- 5.2 km return, about 1 hr 20 min, easy to intermediate grade (DOC confirmed)
- Starts at the Cowan Street cul-de-sac in Franz Josef township
- Follows the old Waiho Sluicing Company pipeline from 1912 to a swing bridge above the Waiho River
- No dogs permitted, no toilets, no mobile coverage
Quick facts
| Location | West Coast, South Island |
| Distance | 5.20 km |
| Time needed | 1 hour 20 minutes |
| Difficulty | Easy to intermediate |
| Wheelchair access | No |
| Route | Double back on the same track |
| Elevation | 200m |
| Wet feet | No |
| Toilets | No |
| Dogs | No |
| Mobile coverage | No |
Getting to the Callery Gorge Walk
Head to the cul-de-sac at the end of Cowan Street in Franz Josef township, that is your starting point. From there it is about 11 minutes along a well used gravel service road to the turn off, take the right fork signposted to Callery Gorge. That road leads up to the Franz Josef township water tanks and is solid enough to drive a car on, though you are walking it.
The Callery Gorge Walk step by step
The first stretch to the water tanks is straightforward gravel road walking. Along the way you pass a green steel box marked “Explosives” on the door. It looks alarming but it is just old signage, nobody is leaving live explosives on a public access road for any passer by to find.
Past the water tanks there is only one path to take, the rest of the area belongs to the water works and you will be asked, politely, to leave if you wander in. From the tanks the track narrows and the surface changes to a good hard packed bush track, light running shoes are fine, there is no water to walk through on this section.
Keep an eye out along this section for the old water pipes still running beside the track. This is the route the Waiho Sluicing Company laid in 1912 to try their luck at gold mining in the gorge. Callery himself was the first person to find gold in the Franz Josef area, back in 1868, and this stretch of track still carries his name.
From the old sluicing site the track narrows again as you approach the bluffs above the river. Wooden handrails line the edge here, they are there for a reason, a slip would send you straight down to the Waiho River below. For the first fifteen minutes or so the walking stays flat, then the track drops down to the Callery Gorge swing bridge.
What you will see on the Callery Gorge Walk
This walk mixes history with scenery. You get native bush the whole way, glimpses of the braided Waiho River through the trees, the old sluicing relics and pipeline, and then the swing bridge itself swaying over the gorge below. It is a good spot to stop, catch your breath and look straight down at the water.
Who it is for
This suits casual walkers, families with older kids who can manage a bit of a climb on the way back, and anyone interested in the gold mining history around Franz Josef. It is not a walk for dogs, and it is not wheelchair or buggy friendly once you get past the water tanks.
When to go
The track is walkable year round, the West Coast weather is the main variable. After heavy rain check the Callery River level before you turn back along the riverbed option, if the river is lapping the sides of the gorge, do not try to walk out that way, you will be swimming, not walking.
Important stuff
- Dogs are not permitted on the Callery Gorge Walk, other pets need approval under general conservation land rules, check the current park rules if in doubt.
- No toilets and no mobile coverage on the track, sort both before you leave town.
- The bluff sections have wooden handrails for good reason, keep to the track.
- Wear proper footwear, the descent to the swing bridge has a hard surface but is steep in places.
My honest take
I walked this one out of Franz Josef and enjoyed the mix of easy road walking and proper bush track. The explosives box had me smiling, it is such an odd thing to find beside a public path, though there is nothing to worry about, it is long since decommissioned. The old sluicing pipes are a nice reminder that people were grubbing around this gorge for gold long before glacier tourism took over the town.
On the day I walked it, DOC had the track beyond the swing bridge closed off, the section that runs on to Roberts Point and back over the Waiho River to the middle carpark. So after a coffee stop at the bridge we walked out via the Waiho riverbed to the Franz Josef bridge and back into town instead of doubling back, which cut our time in half. That closure may or may not still be in place, so check current DOC signage before you plan the same shortcut, and never try it if the river is up.
Common questions
Can I take my dog on the Callery Gorge Walk?
No. Dogs are not permitted on this track, and other pets need approval under general conservation land rules.
How long does the Callery Gorge Walk take?
Allow about 1 hour 20 minutes for the 5.2 km return trip, DOC classes it as easy to intermediate.
Where does the Callery Gorge Walk start?
At the cul-de-sac at the end of Cowan Street in Franz Josef township.
Are there toilets or mobile coverage on the track?
No to both, sort yourself out in town before you head off.
Is the Callery Gorge Walk in Franz Josef the same as Callery Gorge Track?
Yes, it is the same track, DOC and locals use the names interchangeably.
Other walks nearby
- Franz Josef Glacier Walk, the classic valley walk up to the glacier viewpoint.
- Heli Hike Franz Josef Glacier 3 Hour Glacier Walk Hot Pools, for getting up onto the ice itself.
- Lake Wombat Walk Franz Josef, a short bush walk to a reflective glacial lake.
Back to Franz Josef Walks.
