Minnehaha Walk
Minnehaha Walk
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
About
1.2 km easy walking loop track 20 min return. This delightful short walk follows a small stream through the lush rainforest, and loops back to the start point via Te Weheka Walkway/Cycleway. Glow worms may be seen in the forest after dark - take a torch to find your way. Bikes are not permitted on the Minnehaha Walk.
Duration: < 1 hour
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4.5
62 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
17
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Sds
Waitakere City, New Zealand9 contributions
Jan 2025 • Family
We did this at night with our 4 children aged 6 to 12 and they loved it. Lots of glow worms to see. We were hoping to see kiwi even though it's very rare, however came across 4 very well fed possoms running on the track and up trees so we were all very disappointed. Doc need some more traps asap if they're taking wildlife seriously. Definitely recommend the walk though!
Written 20 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen & Sue
Canberra, Australia2,767 contributions
Jan 2023
How had we never heard of this track before? It’s an absolute star, one of the best attractions on the west coast and anyone, of any age or fitness can do it.
By day it’s a short 20 minute stroll along a flat track, that crosses back and forth over a stream, and with lovely ferns, trees and moss everywhere. It’s a perfect short walk for anyone wanting to get up close to the west coast rainforests.
But by night, it’s wonderland. The place is filled with thousands of fireflies.
Once your eyes adjust you will see them everywhere. But make sure to look behind as well as forward, keep quiet, turn off your torch. and get up close, especially to the backs of fallen trees.
Kids will adore this, and it’s absolutely free, open to everyone, and right on the edge of town.
By day it’s a short 20 minute stroll along a flat track, that crosses back and forth over a stream, and with lovely ferns, trees and moss everywhere. It’s a perfect short walk for anyone wanting to get up close to the west coast rainforests.
But by night, it’s wonderland. The place is filled with thousands of fireflies.
Once your eyes adjust you will see them everywhere. But make sure to look behind as well as forward, keep quiet, turn off your torch. and get up close, especially to the backs of fallen trees.
Kids will adore this, and it’s absolutely free, open to everyone, and right on the edge of town.
Written 12 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kearnykibble
Brooklyn, Australia34 contributions
Mar 2020 • Solo
When it gets dark go do this walk. You will not regret it. I’ve seen glow worms in caves but they also live very happily in this little rain forest and you can spend as much time as you want with them. Finding the walk took a bit of research as the instruction I got were a bit vague so here are the instructions to help you go straight to them. The path meanders all over the place but it is well maintained and flat under foot. There are a couple of short bridges too.
As you approach the Minnehaha Walk from the north you will see
Frames Rd on the right and
Bella Vista Motel on the left. If you are driving there is ample parking along the road before you get to the
Carters Creek/bridge 6329 sign on left. Beyond that you will see the next sign Glacier Valley Cycleway Walkway. Enter there.
The first thing you will see are two sets of red and white upside down “U” metal barrier. Walk through them and continue straight ahead to start the walk. I found that the Glow of the screen of my phone with the brightness turned down low was sufficient light to see where the path went and see the glow worms. The flashlight or torch of the phone was way too bright.
The path was never narrower than about 1.2 meters or 4 ft so if you watch where you’re headed you won’t fall in the stream next to the path or head off into the bushes. When I found a nice patch of glow worms I simply held my phone to my leg so it was completely dark. Eventually you will come to more metal barriers which you go through and turn right. This will bring you back to where you started.
Some people has lights that were too bright which misses the point as glow worms have very soft lights and you want to let your eyes adjust to the least extra light as possible.
Fox glacier was covered in clouds but this walk made it worth staying in Fox Glacier village for the night.
As you approach the Minnehaha Walk from the north you will see
Frames Rd on the right and
Bella Vista Motel on the left. If you are driving there is ample parking along the road before you get to the
Carters Creek/bridge 6329 sign on left. Beyond that you will see the next sign Glacier Valley Cycleway Walkway. Enter there.
The first thing you will see are two sets of red and white upside down “U” metal barrier. Walk through them and continue straight ahead to start the walk. I found that the Glow of the screen of my phone with the brightness turned down low was sufficient light to see where the path went and see the glow worms. The flashlight or torch of the phone was way too bright.
