By Outdoor Next Editorial standards
On this page
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: -45.32655, 168.71037. 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
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 1 - 1.5 hr
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Kingston area
- 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 track climbing through beech forest following the Shirt Tail Stream in Kingston.
This DOC directory entry covers Shirt Tail Track in Otago, within Kingston 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: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 1 - 1.5 hr
- DOC grade: Advanced
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
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
View from the Shirt Tail Track
The Shirt Tail Track starts at the Te Kere Haka reserve carpark. It follows the Shirt Tail Stream up to the bushline for a spectacular view of Lake Wakatipu and Kingston township.
The track up to the waterfall is well marked. Beyond here the track is very steep, unmarked and not maintained. It features red beech forest and subalpine shrublands.
This track is also known as Shirtfront Track.
Getting there
Kingston is 45 minutes drive from Queenstown. The Te Kere Haka Reserve is at the far end of the township past the railway station.
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.
