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    Glenorchy
    Village

    Glenorchy

    Glenorchy is located at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, a 45-minute drive from Queenstown, at the entrance to the Dart and Rees Valleys.

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    9. Glenorchy
    Glenorchy is located at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, a 45-minute drive from Queenstown, at the entrance to the Dart and Rees Valleys. The town is a starting point for the Routeburn Track and the backdrop for numerous film scenes, including from The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

    Sights in Glenorchy

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Glenorchy Wharf
    Attraction

    1Glenorchy Wharf

    The jetty with the red wooden shed on the shore of Lake Wakatipu is the most iconic photo spot of the town. In the background, the peaks around Mount Earnslaw rise.
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    Routeburn Falls
    Attraction

    2Routeburn Falls

    The waterfalls above the Routeburn Falls Hut are the destination of the most popular day hike on the Routeburn Track. From Routeburn Shelter, you hike up in about two and a half to three hours through beech forest.
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    Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway
    Park

    3Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway

    Wooden boardwalks and paths circle the lagoon on the outskirts in about an hour. When calm, mountains mirror in the water; you'll spot waterfowl along the way.
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    Restaurants in Glenorchy

    1

    Casa Jaguar

    Small cafe on Mull Street with Mexican tacos and coffee, good for a break before or after a hike.
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    2

    Queenie's Dumplings

    Eatery on Mull Street with dumplings in various fillings, steamed or fried, also for takeout.
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    The place at road's end

    Town at the End of the RoadGlenorchy was established in the 1860s as a supply post for sheep farms and small mines in the Dart and Rees Valleys. Until the construction of the continuous lakeside road, the town was mainly accessible by steamer across Lake Wakatipu. Today, only a few hundred people live here, and the landscape regularly serves as a film set, including for scenes in the Lord of the Rings films.

    Travel

    Getting ThereThe 45-km Glenorchy-Queenstown Road follows the lakeshore and takes about 45 minutes. No regular buses operate, but shuttles to hiking trails and guided tours run from Queenstown. Locally, paths and the lagoon are walkable; for Paradise and the Routeburn, a car is required.

    Tours from Glenorchy

    Routeburn Track

    The Great Walk (Glenorchy to Milford Road) takes 2-4 days. A day trip option is Routeburn Shelter to Routeburn Falls and back (5-6 hrs).

    Paradise and Dart River

    You reach the valley north of Glenorchy, known for its beech forests and pastureland, via a gravel road. Jet boat and canoe tours are available on the Dart River.

    Lake Sylvan

    A short forest walk, just over an hour return, leads to the quiet lake in the Routeburn Valley.

    Accommodations in Glenorchy

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    Nearby

    Queenstown

    Queenstown

    Queenstown lies on the northern shore of Lake Wakatipu, framed by the Remarkables and Ben Lomond. The small town is New Zealand's center for Bungy, jet boating, and skiing, but also serves as a base for Milford Sound, the Central Otago wine regions, and hikes on the Routeburn Track.
    Arrowtown
    W. Bulach / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Arrowtown

    Founded in 1862 during the gold rush on the Arrow River, Arrowtown has largely preserved its main street with wooden and stone houses from that era. The restored Chinese Settlement commemorates the Chinese gold miners, and in autumn, the valley's deciduous trees turn a brilliant yellow. Queenstown is located about 20 kilometers away.
    Milford Sound

    Milford Sound

    Der Milford Sound, auf Māori Piopiotahi, ist der bekannteste Fjord Neuseelands und der einzige in Fiordland, der über eine Straße erreichbar ist. Steile Felswände, der 1.692 Meter hohe Mitre Peak und Wasserfälle wie die Stirling Falls prägen den rund 15 Kilometer langen Meeresarm.

    Wanaka

    Wanaka is located on the southern shore of Lake Wānaka, about an hour's drive north of Queenstown. It is quieter than its neighbour and a gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, the Roys Peak track, and the ski fields of Cardrona and Treble Cone.
    Central Otago

    Central Otago

    Central Otago is the dry highland in the South Island's interior, between Cromwell, Alexandra, and Clyde. Rugged schist hills, orchards, and vineyards shape the landscape, with gold rush traces dotting almost every valley.