The charming town of Glenorchy hasn’t lost much of it's farming character. It's situated on the head of Lake Wakatipu, only a 45km drive from Queenstown, and in the heart of the Westland World Heritage National Park. Lake Wakatipu, Mount Alfred, The Dart River and The Southern Alps in the background characterise the landscape of Glenorchy.
Glenorchy, is the gateway to some of New Zealand’s renowned great tracks. For the less ambitious there are good one day tracks as well, or enjoy a shorter walking track in our area.

While driving from Queenstown to Glenorchy (or vice versa) the whole amazing beauty of this area reveals itself. The lakeside road with crystal clear Lake Wakatipu right there and views of the snow capped mountains make this a very scenic drive.

Settlers arrived in the Glenorchy area in the late 1860, using the river flats for farming.
For a short time goldminers tried their luck in the surrounding area, but never with the same success as in, close by Arrowtown. Around 1895 some guest houses were built to host weary travellers. Today Glenorchy attracts many outdoor enthusiasts from near and far.

Glenorchys closeness to the Mount Aspiring National park leads to many sightseeing and exploration options. Horse trekking and river rafting are just two of the wonderful experiences to enjoy in this beautiful landscape. Also fishing and hunting are very popular in Glenorchy area. If you would like to undertake one of the spectacular walks, then Glenorchy is the ideal Gateway. Paradise, Routeburn, Greenstone, Caples, Hollyford Rees and Dart Valley walking tracks all leave from Glenorchy. Also worth checking out is the less strenuous Lake Sylvan Walk, the Glenorchy Walkway and the Misty Mountains. Other activities are offered, of which Dart River jet boat Safari is a very popular one. If you're not afraid to fly, then taking a sightseeing flight with Glenorchy Air is certainly the ideal way of getting to know the area.
The Glenorchy walkway is on the north side of the township and passes through wetlands and round the Glenorchy "Lagoon". Part of the walkway is a plank boardwalk. If you time your walk right, you can take great photos of Mt Earnslaw and Mt Alaska.

Accommodation is available for travellers preferring to rest in this small rural town, of about 200 inhabitants.