Outlet Track

Outlet Track - Lake Wanaka

Outlet Track

Lake Wanaka

7 Rankers Reviews

5 Face-to-Face

Your Nature Guide

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Photos

Inviting waters of the Clutha are stuffed with trout

Information

Outlet Track

3 km one-way | 1 hours one-way

An easy stroll on good tracks to the start of New Zealand’s mightiest River, the Clutha. The source of the Clutha is perfectly clear and glows blue with the fine glacially milled rock flour.

Walking Track

Access

From Wanaka follow the lake shore back towards Cromwell. Turn left at the roundabout and continue until you hit Aubrey Road. After 1.5 km turn left onto Outlet Road, bearing left and arriving at the campground.

Follow your nose until you hit the river and a small DoC sign showing the start of the track. There is a large parking area here.

The track exits in Albert Town. From the junction of SH6 and SH84 follow SH84 for 2 km and turn left into Alison Ave.

After 1 km, at the junction with Gunn Road, Hikuwai Conservation Area is signposted.

Alternatively you can walk from Wanaka town centre along the Eastern shore, with a bit of Wanaka life on show - the marina, Eely Point, Bremner Bay and Millionaires Row. Allow an extra 1 hour.

Return via the same track or hitch/taxi from Albert Town.

Track

Follow the river edge on a shared track with bikes alongside some of New Zealand’s prime trout fishing waters. The track mostly passes under shady kanuka. A few beaches are shaded under weeping willows and grassy patches are perfect for picnic or siesta or both.

The river cliffs echo the rippling waters and ducks, shags and gulls shelter under languid branches.

Shortly after a gravel area the track weaves through a scrubby patch before climbing steeply up a bank by the bridge at Albert Town.

Return via the same track, or follow the suburban roads around the front (steep side) of Mount Iron to complete a loop. Or hitch back to Wanaka.

Geology

The Clutha is New Zealand’s second longest river but carries the largest volume. From headwaters way in the Southern Alps near Haast Pass it is the only outlet for Lake Wanaka. It’s catchment is nearly 22,000 square km. On it’s 338 km journey it passes through Otago and to reach the Pacific near Balclutha.

The milky opalescence is derived from refracted light, which is bent to blue parts of the spectrum by quantities of finely milled glacial rock flour carried in suspension.

Polynesian History

To Maori the river was known as Mata-au, meaning ‘current’ or ‘swirl in a body of water’.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Queenstown Lakes District Council

Council organisation

Location

South IslandWanaka RegionWanaka Township

Categories

  • Activity__cycling_mountain_bikingCycling
  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.6650212457219

169.151179695129

Latitude
-44.6650212457219
Longitude
169.151179695129

Nearby

Reviews

    • Great walk, not difficult, just a stroll.
    • Nothing special.
    • Lovely place to walk, run, cycle or swim!
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 2
    29%
    9/10 4
    57%
    8/10 0
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    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 1
    14%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
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    1/10 0
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  • 2.5/5

    Nothing special.

    Just a walk. Nice for locals (nearby vinexdistrict) to walk their dog. Lot's of mountainbikes too. First 15 minutes of the walk are ok, views both ways, but then just boring. Not worth a detour. There are so many better hikes in the Wanaka area.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Lovely place to walk, run, cycle or swim!

    Access all around into the town, about 6 miles I think. Highly recommend, especially if you’re staying at the campsite here.

    Reviewed over 6 years ago and experienced in March 2018

  • 4.5/5

    Great walk, not difficult, just a stroll.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Amazing day walk around crystal blue clear water and along a green path.

    Awesome views of the surroundings.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in October 2015

  • 5.0/5

    Fantastic lakeside walking and cycle trail from the village to the Lake Outlet Campground.

    Quite flat and very scenic!

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Wonderful track along the Clutha, either way Alberttown to Wanaka.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Very nice trail along Lake Wanaka until Albert Town, craning Hawea river over a swing bridge, not a difficult route.

    Reviewed over 14 years ago and experienced in November 2009