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Key facts
- Distance
- 14 km one way
- Walking time
- 3–4 hr one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Wānaka area
- Dog access
- Dogs on a leash only. 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
Suitable for all ages and experience levels, this gentle riverside track links Albert Town to Hāwea. This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
This DOC directory entry covers Hāwea River Track in Otago, within Wānaka area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 14 km one way
- Walking time: 3–4 hr one way
- DOC grade: Easy
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.
Dog access
Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
You can start the track from the eastern side of the Albert Town campground. A ramp leads up to the Hāwea River swing bridge. On the other side of the river, the track meanders through kānuka shrubland and open flats before rejoining the riverside and following it upstream all the way to Domain Road.
DOC manages Hāwea River swing bridge to Camphill Road part of the track. This track is jointly managed by DOC and the Queenstown Lakes District Council.
Getting there
There are two car parks that lead to this track.
Albert Town campground
From Wanaka, follow SH6 and cross the Albert Town bridge then turn right onto the unsealed road through to the eastern side of the campground. You can park near the swing bridge.
Domain Road
From Hāwea, go up Domain Road to the carpark and start of the track near the junction with Cemetery Road.
Know before you go
These are shared-use tracks. Follow the mountain bikers code: respect others, respect the rules, respect the track.
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.
