A tramp to picturesque Lake Rere is to follow in the footsteps of early Maori, who discovered the Greenstone Valley was the easiest route on inanga pounamou expeditions from the West Coast to the Dart Valley.
Modern-day trampers also echo day trippers from the late 1800s, who enjoyed strolls and picnics beside the alpine lake and reached Elfin Bay by steamer from Queenstown Bay.
Department of Conservation Queenstown regional visitor centre superviser Andrew Evans said the Lake Rere Loop Track provided trampers with a great variety of sights and opportunities for recreation.
"Lake Rere is a stunning spot. Great to stop for some lunch or a swim on a hot summer's day, with fantastic views of Tooth Peak, the highest peak in the Thomson Mountains."
The 14km loop track is suitable for moderately fit walkers, who should allow four to five hours to walk the circuit.
The track begins at the Greenstone car park, 86km from Queenstown.
Mr Evans said motorists should follow the Glenorchy-Routeburn road turn-off at Kinloch and be aware of four significant fords on the southern Greenstone Station Rd, which should not be attempted after rain.
The loop track starts at the car park, enters beech forest and follows the Greenstone River as it flows through a gorge between the Ailsa and Thomson Mountains.
After 2km of well-graded, level track that follows the river, the view opens to reveal the Caples Valley to the northwest.
The Caples Track junction splits to the northwest and is the beginning of a three-day moderate to advanced hike that terminates at the Divide, or Te Anau-Milford road.
Mr Evans said the Caples and Greenstone Rivers were rainbow and brown trout fisheries of national importance.
"Anglers can fish in the rivers if they have both a whole-season licence and back-country licence from Southland Fish and Game. Fly-fishing with a daily one-fish bag limit is permitted.
"Fishers need to be mindful of the didymo threat and need to check, clean and dry all their equipment and vehicles. Biodegradable disinfectant is available at the Doc visitor centre and there's a signposted didymo washdown facility at the Greenstone road end."
Continuing past the Caples Track junction, Lake Rere (or "running water") trampers cross the Greenstone River on a footbridge and the loop track follows the river for another 4km.
"Cross the Greenstone on another footbridge, then it's a short 1km climb up to the clear and not-too-deep Lake Rere, which is 200m above the Greenstone Valley below," Mr Evans said.
"When it's time to move on, continue along the track to the north of the lake. There are larger-leafed red beech trees at the lower altitudes, small smooth-leafed mountain beech trees at higher altitudes, as well as bands of silver beech forest throughout the valley."
A natural rock garden looms large, consisting of huge sandstone and schist boulders ejected from the northern slopes of Tooth Peak.
After 2km, the track descends gently to Lake Wakatipu's Elfin Bay.
"On a clear day, the walker is suddenly rewarded with stunning views of Mt Earnslaw to the north," Mr Evans said.
"The track then concludes with a 2km walk through private farmland and trampers should not disturb any livestock. The track crosses another footbridge over the Greenstone River and returns to the car park."
