Slaughterhouse Creek Walk Wanaka

Getting There

From Wanaka town, drive out on the Mount Aspiring Road toward Roy’s Peak and Treble Cone. About five minutes from town, turn right onto Ruby Island Road. Park at the end.

Alternatively, walk or bike the lakefront from town through the Waterfall Creek walkway and continue from there. The Waterfall Creek car park also has toilets if you need them before you start.

The Walk

From the car park, the track heads out along the lake edge. The first section is easy, following the shoreline with open views across the water.

The track then hits the first of two climbs. These are short but proper pulls, rocky underfoot and noticeably steeper than anything on the Waterfall Creek section. Take your time.

At the top of the second climb is the best viewpoint on the walk. You look down directly onto Ruby Island sitting in the lake, with Mt Aspiring, Mt Alta, Mt Edward and Black Peak spread out behind it. On a clear day with snow on the peaks it’s a good spot to stop.

From there the track drops down to Slaughterhouse Creek at the lake edge. There’s nothing left of the old slaughterhouse, but you can get down to the water here. The track ends where the Glendhu Bay Track begins if you want to continue further along the lake.

Return the same way to the car park.

Good to Know

• Rocky and steep in sections. This is a different proposition from the Waterfall Creek walk. Good footwear matters here.
• Sun and water. This is Central Otago. In summer it gets hot and exposed with no shade on the open sections. Bring sunscreen and enough water, there’s nothing to drink on the track.
• Native tree planting. Along the walkway you’ll see young native trees in chicken wire guards to protect them from rabbits. Blue plastic drums nearby are self-fill water stations so walkers can water the trees on dry days.
• Rabbits. The area has a lot of rabbit activity, you’ll see the scratching and droppings. Actually spotting one is another matter.
• Connects to Glendhu Bay. If you want a longer day, the Slaughterhouse Creek end joins the Millennium Walkway to Glendhu Bay, about 2 hours 30 minutes further.
• Bikes. The track is rideable but gets rocky and steep in the Slaughterhouse Creek section past the lookout sign. More challenging than the Waterfall Creek section on a bike.

My Honest Take

This is the most interesting section of the lake walkway between town and Glendhu Bay. The Waterfall Creek section is pleasant but flat and wide, almost a promenade. Once you hit the Slaughterhouse Creek section it feels like a proper walk. The two climbs are short but they earn you the view from the top, which is genuinely good.

Worth doing as a standalone walk from the Ruby Island Road car park rather than tacking it onto Waterfall Creek, unless you want a longer outing.