Pearl Harbour to Hope Arm Track
WalkSouthland
- Grade
- Advanced
- Walking time
- 6 hr
- Distance
- 7.8 km
- Dogs
- No dogs
Getting there
We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.
How to get there, on doc.govt.nzThis track starts and finishes at Pearl Harbour, Manapouri, Fiordland.
To get to the start of the track you need to cross the Waiau River. There are water taxis available in the summer season. For options contact: Adventure Manapouri or Fiordland Outdoors Company.
To get to Manapouri from Te Anau (21 km, 20 minutes drive), follow the Manapouri - Te Anau Highway SH95.
The wharf at Pearl Harbour is 500 m past the shops on Waiau St, and the carpark is accessed from View St (left turn south of shops).
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 45.59048° S, 167.58140° E

About this place
The track leads through beech forest to a very pleasant bay on Lake Manapouri, with a great swimming spot and hut.
The route
From the jetty on the other side of the Waiau River, follow the track for 15 minutes. Bypass the Circle Track sign on the left - carry on straight ahead. The track follows close to the lake edge a few times and there are some unofficial tracks that lead to the lake itself. From here the track climbs gently to the spur where the Circle Track rejoins the main track. Continue straight ahead again until reaching the Back Valley/Hope Arm Hut junction. Turn right for Hope Arm and proceed through a narrow neck of forest on boardwalk over swampland. Cross the bridge over the Garnock Burn and shortly you will reach Hope Arm beach which is good for swimming. Hope Arm Hut is at the far end of the beach for shelter or overnight stays.
Hope Arm to Garnock Burn, 3 - 3.5 hr one way (4.5 km)
Behind the Hope Arm hut the track climbs steadily alongside a small stream to a peat swamp, then towards the Snow White tussock clearings in the upper Garnock Burn valley where there is good camping. The area provides good hunting and pleasant tramping. Mt. Titiroa can be reached from the Snow White clearings (for details see Moirs Guide South below).
Hope Arm Hut to Back Valley Hut, 1 - 1.5 hr one way
This tramping track allows side trips from either hut, or loop track options.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Joins these tracks
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Back Valley Hut
Basic/bivvies • 4 bunks • Southland • 1.1 km
Back Valley Hut is a basic four-bunk hut located in eastern Fiordland.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Possum Lodge
Southland • 3.2 km
Manapouri Motel and Holiday Park
Southland • 4.6 km
Shallow Bay Hut
Standard • 6 bunks • Southland • 11.1 km
Shallow Bay Hut is a standard six-bunk hut located in eastern Fiordland.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Moturau Hut
Great Walk • 40 bunks • Southland • 12.3 km
Moturau Hut is a 40 bunk Great Walk hut located on the Kepler Track in Fiordland. Bookings are required during the Great Walks season.
Cooking • Heating • Mattresses
Walks nearby

Pearl Harbour return via Circle Track
Advanced • 3 - 3.5 hr return • 6.9 km • 2.27 km away

Monument Track
Advanced • 1.5 - 2 hr return • 1 km • 3.49 km away

Stockyard Cove Track
Easy • 45 min - 1 hr return • 1.5 km • 8.68 km away

Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
Intermediate • 3 - 3 hr 30 min return • 12 km • 12.95 km away
Notes from people who have been
No notes yet. If you have been, say what you found.
Something missing or out of date?
Closed, moved, wrong facts, or something we have missed? Travellers keep the Road Guide up to date. Tell us what you found at contribute@parkup.nz and we will check it and add it.
Ask us to take this down
A person reads every request. We do not remove a place until we have checked it.
Sources
- DOC Tracks (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).
- OpenStreetMap Trails · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.