Lake Sylvan Track

Lake Sylvan Track

Lake Sylvan Track

13 Rankers Reviews

1 Walking

7 Glenorchy

Your Nature Guide

Marios Gavalas's avatar

Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Information

Lake Sylvan Track

4.6 km if returning via old tramline | 1 hour 40 minutes return via old tramline

There’s a plethora of peaks on show from the lake.

Walking Track

Timing

Only return via the old tramline if it hasn’t been raining, as there is a small river crossing.

Access

From Glenorchy follow signs to Routeburn Track all the way. This will lead you over the Rees River, then a hard left into Priory Road. Straight after crossing the Dart River turn right into Routeburn Road and after 5km Lake Sylvan is signposted on the right.

This last section is unsuited to large campervans, although many do make it.

Track

The start of the track is after the swingbridge over the Routeburn River. The peaks here are on a grand scale, although you only ever get to see them on the drive and at Lake Sylvan outlet.

The track is wet and boggy after rain and weaves through open red beech forest. Make sure you follow the orange triangles, especially if you have to leave the track to circumnavigate a wet patch. Blue and pink triangles are for trap lines. Follow only orange triangles.

After 20 minutes is the junction with the old tramline.

Continue over the uneven and broken moraines before arriving at the circular viewing platform by the lake outlet.

The return via the tramline track is wetter, narrower and boggier but has some more open views due to the lower revegetation of the beech forest. There is a small river crossing near where the loop rejoins the main track.

European History

The Cook brothers milled timber, including totara from the area.

Scheelite mining took place in the area.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Otago

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandQueenstown RegionGlenorchy

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-44.7253025813371

168.318836593628

Latitude
-44.7253025813371
Longitude
168.318836593628

Nearby

Reviews

    • Beautiful tranquil forest walk.
    • Don't expect views here (even of the lake).
    • Nice walk in the forest.
    • Favourite place in NZ!
    • Nice and easy.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 5
    38%
    9/10 3
    23%
    8/10 1
    8%
    7/10 1
    8%
    6/10 2
    15%
    5/10 1
    8%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    Favourite place in NZ!

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice little walk.

    The weather was not good but we can imagine that it is nice to swim when the sun is shining.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Short walk that felt as if you were walking through a forest from Lord of the Rings!

    The trail ends at a lookout over Lake Sylvan. We decided to take a dip and walk out to watch the sunset on a rock in the water. It was quite nice!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a nice and easy walk to the beautiful lake.

    You can either choose a 40 minute walk or a 1 to 2 hour walk via the tramway. Highly recommended.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a nice and easy walk to Lake Sylvan.

    You had to go through the forest before you got to the lake. We had nice weather and the lookout was beautiful. Was recommended by a friend.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014

  • 3.5/5

    Nice and easy.

    Nothing special but relaxing. nice view over the lake. Many birds in the forest.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 5.0/5

    Stunning walk through the forest.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful tranquil forest walk.

    Very peaceful and bird song to accompany your walk.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 3.0/5

    Nice walk in the forest.

    2hr return. The lake is nice but the walk becomes a bit boring after a bit.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful!

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 5.0/5

    The lake is good.

    Short walk 2 hours return.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 5.0/5

    Favourite place in NZ!

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    Nice little walk.

    The weather was not good but we can imagine that it is nice to swim when the sun is shining.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Short walk that felt as if you were walking through a forest from Lord of the Rings!

    The trail ends at a lookout over Lake Sylvan. We decided to take a dip and walk out to watch the sunset on a rock in the water. It was quite nice!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a nice and easy walk to the beautiful lake.

    You can either choose a 40 minute walk or a 1 to 2 hour walk via the tramway. Highly recommended.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    It was a nice and easy walk to Lake Sylvan.

    You had to go through the forest before you got to the lake. We had nice weather and the lookout was beautiful. Was recommended by a friend.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in December 2014

  • 5.0/5

    Stunning walk through the forest.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful tranquil forest walk.

    Very peaceful and bird song to accompany your walk.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

  • 3.5/5

    Nice and easy.

    Nothing special but relaxing. nice view over the lake. Many birds in the forest.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

  • 3.0/5

    Nice walk in the forest.

    2hr return. The lake is nice but the walk becomes a bit boring after a bit.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 2.5/5

    Nice walk in the mossy forest.

    Great view of the lake. 2 hour return where the last bit can be a bit boring from the same experience of the forest.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

  • 3.0/5

    Don't expect views here (even of the lake).

    Walk in a beautiful forest setting.

    Reviewed about 12 years ago and experienced in March 2012

  • 4.5/5

    Beautiful!

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011

  • 5.0/5

    The lake is good.

    Short walk 2 hours return.

    Reviewed over 13 years ago and experienced in March 2011