From the Wānaka Tree, the shared walking and cycling Lakefront track becomes the Waterfall Track for 3 km, then the Glendhu Bay Track. The tracks follow the edge of Lake Wānaka to Glendhu Bay, a 15 km 3 to 4-hour walk one way from Wānaka. The tracks are also part of Te Araroa.
When you get to Waterfall Creek, the track becomes the Glendhu Bay Track. There is no waterfall on the track; you can see the waterfall behind a private property as you drive along Mt Aspiring Road. However, there is a large pebble beach with Ruby Island immediately to the north. If you want to save yourself 3 km on the walk, you can access the track here, taking Ruby Island Road from Mt Aspiring Road.
The track continues north beside the lake but is mostly 20 to 40 metres above it. It reaches 50 metres at the highest point, with a sheer drop. The most exposed section has a guard rail. The best water access is the beach at lovely Damper Bay, over halfway from Waterfall Creek.
You will also see a side track to Mt Aspiring Road along the way. It is a short walk northwest along the road to the Roys Peak Track and car park. There is also an informal track to the top of a steep, unnamed hill 140 metres above the lake. The access is reasonably obvious as the hill is just after Damper Bay and has a modest but noticeable single redwood tree on the top. Walking up the grassed section before you is best; the views are superb, and the redwood is curious. Having been there, you will realise the hill with its one tree is a prominent landmark around the lake.
The highest section on the track is around the lakeside of the same hill. The track then drops down towards the lake's edge with attractive flowering native shrubs, including mānuka, kānuka and kowhai, for the walk into Glendhu Bay. On a nice day, you can see Mt Aspiring to the northwest, and if it is still enough, there will be amazing mountain reflections in the bay.
This section of the track ends at the car park near Mt Aspiring Road, or you can walk a little further around the bay to the campground. For walkers, the track is an easy hike. It is generally easy for reasonable cyclists, with a few rough patches you may need to walk through.
