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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 informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -44.06659, 168.68475. 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
- 3 km return via same track
- Walking time
- 1 - 2 hr
- Track grade
- Easiest
- Location
- Jackson Bay - Gorge River area
- Dog access
- Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. 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
Walk through native beech and podocarp forest to a glacier-formed lake carved out by the former Arawhata Glacier.
This DOC directory entry covers Lake Ellery Track in West Coast, within Jackson Bay - Gorge River 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: 3 km return via same track
- Walking time: 1 - 2 hr
- 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.
Dog access
Dogs with a DOC permit only. Contact closest DOC office to get a permit. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
A pleasant 3 km return walk through native beech and podocarp forest to a glacier-formed lake carved out by the former Arawhata Glacier.
The track meanders alongside the Ellery Stream, which can be boated or kayaked. Native birds such as the tūī, bellbird and kākāriki can often be seen and heard. The track ends at a picnic table at the head of the lake, offering great views.
The track is well formed and suitable for children. Dogs are allowed with a permit, which can be issued from the Awarua/Haast Visitor Centre.
Getting there
Located 40km south of Haast. Turn off the main road on to the Jackson River Road, south of the Arawhata bridge. The track starts 3 km along this unsealed road, beginning from the carpark.
History and culture
European settlement was attempted at Jackson Bay Okahu during the 1870s. The pioneers' attempt to "tame" the landscape was largely unsuccessful but their efforts left a tradition of South Westland residents as being tough, resilient and independent.
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 published in DOC's official route gallery with an explicit reuse licence. Its original caption and credit are retained; it does not establish current track conditions.
