Glacier Burn Valley

The Glacier Burn track heads into the heart of a huge glacier-topped valley, ending alongside the Glacier Burn stream with distant views of a massive glacial wall and its lovely waterfalls. These are the glaciers and waterfalls that you see on the drive up the Matukituki River towards Rob Roy. Don’t opt for this track instead of the Rob Roy track—without doubt Rob Roy is more impressive. But, if you’ve seen Rob Roy and want to spend some more private/solitary time in a glacial valley, then this is a good option. Rob Roy’s carpark will have 50 cars whereas Cameron Flat may have one. Glacier Burn is the place to find a flat stream-side schist boulder, doff the clothing, and bask in 100% pure, 100% off-the-beatentrack, nobody-around-for-miles New Zealand splendor.

For extra fun pack along some beers and stash them in the icy Glacier Burn stream at the end of the long walk through the paddocks (before the steep climb up and over the ridge). Thus, on the walk out, to accompany the long dull-ish walk back to the car, you’ll have something to toast the wonders of Wanaka with.

WALK/TRAMP: The track begins by crossing the Matukituki River at Cameron Flat. Wear sandals to start and walk by crossing the stream wherever it seems knee-deep. Keep the sandals on until you get to the trees, because there may be more shallow crossings. (You won’t need the sandals again, so stash them near the farm gate for the return trip and lace up the boots.)

The marked route now heads along the farm road and then along the farm fences for about 40 dull minutes until you get to the Glacier Burn Stream. At the stream there’s a DOC sign pointing left for the Burn track, but first take a peek at the swingbridge spanning the gorge (and find a spot for your beers). Head left from the sign following the arrows for a steep 20-minute (250m vertical) tramp up the slope to the saddle where you’ll then descend 10 minutes down to the track-end. As you begin the descent, one minute over the saddle, next to a big stump, look carefully through the trees for a great view of the valley’s waterfalls. Where the track ends at the Glacier Burn Stream the views are a little disappointing, but a quick rock-hop upstream will reveal better sights (oddly, the further you go up the stream, the worse the views get—just go 5 minutes.)

On the way back out, after collecting your libations, instead of immediately backtracking through the paddocks, maybe follow the glacial stream to its joining with the East Matukituki River. From there follow along the bank of the East Matukituki for better variety and better views before cutting thru the paddock back to the farm road.