On-leadHard
Big Hill Walkway
Arrowtown · Otago · Out & Back
↑ 725 m gain↓ 725 m descenthigh 1125 msteepest 30 %
DISTANCE15.1 km
ASCENT725 m
DURATION5.5–6.5 hr
STEEPEST30 %
ROUTEOut & Back
RATING · HIKERS 4.5 · 71
DOG EFFORT4.5 /5 paws
PARKING30 m away
Nearest emergency vetRemarkable Vets (Queenstown) - 24hr emergency, Queenstown
03 442 1411
The route
Good to know
On the lead here. Keep it to two metres or less and watch for ground-nesting birds, as on most NZ tracks.
River swim spotsForest shadeA popular track, busy on weekendsBest in summer; snow and ice at altitude in winter
Check the water before the dog swims. Toxic algae blooms in NZ rivers and lakes can kill a dog within hours. Scan the LAWA water quality map in warm months and keep dogs away from dark slime on rocks.
About Big Hill Walkway
Near Arrowtown in Otago, Big Hill Walkway runs 15.1 km as an out-and-back.
It sits at the hard end and gains roughly 725 m, pitching up to 30 % at its steepest, and takes about 5.5–6.5 hr to walk.
Walkers come for native forest, river frontage, big views, and wildflowers. Dogs are welcome here on the lead. Hikers rate it 4.5 / 5 across 71 reviews.