The New Zealand Walks for Wimps series provides essential information about short, relatively easy hikes around New Zealand. Today I’m taking you up the Diamond Lake Track right to the top of Rocky Mountain near Wanaka. Click on the map markers at the bottom of this post for more great easy NZ walks!
Just outside of the charming and scenic town of Wanaka is the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain track, which, despite its spectacular views over Lake Wanaka and stunning mountain surroundings, is remarkably un-trampled!
You can choose the length of your walk here. If you just want a quick jaunt, you can just do the Diamond Lake circuit in about 30 minutes, with only a short steep bit at the start.
If you want to go further, you can climb some steep steps up to the Diamond Lake lookout, perched on a rocky outcrop high above the lake.
But if you’re going to go that far, you really, really should walk another 15 minutes to the Lake Wanaka lookout to sit on the bench and admire the impressive vista over the lake. This whole hike, start to finish, should take you less than two hours.
And the real prize? The Rocky Mountain summit. It’s another 45 minutes or so up a loop track and the views are absolutely stunning.
I have to say that while not super difficult, it did seem to just keep going up and up and was a bit harder than I expected, but entirely worth the effort! And because it’s a loop track you can go back down a different way. I think the Western track was the less steep one, if that helps.
The Diamond Lake track was a beautiful spot for me to go for a quick summer evening hike, or for a longer one if I had an afternoon off. It doesn’t take all that long and the payoff for the amount of effort you put in is very high!
Have you hiked the Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain track? Which route did you take, and how far did you go? Tell me about it in the comments!
Are you looking for another easy walk in this area? Why not head out to Mt. Aspiring National Park for the Rob Roy Glacier track?
Click on any map marker below to check out another easy New Zealand walk.
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Absolutely stunning photos! We had some littlies with us so just made it as far as the Diamond Lake lookout which was gorgeous, but looking forward to going back sometime and doing more! Great looking blog, and full of all the stuff I love!
Thanks for stopping by Michelle! The lookout is definitely worth another trip up there. Even if you don’t go to the actual top, the Lake Wanaka lookout is spectacular and only another 15 mins or so from the Diamond Lake one I think. Or just promise the kids lots of unhealthy snacks when you get to the top. 😉
great reports – beauty and information combination exquisite – I’ll run them all before I hit the big 70 🙂
Thanks David, enjoy and good luck with your goal!