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Otago · Hiking

Cameron Lookout Walk: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

A short climb through the bush to a viewing platform overlooking Cameron Creek.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

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Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -44.15583, 169.30452. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance
1 km return via same track
Walking time
20 min return
Track grade
Easiest
Location
Mount Aspiring National Park
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.

Route overview

A short climb through the bush to a viewing platform overlooking Cameron Creek.

This DOC directory entry covers Cameron Lookout Walk in Otago, within Mount Aspiring National Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

  • Distance: 1 km return via same track
  • Walking time: 20 min return
  • DOC grade: Easiest

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

  • Predator control for Mt Aspiring National Park; First published on 16 September 2025. Last reviewed on 6 October 2026.

  • Cameron Lookout closed due to a slip; First published on 29 October 2025. Last reviewed on 3 August 2026.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

This short walk takes you up 50 m in elevation through silver beech forest to a platform overlooking Cameron Creek, with good views down the Makarora Valley towards Mount Birnam.

Beyond the viewing platform, fit and experienced trampers can continue on the rougher Cameron Valley Track (5 hr one-way).

Getting there

The Cameron Lookout car park is located on the Haast Highway (SH6), 70 km north of Wanaka.

Know before you go

The nearest toilet facilities are located at the Cameron Flat campsite, 2.5 km south along SH6.

No visitor centre in Makarora

Contact the Awarua/Haast or Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park visitor centres instead.

No drones

Flying a drone without a permit is strictly prohibited.

Drone use on conservation land

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Cameron Lookout Walk: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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