Bush Creek Track
A creek-side climb from the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement through beech forest to an open basin and Bush Creek Saddle, shared by walkers and mountain bikers.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Closed. The Queenstown Trails Trust's alert bar lists Bush Creek as closed on 18 September 2026, next to a network-wide warning about heavy rain damage, and lists the Coronet Loop (which Bush Creek is part of) closed for winter. No reopening date is published; do not walk it until the Trust removes the notice. The council's 28 August 2026 list of trails closed after the storm does not name Bush Creek, so the Trust's notice is the one to watch. Checked 18 September 2026 on Queenstown Trails Trust trail alerts (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes one way
- Distance
- 6.5 km one way
- Track type
- One way
- Grade
- Intermediate tramping track
- Surface
- Track through beech forest to tussock valleys, with six bridges over the creek (Trust)
- Winter
- Care needed in winter
- Starts at
- Arrowtown Chinese Settlement (Bush Creek Recreation Reserve car park)
- Bus
- Route 2 and Route 4 at Ramshaw Lane, 47, about 350 m from the start
- Bikes
- Shared with bikes
- Toilets
- Council toilets at the Bush Creek Recreation Reserve car park, at the start
- Cost
- Not published
In short: The Bush Creek Track climbs 6.5 km one way from the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement up Bush Creek, past the 1881 water intake, to an open basin and Bush Creek Saddle. DOC's brochure times it at 1 hour 30 minutes one way and marks it an intermediate tramping track. It is closed on 18 September 2026.
What the track is like
Stone walls in the creek reportedly built by Chinese goldminers to divert the water, Arrowtown's old water supply intake from 1881, beech forest under schist bluffs, and views over the Whakatipu Basin from the saddle.
From the Chinese Settlement, cross the small footbridge over Bush Creek and turn left onto the dirt road, then follow the track upstream beside the creek. DOC points out stone walls in the creek bed, reportedly built by Chinese miners to push the water to one side so they could work the dry side.
The track crosses the footbridge at the start of the Sawpit Gully Trail; turn left there to stay on Bush Creek. It continues to Arrowtown's old water supply intake, built in 1881. Destination Queenstown says the track then climbs sharply to an open basin, followed by about 30 more minutes of climbing to the saddle.
DOC's brochure gives 6.5 km and 1 hour 30 minutes one way to Bush Creek Saddle and marks it an intermediate tramping track, a category that expects moderate fitness and basic backcountry skills. The saddle is not a pick-up point, so plan to return the same way; DOC publishes only the one-way time, so the walk back comes on top of it.
The Trust upgraded the track so walkers and mountain bikers can share it, building six bridges over the creek and rerouting parts of the upper valley. At the saddle it joins the Coronet Face Water Race on the Trust's Coronet Loop, a 50 km backcountry mountain bike circuit, whose return along Macetown Road is closed by multiple slips and washouts (council, read 18 September 2026). The track passes through private land (DOC).
How to get to the start
Arrowtown is 21 km from central Queenstown, about 25 minutes by car. Park in the council car park at the Bush Creek Recreation Reserve at the top of Buckingham Street, beside the Chinese Settlement, where there are council toilets.
Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 340 m from the start, for $2.50 with a Bee Card. There is no bus near the upper track or the saddle.
- Start: Arrowtown Chinese Settlement (Bush Creek Recreation Reserve car park) (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Council car park at the Bush Creek Recreation Reserve, top of Buckingham Street (55 spaces in council data)
- From Queenstown: Arrowtown is 21 km and about 25 minutes by car from central Queenstown
- Finish: Bush Creek Saddle.
