Rodger Inlet Track
Alerts
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This difficult tramping track leads to a hut, then a route heads for the bushline at Lake Monowai, Fiordland.
Elevation
Cover mapped summer 2023/24.
Sampled from the national 8m elevation model. No LiDAR survey covers this route yet.
Description
This difficult tramping track leads around Lake Monowai to a hut, then a more challenging route leads up to bushline.
There are windfalls on the track so expect longer walking times.
Lake Monowai Car Park to Rodger Inlet Hut
Category: Tramping track
Time: 6 hr
Distance: 10 km
The track starts just before the Lake Monowai road end, climbing above the lake and descending to Walker River.
Further on, the track crosses an old river delta which can be swampy, making progress slow, before reaching the shores of Rodger Inlet.
The Rodger Inlet Hut is 40 minutes further on.
Rodger Inlet Bushline Route
Category: Route
Time: 4-5 hr
Distance: 3.5 km
From the Rodger Inlet Hut, a steep climb to the open tops is rewarded with great views.
Getting there
This track starts just before the Lake Monowai carpark in Monowai, Southland.
Lake Monowai and the Borland Road are located about 67 km from Te Anau (1 hour), and 120 km from Invercargill (1 hour 45 min) and can be accessed via the Southern Scenic Route.
From Te Anau
Drive south via the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway and onto the Blackmount-Redcliff Rd.
After 55 km (about 40 min), turn right into Lake Monowai Rd just north of the Blackmount School.
Follow signs to Borland Lodge or Lake Monowai (both reached after about 20 min).
From Invercargill
Drive 77 km to Clifden (65 min) then head north on the Clifden-Blackmount Rd (25 km, 20 min) until turning left into the Lake Monowai Rd, just north of the Blackmount School.
Follow signs to Borland Lodge or Lake Monowai (both reached after about 20 min).
Nearby
Weather
Forecast at the start of the track