Glenorchy for families, wheelchairs and anyone recovering from a big trail day.
Mount Judah and Bonnie Jean Loop
For a more substantial outing, the Mount Judah Loop climbs from the historic Glenorchy Scheelite Battery through tussock and beech forest to mining relics on the slopes of Mount Judah. The full loop is around 11km with 700 metres of climb, taking five to six hours.
The shorter Bonnie Jean Track (about three hours return) samples the goldfields history without the full climb. Both tracks follow the packhorse routes of the 19th-century scheelite miners, passing stamper batteries, old huts and water races.
Go in summer and autumn, snow lingers into November on the upper sections.
Routeburn Track day walks
The Routeburn Track is a 32km Great Walk crossing the Southern Alps into Fiordland, but some of its finest sections make excellent day walks from Glenorchy.
The walk to Routeburn Flats Hut is around 15km return on a well-graded track, climbing gently through beech forest along the Route Burn to a wide tussock flat surrounded by the Humboldt Mountains. Allow five to six hours return.
For a bigger day, continue up to Routeburn Falls Hut, a 19km round trip with 800 metres of climb, taking seven to eight hours. The views from the falls are among the finest of any walk near Glenorchy.
Lake Sylvan: a gentle forest loop
Lake Sylvan is one of the loveliest short walks around Glenorchy. A 5km return walk from the Routeburn road end leads through old-growth red and silver beech forest to a quiet, reflective lake hemmed in by bush.
Allow two hours return. The track is mostly flat and well-graded, suitable for families and walkers of all abilities. Combined with a picnic at the road end, it’s an ideal half-day outing.
Rees-Dart Valley walks
The Rees and Dart Valleys extend north from Glenorchy into Mount Aspiring National Park. The full Rees-Dart Track is a four to five-day loop, but day walks up either valley are rewarding on their own.
A walk into the lower Dart Valley from the Chinaman’s Bluff road end offers two to three hours of river-flat walking with big peaks on either side. The road in is unsealed, check conditions before you go.
Diamond Lake and Lake Reid
Between Glenorchy and Paradise, Diamond Lake and nearby Lake Reid are reached by a short walk from the road. A gentle 30-minute loop circles Diamond Lake through silver beech forest, with views back to the Richardson Mountains.
The area is better known as a filming location for The Lord of the Rings and Top of the Lake, recognisable to many visitors before they’ve even stepped onto the track.
Earnslaw Burn: a serious day hike
For fit, experienced walkers, the Earnslaw Burn Track is one of the most spectacular day hikes in the country. The 18km return walk climbs 800 metres through beech forest into a high valley beneath the hanging glaciers of Mount Earnslaw.
Allow eight to 10 hours and solid alpine experience. The upper valley is exposed and the track is rough, this isn’t a beginner walk, but the scale of the waterfalls tumbling from the glacier face is something else.
When to walk Glenorchy
Low-level walks (Lagoon, Lake Sylvan, Diamond Lake) are accessible year-round. Routeburn day walks and Mount Judah are best from November to April. Earnslaw Burn requires settled summer conditions.
Always carry layers, rain gear and sandfly repellent. This is Fiordland’s edge, and the weather reflects it.
Pairing Glenorchy with the wider region
Glenorchy works well as a day trip from Queenstown or as a base for multi-day walking. After a morning at the Lagoon or Lake Sylvan, many visitors return to Queenstown and look west, our Milford Sound scenic flights close the loop on a classic Fiordland itinerary with an hour in the air over peaks you’ve been walking past.
From lagoon boardwalks to glacier valleys, Glenorchy’s walks reveal the wild top end of Lake Wakatipu at its best.
Ready to see Fiordland from the air?
After a few days on the Glenorchy tracks, we’d love to show you the wider Fiordland scenery from above. Our Milford Sound scenic flights from Queenstown take you over the Southern Alps, into the heart of Piopiotahi and back, all in a half day. We can’t wait to show you around.
Book a Milford Sound Scenic Flight
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