- By bus: Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 340 m from the start; there is no Orbus stop within walking distance of the upper track or Bush Creek Saddle, so plan to walk back the same way. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Closed on 18 September 2026. The Queenstown Trails Trust's alert bar lists Bush Creek as closed on 18 September 2026, next to a network-wide warning about heavy rain damage, and lists the Coronet Loop (which Bush Creek is part of) closed for winter. No reopening date is published; do not walk it until the Trust removes the notice. The council's 28 August 2026 list of trails closed after the storm does not name Bush Creek, so the Trust's notice is the one to watch. Check Queenstown Trails Trust trail alerts (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | In spring 2026 the track is closed (Trust alert bar, 15 September); watch the alerts for reopening. The Trust's Coronet Loop, which begins up Bush Creek, is generally closed from May to October. |
| Summer (December to February) | Destination Queenstown suggests it for hot days, when the creek and forest keep it green and cool. Mountain bikers use it too, so expect riders on the way down. |
| Autumn (March to May) | The upper track leaves the forest for an open basin and saddle (DOC), which take the weather; carry warm layers and start early as the days shorten. |
| Winter (June to August) | The valley floor is shaded by forest and schist bluffs, so expect frost and ice, and the saddle end is higher and exposed. The Trust closes the Coronet Loop over winter; treat Bush Creek as a care walk even when it is open. |
What to know before you go
- The track is closed: the Queenstown Trails Trust lists Bush Creek as closed on 18 September 2026, and the Coronet Loop it belongs to as closed for winter. Do not go past closure signs, and check the Trust's alert bar for reopening.
- The Trust warns that its Coronet Loop trails, Bush Creek among them, are subject to slips and flood damage after heavy rain and storms.
- It passes through private land (DOC); stay on the track.
- It is a two-way track for walkers and mountain bikers; listen for riders coming down, especially on the steeper upper section.
- The upper track climbs out of the forest to an open basin and saddle: carry warm and waterproof layers, food and water, and turn back in time to finish in daylight.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
Is the Bush Creek Track open?
No. The Queenstown Trails Trust lists Bush Creek as closed on 18 September 2026, and the Coronet Loop it belongs to as closed for winter, with no reopening date published.
How long is the Bush Creek Track, and how long does it take?
DOC's brochure gives 6.5 km one way from the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement to Bush Creek Saddle, taking 1 hour 30 minutes. You return the same way, and DOC publishes no time for the walk back.
Where does the Bush Creek Track start?
At the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement at the top of Buckingham Street: cross the small footbridge over Bush Creek and turn left. The council car park and toilets are beside the settlement.
How hard is the Bush Creek Track?
DOC's brochure marks it an intermediate tramping track, which expects moderate fitness; Destination Queenstown rates it moderate and says it climbs sharply after the water intake.
Can I bike the Bush Creek Track?
Yes, once it reopens. The Trust upgraded it for walkers and mountain bikers to share, and it is the climb at the start of the Coronet Loop.
Can I get to the Bush Creek Track by bus?
Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 340 m from the start, for $2.50 with a Bee Card. There is no bus near the saddle.
What is the 1881 water intake on Bush Creek?
Arrowtown's old water supply intake, built in 1881 according to DOC. It sits on the track before the climb to the open basin and saddle.
Nearby walks
- Arrow Gorge Track
1.5 km one way · 25 minutes one way (about 1 hour return) · Easy to intermediate walking track
- Arrowtown Millennium Walk
4 km loop · 1 hour (loop) · Grade 2, easy
- Chinese Settlement
Under 1 hour, at your own pace · Wheelchair accessible short walk
- Sawpit Gully loop
7.9 km loop · About 3 hours loop · Intermediate/Advanced
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Related guides
- Arrowtown by bus: $2.50 from Queenstown or the airport
Route 4 from town, Route 2 from Frankton, $2.50 with a Bee Card, and the last bus back.
- The Queenstown Trail, section by section
Ten sections, over 150 km, with the Trails Trust's distances, grades and times, and the $2.50 bus back from each end.
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Sources: DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (March 2025), 20. Bush Creek Track (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, trail alerts (site-wide alert bar) (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Bush Creek Upgrade (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, Coronet Loop Trail (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Arrowtown walks (Bush Creek Track entry) (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Lakes District Council, parks assets data: tracks and trails (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Lakes District Council, parks assets data: reserve car parks (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Lakes District Council, parks assets data: toilets (opens in a new tab), Otago Regional Council, Orbus GTFS timetable feed (feed 260408-1230) (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Pocket, Queenstown drive times (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Lakes District Council, Latest update on Queenstown Lakes weather event (28 August 2026, trail closures and cautions) (opens in a new tab) and Queenstown Lakes District Council, Roading impacts in Queenstown Lakes (28 August 2026, updated since) (opens in a new tab), retrieved 18 September 2026. Distances, times and grades are the managing body's published figures; fit walkers are often quicker. Department of Conservation information is used under CC BY 4.0. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.
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