Wanting to do the Wye Creek walking track and need to know more before you go? Then you have come to the right place.
Queenstown is well known for having some of the most stunning walks in New Zealand. The Wye Creek track and lookout are no different, and don’t come with the huge crowds that some of the other local favourites do.
This walk is one that I will never get sick of doing. It’s close to Queenstown, doesn’t take long to walk and has unforgettable views from the lookout. I have walked up more times than I can count while I was living in Queenstown and I rate it as one of the top short walks.
Being a small part of a much longer walk up to Lake Alta, the track up to the lookout (helicopter pad) at Wye Creek is often linked with a lot of confusing information. I’m here to make it easier for you, by putting all the important stuff in one place.
Important Information to Know
Time – 2 Hours return (with time for photos at the lookout)
Distance – 4 kilometres return
Difficulty – Medium, this track is a steep but short, with some uneven terrain.
Elevation – 332m
Note – To ensure you get to the correct lookout, you must turn right and cross the bridge when you get to the dam. The track up the left of the dam takes you all the way to Lake Alta not to the lookout.
How to get to Wye Creek
If you are staying in Queenstown, then getting to the start of the Wye creek walk is pretty easy. You will need your own car, as there is no public transport to get here.
The drive will only take around 20 minutes from the centre of town, it will be even quicker if you are leaving from Frankton. The carpark for Wye Creek is located off State Highway 6, 7kms south of Jack’s Point. There is a sign for the carpark on the left side of the road, however it does pop up quickly so keep an eye out for it.
The gate will be closed, so you will need to unlatch the gate before you can drive through to the carpark. Make sure to shut the gate after yourself. There is just a short 400m drive up the dirt road to the park. Potholes are almost guaranteed, as this is the start of a 4WD track, however, most cars wont have a problem getting to the parking area if you take your time.
There is plenty of space here to park up but I would recommend going earlier in the day to avoid missing out. From here, you will walk the rest of the way up.
Walking the Wye Creek Track
The walk up to the Wye Creek Lookout can be broken up into three different sections. The first is the zig zag 4WD track, the second is the hiking track and the third is the walkway following the pipeline.
4WD Track
The 4WD track is quite steep, but is nice and wide, and isn’t too difficult to make your way up. This is probably the most boring part of the walk, but you do start to get glimpses of the scenery as you get higher up. If you have a 4WD vehicle, you can actually skip this part of the walk and drive all the way up to the start of the hiking track instead.
Before you start on the hiking track, there is a last minute long drop toilet to the side of the road. Not always the nicest, but if you need to go, it’s all there is.
Hiking Track
Moving on to the hiking track, the walk gets a bit more rugged. The track follows the pipeline up the side of the hill and is much narrower, so you will need to focus on where you step on this part. It can also be quite slippery after rain.
Continue into the bush until you reach the dam. Turn left and cross the bridge, following the path to the walkway along the pipeline.
Pipeline walkway
This is my favourite part of the walk as its where you get the first look at the epic views over Lake Wakatipu. The walkway is only two planks with a railing on one side. If you are a bit nervous of heights you will need to be aware of this before you do the walk, but otherwise it is completely safe.
You will follow along this for a few hundred metres until you get close to the waterfall. To your left you will be able to see the helipad platform and a small gap in the bushes. Pop through and climb up onto the platform and be greeted by some of the best views of the lake and mountains.
In general, I would say the track is easy for anyone who is used to hiking. Kids are capable of doing this track at a slower pace. I have seen children up there a few times and would say the walk is a great activity for an outdoorsy family.
The Lookout Platform
The first time I made it up onto the platform I was just blown away.In front of you are the towering mountains and the stunning lake Wakatipu, framed by the lush native bush. The views from here are insane, and in my opinion, one of the best in Queenstown.
I would highly recommend doing this walk on a sunny day, as it make the colours of nature, pop even more!
The great thing about the lookout is that there usually aren’t many other people here. If there is others, the platform has plenty of space for everyone.
The last time I went here, we sat up on the platform for ages while eating our lunch, enjoying the views and watching the rock climbers nearby. It was just so peaceful, I never wanted to leave.
Important directions
A lot of the information about the walk up to the Wye Creek lookout is a bit confusing. As this isn’t an offical track most websites, including DOC, will tell you to stay to the left of the dam and continue up the track. This is the offical walk and leads you all the way up to Lake Alta.
It is very important to go right at the dam and cross over, otherwise you will find yourself having to turn back or you wont get to the right spot. I got very confused the first time I went, but luckily decided to go right and easily made my way to the lookout.
What to Bring?
As the track up to the Wye Creek Lookout is only a short walk, there isn’t too much gear or equipment needed other than the essentials.
These include:
– Water
– Snacks or other food
– Sun protection including a hat and sunblock
– Good walking shoes
– A camera
I found when I walked up in summer I was comfortable in simple trainers as the ground was dry and not slippery. However, in winter it was best to wear hiking shoes or boots as the track was often quite muddy.
Wrap Up – Wye Creek Walking Track and Lookout
The Wye Creek walking track and lookout is a must do when visiting Queenstown. The track is great for those less experienced hikers and you get rewarded with an epic view at the top.
Now that you have all the information there is to know, you can plan your first walk up to the Wye Creek Lookout.
