The Rob Roy Glacier track won’t be open in time for the Christmas and New Year’s period this year, but the popular walk should reopen by early next year. 

The Department of Conservation (DOC) closed the track in July 2019, when a slip undercut the track. 

In order to repair it, an alternative route needed to be identified and built, and while the new location for the track has been confirmed, construction work is not yet underway. 

“Contractors are expected to begin work rerouting 600m of track in the second week of January 2021,” a DOC representative told the Wanaka App. 

“The work is expected to take up to three weeks.”

The track closed in July 2019 after a slip. PHOTO: Department of Conservation

The 10km return track has long been popular with locals and tourists as it offers an easy route into a dramatic alpine landscape that includes snowfields, glaciers, rock cliffs and waterfalls. 

It climbs from the valley flat through a small gorge into beech forest, then into alpine vegetation at the head of the valley, with good views of the Rob Roy Glacier.

While DOC confirmed the track would not be open until February, a spokesperson said the new track had been carefully designed in safe zones.

“The new alignment, through native bush, stays outside the identified rock fall and land slide zones,” they said.

DOC said people can view the Rob Roy Glacier from the West Matukituki track in the meantime, “and there are plenty of other great short and day walks in the area”.

“Head to the DOC website or the local visitor centre for information on tracks near you,” DOC said. 

One of these is the Diamond Lake track, which closed at a similar time to the Rob Roy Glacier Track, but has since reopened after extensive repairs.

Lake Wanaka Tourism calls the Rob Roy Glacier track “arguably the most stunning attraction in and around the Lake Wanaka area”, and it attracts up to 20,000 visitors each year.