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Earnslaw Burn New Zealand – hike with epic views of the glacier near Glenorchy
Earnslaw Burn New Zealand is a hidden gem of a night hike from Glenorchy. Flowing glacial rivers, valley waterfalls and spectacular glacier views await you. The Earnslaw Burn walk is an unforgettable night walk near Glenorchy. If you're looking for an easily accessible route off the beaten path with incredible views, then look no further. While the Routeburn and Kepler trails can get crowded in high season, walkers heading to Earnslaw Burn are likely to have the trail all to themselves! I found it baffling that this route wasn't more popular as the views can sometimes be slightly...
Earnslaw Burn New Zealand – hike with epic views of the glacier near Glenorchy
Earnslaw Burn New Zealand is a hidden gem of a night hike from Glenorchy. Flowing glacial rivers, valley waterfalls and spectacular glacier views await you.
The Earnslaw Burn walk is an unforgettable night walk near Glenorchy. If you're looking for an easily accessible route off the beaten path with incredible views, then look no further.
While the Routeburn and Kepler trails can get crowded in high season, walkers heading to Earnslaw Burn are likely to have the trail all to themselves! I found it amazing that this route wasn't more popular as the views can easily rival some of the great hikes at times.
Where is Earnslaw Burn?
The Earnslaw Burn and Glacier are part of Mount Earnslaw in Mt Aspiring National Park. Access to the route is near the town of Glenorchy, approximately an hour's drive from Queenstown.
If you don't have a car you can book a bus to Glenorchy here.
How do I get to Earnslaw Burn?
The start of the Earnslaw Burn track is on a bend on Lover’s Leap Road. There are no obvious signs of this hike, so it may prove difficult to find without a little research.
From Glenorchy, follow Glenorchy-Paradise Rd for approximately 15 minutes before turning right onto Lover’s Leap Road. From here, keep going until you see the obvious “right angle” bend. Just before this curve there is a flat area where cars may or may not be parked. The hike begins here.
These roads are mostly gravel, but any 2WD can make the drive in good conditions.
For your convenience, I have also marked the exact location on the map below.
Find the starting point
Even once you get to the makeshift “parking lot,” you have to jump over a farm gate and walk along the obvious path until you can finally see the trailhead signage. From here the route is relatively easy to follow.
alt=“EARNSLAW BURN STARTING POINT”>Earnslaw Burn starting point. Jump over this gate.
For Hobbit fans: Did you know that Earnslaw Burn New Zealand was featured in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit? As you walk along the path, you follow the footsteps of Bilbo and the dwarves as they continue from Rivendell.
See also: Routeburn Track day walk from Glenorchy – walking guide
What to Expect on the Earnslaw Burn Track
The Earnslaw Burn is a geological watercourse carved into the mountainside by runoff from the Earnslaw Glacier. The trail follows the 'Burn' or glacial river, within the forest and along the slopes of the ridge, before breaking out into a tussock valley with incredible views of the Earnslaw Burn glacier.
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WANT TO HIKE KEPLER?: Read the full Kepler Track Guide
First section: beech forest
The route begins with a gradual climb through beech forest onto private land before hopping over another fence.
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From here it is a long, rocky and muddy path through the forest for 11 km. The majority of this hike is in the forest, which is beautiful but can get a little repetitive. There are also many fallen fruit and mud/stone slides along the route. Be sure to check the DOC for updates and follow the orange markers marking the route.
This section took about 4 hours to complete, with many dips and climbs along the way.
alt=“EARNSLAW BURN ROUTE TRACK WINDFALL”>Some rock fall to clear up.
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alt=“WINDFALL TREES IN NEW ZEALAND”>Fallen trees on the track.
DON'T MISS: GUIDE TO THE 8 BEST HIKES IN QUEENSTOWN
Tussock Valley, waterfalls and glacier views
After finally breaking through trees, we were immediately rewarded with incredible views of Mt Earnslaw and the glacier from a distance. Soon we had to hop over rocks and cross the river, which I imagine would be quite dangerous after heavy downpours.
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From here the marked path ends. However, you can follow the tracks all the way along the river to the base of the glacier. We decided to cross a shallow section of the ice-cold river, which this time flowed gently at about knee height.
alt="GLENORCHY GLACIAL HIKING TRAILS">
From here we climbed a small bushy hill for incredible views of the glaciers. This part isn't exactly a track, but you can see where we went for the viewpoint in the GPX file below.
alt=“EARNSLAW BURN NEW ZEALAND, GLENORCHY WALKING TRAIL”>
You may notice some helicopters flying over the valley and towards the glacier. This is the alternative and much easier way to reach the Earnslaw Burn. I would imagine that if you have a smart $900 to spare for a helicopter ride over Earnslaw Burn, the views from up there would be absolutely incredible.
Earnslaw Burn GPX file
The GPX file below follows our return route and elevation data recorded on my Garmin. You can also download this GPX map to upload to your phone or GPS watch by clicking the link below.
GPX file: Download
My Strava: Visit
READ MORE: FULL LIST OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT IN QUEENSTOWN
Campsites for overnight stays
It is possible to camp for free in the Tussock Valley next to the burn. The best campsite in my opinion is just after breaking out of the forest, right next to the track.
alt="CAMPSITES AT EARNSLAW BURN ROCKY BIVVY">
This is the flattest ground you will find, complete with a large stone for a table and a campfire. However, this location is quite far from the glacier, so it might be a good idea to pitch your tent, load your bags and head to the glacier for the afternoon before returning.
If you prefer, there are also several flat areas along the route to the glacier where you can pitch your tent, including in close proximity to the glacier. These spots offer great views and the ground is flat enough to get a decent night's sleep.
alt=“CAMPING ON THE EARNSLAW BURN HIKE”>Morning view of Mt. Earnslaw.
The Earnslaw Burn Bivvy
If you haven't brought a tent, you can shelter in the Earnslaw Burn Bivvy. This is a large rock bivouac formed by the overhanging rocks. This is on the right, directly behind the first campsite I mentioned.
Earnslaw Burn falls
The Earnslaw Burn hike was, in my opinion, one of the most scenic hikes in New Zealand. Along the path to the glacier there are a series of endless waterfalls on both sides. Most notable were the large, multi-story cobs in the west of the valley.
If you make it to the Earnslaw Burn Glacier, you'll also see dozens of epic waterfalls cascading down the cliff from the melting glacier.
alt=“EARNSLAW BURNING WATERFALLS”>
View of the Earnslaw Burn glacier
The further up the burn you go, the better the views of the glacier seem to get. Here are some photos I took along the way and from the above viewpoint.
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MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT
- Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
- Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
- Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
- Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
- Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
- Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
- Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
- Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
- Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip
For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.
If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
More photos from Earnslaw Burn New Zealand
I hope you found this guide to the Earnslaw Burn New Zealand hike useful. If you make the trip, remember to assess the conditions and prepare for a long walk with the possibility of cold river crossings. For more hikes and adventures in New Zealand's South Island, see the related articles below.
Above all, enjoy!
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alt=“MT EARNSLAW AND GLACIER”>
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alt=“EARNSLAW BURN NEW ZEALAND – EPIC HIKE WITH GLACIER VIEW NEAR GLENORCHY”>
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