Exploring the Big Totara Walk in Fiordland
Located in Fiordland, the Big Totara Walk is a remarkable short walk that you can easily incorporate into a visit to Lake Hauroko. The track is accessible via Lillburn Monowai Road, just 6 km from the intersection with the Southern Scenic Route. Although the start of the track is 17 km away, the mostly flat and straight metal road makes the journey manageable.
A Journey Through Beech Forest
As you approach the Big Totara Walk, the landscape transitions from farmland to a captivating beech forest. The trees arch over the narrow road, creating a magical atmosphere. From the car park, a brief walk leads you to the track, which forms a double loop around a section of swampy rainforest.
Discovering Ancient Totara Trees
The walk features boardwalks and several enormous 1,000-year-old tōtara trees. These majestic trees, reaching heights of 30 metres with their distinctive reddish wood, were once common in Southland. This area is a rare surviving pocket that was never logged. Even without the tōtara trees, the experience of walking through the swamp and rainforest is exceptional, and the short walk can easily become a leisurely exploration.
Getting to the Big Totara Walk
To reach the Big Totara Walk from the Soutehrn Scenic Route, take Lillburn Valley Road for 5 km, then turn north onto Lillburn Monowai Road for 17 km. This gravel road takes 22 minutes and is mostly flat and straight. From both Invercargill (102 km) and Te Anau (112 km), it is a 90-minute drive.
Nearby, in addition to Lake Hauroko, you can visit the Clifden Bridge and Caves, Tuatapere, Lake Monowai, and Borland Road.