The path was never narrower than about 1.2 meters or 4 ft so if you watch where you’re headed you won’t fall in the stream next to the path or head off into the bushes. When I found a nice patch of glow worms I simply held my phone to my leg so it was completely dark. Eventually you will come to more metal barriers which you go through and turn right. This will bring you back to where you started.
Some people has lights that were too bright which misses the point as glow worms have very soft lights and you want to let your eyes adjust to the least extra light as possible.
Fox glacier was covered in clouds but this walk made it worth staying in Fox Glacier village for the night.
Written 9 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kait
79 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Excellent bush walk for children. We went slightly before dark which was a great idea as we could see the condition of the track, identify where there were bridges etc On our return it was dark enough to see the glow worms. There were glow worms everywhere. The kids were amazed and loved it. It was important to have very little torch light when the glow worms come out. Such a great walk for all and special for those to see glow worms for the first time.
Written 6 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bob H
Rochester Hills, MI25 contributions
Feb 2020
Here we took a short 20 minute walk through a lush rain forest in Fox Glacier. It was magnificent. Our trail was a loop trail so you didn't have to worry about getting lost. Part of the return trail was along a highway that you couldn't see but heard an occasional passing car. There was thick vegetation mainly of plant species that I have never seen before. My only regret is that we didn't have time to take the longer of the two trail offerings. The longer trail would have taken about an hour which didn't fit into our schedule. If you are in Fox Glacier and have the time I recommend that you take this easy walk.
Written 5 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cJay38
25 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
I paid to go on a glow worm tour in the north island but this was much better. And free! A walk through the rain forest at night next to a rushing stream could not get much better excerpt if you add glow worms! This is one of my favorite experiences in all of NZ - a country of superlatives for me. Don’t miss this!
Written 7 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brittany
Sevierville, TN262 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
We had a glow worm tour booked in Te Anau but hadn’t made it there yet. I had read in a local paper you could spot glow worms during this walk at night, so we went for it! It was amazing. Our first glow worm experience! The walk was short and easy, though a little nerve wracking at night considering we couldn’t see where we were going or if we would run into people (since we were checking out the worms and didn’t want to turn our flashlight on). It was free, fun and highly recommend.
Written 9 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tom A
Christchurch, New Zealand5 contributions
May 2020 • Couples
This was an amazing experience. Within 2 minutes of walking from our motel (Bella Vista) we were looking at spectacular glow worms. It took us a few minutes to work out the best places to look. But we were certainly not disappointed. My advice would be look at the tall mossy banks, give your eyes a minute to adjust and look from a lower angle.
Written 20 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Darren C
Hobart, Tasmania, Australia32 contributions
Feb 2020
A lovely relaxing walk by day amongst the forest; and by night an amazing experience looking at the glow worms scattered along the entire track. We had a full moon and could walk the track safely without any need for lighting. If you don't have the benefit of a full moon and use a torch be sure to cover it so that it dulls the light, otherwise you will miss the glow worms and ruin it for others. A definite must do attraction if you are staying at Fox Glacier.
Written 10 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allgoodthyngs
Shrewsbury, UK1,629 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
Just a few metres beyond the Bella Vista Hotel you will find the Minnehaha Walk through a beautiful fairly glen of magical lights created by the glow worms. Take a flashlight and flow the path to the left along a short trail. Every 10 metres or so turn off you light and let your eyes adjust to the darkness and you will soon see the little green glows in the trees. the best spot was about 10m after the second bridge on the left. A wall of glowing lights glistening in the darkness.
Be sure to take a closer look and see the sticky threads like tiny strings of pearls, the sticky traps that the glow-worms catch their prey on. Fascinating! We also saw two possums that came really close and seemed not to be too afraid before scampering off up trees.
Be sure to take a closer look and see the sticky threads like tiny strings of pearls, the sticky traps that the glow-worms catch their prey on. Fascinating! We also saw two possums that came really close and seemed not to be too afraid before scampering off up trees.
Written 18 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi,
My husband is young and healthy but is currently on crutches for an injury and therefore unable to do many of the activities we had planned for our NZ trip. This glowworm walk seems to be an 'easy' walk, but does anyone know if it's safe to do on crutches? He can place some weight on his injured leg, but can't walk long without crutches for risk of pain or further injury.
Thanks in advance :)
Written 26 May 2023
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