Callery Gorge Walk, Franz Josef

This is definitely a walk about the final destination. We found the metal road part pretty uninteresting and the bush wasn't very beautiful either. Sort of a waterfall and a swing bridge but it was actually worth it to get to this view of the gorge and the water was a stunning clear blue

Do this if you have time but it is not a must do. It is a bush walk with a lookout, waterfall and gorge with bridge. The sign says 40 min return but in reality it takes about 1 hr to the gorge and 1 hr back from the sign. The start of the trail follows a gravel road for about 20 min to a water plant. From there it takes 40 minutes to the gorge, and the trail gets much more interesting, winding up and down through the ancient bush. There is a good viewpoint after about 15 minutes overlooking the bridge into Franz Josef and the river. Continuing for another 15 minutes and you pass a bridge over a waterfall. From there you follow the trail downhill, and there are many loose rocks and it could be slippery after rain. After another 10 minutes you will come to the callery gorge bridge. The bridge is very wobbly, rusty and old. It can only hold 5 people. Walk along the bridge for a view of the gorge. The water could be clear blue but for us it was pale blue/murky/chalky colour. The view the other way looks at the river/road to the Franz Josef glacier. Return is back the same way. It was enjoyable for us to spend 2 hrs doing a walk, and the bush was very interesting and nice, but that is because we had a lot of time in Franz Josef. If you are short on time, I recommend to skip this and do the Franz Josef glacier walk and the peters pool walk.