Lake Rere Walk
A long loop from the Greenstone car park across farmland to Elfin Bay, up through beech forest to Lake Rere and back along the Greenstone Track.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open, with cautions. DOC lists the walk as open and its alert feed was empty on 18 September 2026, but its track page warns of a large active slip on the western end near the stock bridge, with windfall and track damage, and says the track is only suitable for experienced visitors using extreme caution. Checked 18 September 2026 on DOC, Lake Rere Walk (slip warning and alerts on this page) (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 4 to 6 hours loop
- Distance
- 14 km loop
- Track type
- Loop
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate
- Surface
- Marked route across farm paddocks, then forest track with a steep climb; muddy in places, with unbridged streams
- Winter
- Not a winter walk
- Starts at
- Greenstone car park, end of Greenstone Road
- Bus
- No Orbus stop within 1.2 km of the start
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Cost
- Free
In short: Lake Rere Walk is a 14 km DOC loop from the Greenstone car park, an hour's gravel drive with fords beyond Glenorchy. DOC grades it easy to intermediate and gives 4 to 6 hours, but warns that a large active slip near the stock bridge makes it suitable only for experienced visitors.
What the track is like
DOC says Lake Rere was a popular tourist destination in the late 19th century. The loop links Greenstone Station farmland at Elfin Bay, red and mountain beech, the lake and the Greenstone River, and Destination Queenstown points to views of Tooth Peak from the lake and of Lake Wakatipu from the paddocks.
DOC describes the loop clockwise. From the Greenstone car park cross the bridge and follow the marked route across Greenstone Station's paddocks for about an hour to Elfin Bay. DOC's brochure says this is private farmland that can hold livestock, and the track can be muddy.
From Elfin Bay the track climbs steeply through red beech, then eases before Lake Rere, where DOC notes running water. Beyond the lake, pockets of mountain beech and grassland lead to a second bridge and a short climb onto the Greenstone Track, which takes you back to the start.
Destination Queenstown describes it the other way round: about 2 km beside the Greenstone River gorge, past the Caples Track junction and over a footbridge, another 4 km along the river, then a bridge and the climb to Lake Rere, which it puts 200 m above the Greenstone Valley. It gives 14.3 km for the loop; DOC gives 14 km.
DOC warns of a large active slip on the western end of the track near the stock bridge, with windfall and track damage, and says only experienced visitors should attempt the track, with extreme caution. If a section looks unsafe, turn back the way you came.
How to get to the start
Glenorchy is 48 km from Queenstown (DOC). From Glenorchy take the Glenorchy-Routeburn road and turn off at Kinloch onto Greenstone Station Road (Destination Queenstown). DOC puts the car park 86 km from Queenstown and an hour from Glenorchy, and says the last 11 km from Kinloch is a backcountry gravel road with fords: conditions vary, it is not suitable for large campervans, and it can become impassable in heavy rain. Destination Queenstown counts four fords and says to make sure your car is up to the task.
There is no Orbus stop within walking distance: the nearest, O'Learys on Route 1, is about 25 km away in a straight line. DOC says transport companies serve the Greenstone end of the Greenstone and Caples tracks daily in summer; contact an operator for times. After the late August 2026 storm the council lists the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road as reopened, and Greenstone Road as reopened with a request to drive with care (roading update read 18 September 2026).
- Start: Greenstone car park, end of Greenstone Road (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Greenstone car park, also the start of the Greenstone and Caples tracks (DOC)
- From Queenstown: 86 km from Queenstown via Glenorchy, about 1 hour's drive beyond Glenorchy (DOC)
- By bus: There is no Orbus stop within walking distance of the start: the nearest, O'Learys on Route 1, is about 25 km away in a straight line. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open, with cautions on 18 September 2026. DOC lists the walk as open and its alert feed was empty on 18 September 2026, but its track page warns of a large active slip on the western end near the stock bridge, with windfall and track damage, and says the track is only suitable for experienced visitors using extreme caution. Check DOC, Lake Rere Walk (slip warning and alerts on this page) (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | The slip warning applies now. DOC says not to cross the loop's unbridged streams in heavy rain and that the access road can become impassable after heavy rain, which matters in a wet spring; Destination Queenstown's recommended season starts in October. |
| Summer (December to February) | Destination Queenstown suggests a swim in Lake Rere on a hot day and warns that sandflies like the lake too, so pack repellent. DOC says transport companies serve the Greenstone end of the Greenstone and Caples tracks daily in summer. |
| Autumn (March to May) | No autumn restriction is published, and Destination Queenstown's recommended season ends in April. With 4 to 6 hours of walking and an hour of gravel road each way from Glenorchy, start early as the days shorten. |
| Winter (June to August) | DOC publishes no winter closure. Short days, unbridged streams, the active slip and a ford-crossed access road that DOC says can become impassable in heavy rain make June to August a poor time; wait for Destination Queenstown's October to April season. |
What to know before you go
- Large active slip: DOC says the western end near the stock bridge has windfall and track damage, and the track is only suitable for experienced visitors using extreme caution.
