Sawpit Gully Trail
A 7.9 km loop up a gold-mining gully above the Arrow River, over the saddle between German Hill and Brow Peak and back down towards Bush Creek.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open, with cautions. No DOC alert covered Sawpit Gully on 18 September 2026 and the council's storm notices read on 18 September 2026 do not name it, but the Queenstown Trails Trust's heavy rain damage alert lists Bush Creek as closed, and the loop shares its first section from Arrowtown with the Bush Creek Track. The Trust does not say which part is closed, so check before committing to the full loop. The loop leaves the Arrow Gorge Track before the Norman Smith footbridge and does not use Macetown Road, which the council has closed because of multiple slips and washouts. Checked 18 September 2026 on Queenstown Trails Trust alerts, Bush Creek (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- About 3 hours loop
- Distance
- 7.9 km loop
- Track type
- Loop
- Grade
- Intermediate/Advanced
- Surface
- Formed track with several small creek crossings, beech forest giving way to open tussock
- Winter
- Care needed in winter
- Starts at
- Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, across the Bush Creek footbridge
- Bus
- Route 2 and Route 4 at Ramshaw Lane, 47, about 300 m from the start
- Bikes
- No bikes
- Cost
- Free
In short: Sawpit Gully Trail is a 7.9 km loop from the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement that DOC times at 3 hours. It climbs a gold-rush creek gully to Eichardt's Flat and returns towards Bush Creek, with the gully section graded Intermediate/Advanced on the Mahu Whenua covenant map.
What the track is like
Old water races and piles of stone tailings line the creek, the ruins of a stone miner's cottage sit on a grassy terrace near the top of the gully, and the saddle between German Hill and Brow Peak looks south over Lake Hayes to The Remarkables.
Destination Queenstown says the loop is easier anticlockwise, and DOC says either direction works. Anticlockwise, cross the Bush Creek footbridge by the Chinese Settlement and follow the Arrow Gorge Track upstream beside the irrigation pipeline; the covenant map gives 30 minutes from Arrowtown to the Norman Smith footbridge. The signposted Sawpit Gully turn-off comes just before that bridge. Macetown Road beyond the bridge is closed by multiple slips and washouts (council, read 18 September 2026), so take the turn-off and do not carry on up the road.
The Sawpit Gully Walkway climbs from the Arrow Gorge Track junction to Eichardt's Flat in about an hour, the same time in either direction, and the covenant map grades it Intermediate/Advanced. It steepens sharply once inside the gully and crosses the small creek several times, more often in wet weather, passing water races and tailings as beech forest gives way to tussock. The stone cottage ruins are on the right just before the track climbs out of the gully.
Above the gully the track reaches the saddle Destination Queenstown places between German Hill and Brow Peak, and meets the Big Hill Trail at Eichardt's Flat. Turn downhill here: the covenant map allows 25 minutes from Eichardt's Flat down to the Bush Creek junction, graded Intermediate, and 15 minutes from there back to Arrowtown, graded Easy, with open views over the Whakatipu basin on the descent.
No managing body publishes a route, distance, time or height for German Hill itself, so none is given here. Walked clockwise the loop is the same 7.9 km, with the steep gully as the descent.
How to get to the start
Arrowtown is 20 km north of Queenstown off SH6, according to DOC. Park at Butler Green near the Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, which DOC places at the top end of Buckingham Street; no managing body publishes how many spaces there are. Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 330 m from the start, $2.50 with a Bee Card, so the loop works without a car.
- Start: Arrowtown Chinese Settlement, across the Bush Creek footbridge (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Car park at Butler Green near the Chinese Settlement
- From Queenstown: Arrowtown is 20 km north of Queenstown off SH6 (DOC)
- By bus: Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 330 m from the start, $2.50 with a Bee Card. 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. No DOC alert covered Sawpit Gully on 18 September 2026 and the council's storm notices read on 18 September 2026 do not name it, but the Queenstown Trails Trust's heavy rain damage alert lists Bush Creek as closed, and the loop shares its first section from Arrowtown with the Bush Creek Track. The Trust does not say which part is closed, so check before committing to the full loop. The loop leaves the Arrow Gorge Track before the Norman Smith footbridge and does not use Macetown Road, which the council has closed because of multiple slips and washouts. Check Queenstown Trails Trust alerts, Bush Creek (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | DOC warns that the higher tracks around Queenstown can hold snow and ice from autumn through winter and often into spring. In September 2026 check the Bush Creek closure first: the Trails Trust reports heavy rain damage, mud and washouts across its network. |
| Summer (December to February) | Long days make the 3-hour loop easy to fit in. The tussock slopes above the gully have little shade, so carry more water than you would for the riverside walks. |
| Autumn (March to May) | Destination Queenstown rates the loop good all year, and cool, settled autumn days suit it well. Shorter days mean an earlier start than in summer. |
| Winter (June to August) | DOC's snow and ice warning for the higher tracks applies from autumn into spring. Pick a dry, settled day, and after snow walk the lower Arrow Gorge Track instead. |
What to know before you go
- The loop crosses private land under a QEII National Trust covenant. Stay on the track, keep your distance from stock and leave gates as you find them.
