The view from the top of the Okarito Trig Walk is sensational and one of our favourites on the West Coast. The snow-capped Southern Alps almost look like a painting and you get a great view of both Aoraki - Mount Cook and Franz Josef Glacier. As well as the mountains, you can see three breathtaking beaches and the Okarito Lagoon. It’s a view to remember and a spot we found hard to leave.
The walk to get there is on an excellent path so though it is quite steep, it’s not overly difficult. Even if you don’t normally enjoy walking uphill, it really is worth it for the vista you are rewarded with.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Okarito Trig Walk.
Know before you go
It’s worth noting that you want a clear day to do this walk and it needs to be clear both in Okarito and over the mountains.
If you’re walking on a cloudy day the view will be obscured and that really is the highlight of the walk. If you don’t have the view, it’s a pleasant forest walk, but not as good as other trails in nearby Franz Josef.
The Okarito Trig Walk
The stats
Distance: 4km return
Elevation gained: 200m
Difficulty: Easy, but relatively steep
Starting the trail
The walk begins on a flat gravel path and quickly takes you across a picturesque boardwalk over the wetlands. You will just spy the very tips of the mountain peaks as you head towards the forest, which you’ll reach after 200m.
From this point on, the walk is through the forest all the way to the top. It’s very pretty but not always dense, so at certain times you will feel the heat of the sun if you’re walking on a hot day.
I’d seen some pictures of colourful fungi along the trail but sadly we didn’t spot any. It had been quite dry for a little while prior to our walk, which is surprising for the West Coast!
After 100m in the forest, the path starts to head uphill and you will be climbing fairly consistently all the way to the top.
After a few hundred metres you’ll come to a bench seat which has partial sea views, but it’s nothing on what’s to come higher up!
You do have a very short downhill section after the bench, but it’s over quickly and the climb continues.
The climb to the top
When you’ve been walking for 900m, which is just under halfway to the top, you’ll reach a second bench seat.
This one has a more substantial sea view, but again I’d recommend allowing as much time as possible at the trig itself, as it really is unforgettable up there!
You’ll have another very brief downhill section before you reach a junction with the Three Mile Pack Track.
If you want to extend the walk you can head up to the trig and back, and then head along the Three Mile Pack Track to the lagoon (you can then walk back along the beach if you’re within 1.5 hours of low tide).
From the turn off to the trig you have roughly 1km left to reach the top. This is the part of the forest which has a little less shade. The track is fairly steep but it continues to be on the well graded gravel path, which makes it feel easier.
It won’t be long before you see another bench seat ahead of you and you’ve reached the top.
The Okarito Trig
The view as you step onto the lookout platform has real wow factor. You don’t know where to look first because there’s so much to see.
There’s a huge mountain panorama including many of New Zealand’s most famous icons, as well as several beaches and the lagoon. It’s a truly remarkable spot and happily there is a large seating area so that you can sit and enjoy it for as long as you like.
There are several information boards which outline the history of the area, as well as details about which birds you might spot in the lagoon.
The only downside is there is no shade up there in the middle of the day, but you do get the breeze.
It would also be a wonderful spot to watch the sunset which would happen to the left, over Okarito Beach. As the trail is so well graded it would then be easy enough to come down in the twilight, which is what we’d love to do next time!
Getting to the Okarito Trig Walk
The walk begins in the village of Okarito, a 30km and roughly 30 minute drive from Franz Josef. There’s a small car park with toilets and drinking water. it’s well worth stopping by the beach before or after your walk, and it’s another great spot to watch the sunset.
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