- Unbridged streams: DOC says take care and do not cross them in heavy rain. Destination Queenstown advises avoiding the walk after heavy rain because of both the road fords and the stream crossings.
- The last 11 km of road is backcountry gravel with fords; DOC says it is not suitable for large campervans and can become impassable in heavy rain.
- The first hour crosses Greenstone Station's private farmland, which can be muddy and hold cattle. DOC's brochure asks walkers to stay on the track, keep clear of livestock and leave gates as they find them.
- Allow the full 6 hours plus the drive. DOC advises packing warm clothes and extra food, leaving your plans with a trusted contact and carrying a distress beacon; its brochure says mobile coverage is limited to Glenorchy township.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long is the Lake Rere Walk?
DOC gives 14 km and 4 to 6 hours for the loop from the Greenstone car park. Destination Queenstown measures it at 14.3 km.
Is the Lake Rere Walk open?
DOC listed it as open with no alerts on 18 September 2026, but its page warns of a large active slip near the stock bridge and says the track is only suitable for experienced visitors using extreme caution.
How hard is the Lake Rere Walk?
DOC grades it easy to intermediate, but it is a 4 to 6 hour day with a steep climb from Elfin Bay, muddy sections, unbridged streams and an active slip.
How do I get to the Greenstone car park?
Drive to Glenorchy, 48 km from Queenstown, then on through Kinloch to the end of Greenstone Road. DOC puts the car park 86 km from Queenstown and an hour from Glenorchy; the last 11 km is gravel with fords and not suitable for large campervans.
Can I get to Lake Rere without a car?
There is no Orbus service anywhere near; the nearest stop is about 25 km away in a straight line. DOC says transport companies serve the Greenstone end of the Greenstone and Caples tracks daily in summer.
Can you swim in Lake Rere, and are there sandflies?
Destination Queenstown suggests a swim on a hot day and says there are sandflies, so pack insect repellent.
Which direction should I walk the Lake Rere loop?
DOC describes it clockwise: across the farmland to Elfin Bay first, up to Lake Rere, then back along the Greenstone Track. Destination Queenstown describes the reverse, starting beside the Greenstone River.
Are dogs allowed on the Lake Rere Walk?
No. DOC does not allow dogs on the walk.
Nearby walks
- Lake Sylvan
5.3 km loop, returning by the 1920s tramline · 40 minutes one way to the viewing platform, or 1 hour 40 minutes for the loop · Easy to intermediate
- Routeburn day walks
7.5 km one way to Routeburn Flats Hut and 9.8 km one way to Routeburn Falls Hut, back the same way; the Nature Walk is a short loop with no published distance · 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes one way to Routeburn Flats Hut; 3 to 4 hours one way to Routeburn Falls Hut; Nature Walk loop 40 minutes to 1 hour · Routeburn Track: intermediate tramping track in the Great Walks season, advanced tramping track and expert route from May to October. Routeburn Nature Walk: easy short walk
- Glenorchy Walkway
3.2 km loop, with a larger and a smaller option (Destination Queenstown) · 1 to 2 hours, depending on pace and which loop · Easy to intermediate walking track
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Sources: DOC, Lake Rere Walk (opens in a new tab), DOC, Getting to the Greenstone and Caples Tracks (opens in a new tab), DOC, The head of Whakatipu Waimāori (Lake Wakatipu) brochure (June 2024) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Walking track categories (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Lake Rere Track (opens in a new tab), OpenStreetMap (Nominatim), Greenstone Car Park (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. Start coordinates: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). 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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