Clutha River walk

The immense Clutha River handles the outflow from Lake Wanaka. Walk the riverbank to Albert Town and enjoy the peaceful scenery.

At Lake Wanaka's south-eastern tip, water pours out of the lake and into the Clutha, the South Island's largest river. You can walk or bike to the start of the Clutha from Wanaka township - the track begins to the right of the playground on the lakefront. Once past Beacon Point, the recreation ground known as 'The Outlet' opens up before you. This area is popular with fishermen, families, joggers and cyclists.

The track continues along the riverbank all the way to Albert Town. It is particularly scenic, with constant views of the Clutha's emerald-green water, the odd trout lurking in the shadows and the tangy aroma of the manuka trees.

The Clutha River, which exits into the ocean near Balclutha on the eastern coast, carries the largest volume of water of any river in New Zealand and has been dammed in a number of places for electricity generation. During the late 1800s, the river yielded a vast quantity of gold. At one point in time, there were 187 gold dredges working the river.