Kinloch is worth visiting and staying a night as an alternative to Glenorchy or a return trip to Queenstown after a day of hiking. To get there, drive south back along the west side of the Dart Valley to Lake Wakatipu from Routeburn Road.
There is a lodge, campground, and cafe, but it’s really an opportunity to take photos at twilight across the lake looking back at the Richardson Mountains behind Glenorchy.
If you continue to the end of the road, you will find the start of the Greenstone Track and access to other half-day walks into the mountains, including the pretty Rere Lake Walk and the Glacier Burn Track.
8 images