- The gully crossings get deeper and more frequent after rain and the rocks are slippery. Wear shoes with good grip and leave the loop for another day when the creek is up.
- The covenant map grades the gully and the climb to Eichardt's Flat Intermediate/Advanced. The covenant map's key puts Intermediate/Advanced between Intermediate (for people with limited backcountry experience) and Advanced (moderate to high backcountry skills, with navigation and survival skills required). It is a step up from the riverside walks in town.
- The saddle and tussock slopes are exposed, and DOC notes the weather here can change quickly at any time of year. Carry a warm layer, a rain jacket and water even on a fine morning.
- Check the Queenstown Trails Trust alerts (Bush Creek was listed closed on 18 September 2026) and DOC's alerts before you go. The Whakatipu-wai-Māori/Queenstown Visitor Centre is on +64 3 442 7935.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long does the Sawpit Gully loop take?
DOC times the 7.9 km loop at 3 hours, and Destination Queenstown gives 2 to 3 hours. The climb from the Arrow Gorge Track to Eichardt's Flat takes about an hour on its own.
Which way should I walk Sawpit Gully?
Either direction works, but Destination Queenstown says anticlockwise is easier: up the Arrow Gorge Track first, into the gully, then down from Eichardt's Flat towards Bush Creek.
Is Sawpit Gully open right now?
No DOC alert covered it on 18 September 2026 and the council's storm notices do not name it, but the Queenstown Trails Trust listed Bush Creek as closed in its heavy rain damage alert, and the loop's first section from Arrowtown is shared with the Bush Creek Track. Check the Trust's alerts before you go.
Is Sawpit Gully hard?
It is steeper than the riverside walks. The covenant map grades the gully and the climb Intermediate/Advanced, there are repeated creek crossings, and the top is open tussock, so it suits walkers with some fitness and good footwear rather than beginners.
Can I take a dog or a bike on Sawpit Gully?
No bikes: Destination Queenstown says mountain bikes and trail bikes are not allowed, and the covenant map lists walking only. On dogs the sources disagree, as Destination Queenstown says no dogs while QEII says dogs are welcome on the Mahu Whenua covenants under control, so leave the dog at home unless you have checked.
Is there a separate German Hill track?
Destination Queenstown places the loop's saddle between German Hill and Brow Peak. No managing body publishes a separate German Hill track, distance or time.
Can I get to Sawpit Gully by bus?
Yes. Orbus Routes 2 and 4 stop at Arrowtown (Ramshaw Lane), about 330 m from the start by the Chinese Settlement, $2.50 with a Bee Card.
Can you walk Sawpit Gully in winter?
On a dry, settled day, yes. DOC warns the higher tracks can carry snow and ice from autumn into spring, so after snow walk the lower Arrow Gorge Track instead.
Nearby walks
- Arrow Gorge Track
1.5 km one way · 25 minutes one way (about 1 hour return) · Easy to intermediate walking track
- Big Hill Track
15.5 km return · 8 hours return · Intermediate/Advanced
- Bush Creek Track
6.5 km one way · 1 hour 30 minutes one way · Intermediate tramping track
- Chinese Settlement
Under 1 hour, at your own pace · Wheelchair accessible short walk
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Sources: DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (#21 Sawpit Gully Trail) (opens in a new tab), Mahu Whenua Covenant Tracks: Arrowtown Tracks map (QEII National Trust with QLDC, DOC, Queenstown Trails Trust and Walking Access) (opens in a new tab), QEII National Trust, Central Otago: Mahu Whenua (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Sawpit Gully Trail listing (opens in a new tab), Destination Queenstown, Arrowtown Walks (opens in a new tab), Queenstown Trails Trust, network alerts (Bush Creek) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Arrowtown area (distance from Queenstown and alerts) (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.
All walks: Queenstown walks and tracks.