Alpine galaxias are speckled olive-green over a light brown base.

The single large dorsal fin is rounded, and set back two thirds of the body length, the anal fin a little further back.

The caudal fin is large and slightly forked.

Like all galaxiids it lacks scales and has a thick, leathery skin covered with mucus.

They are non-diadromous and therefore do not have a marine phase and are not part of the whitebait catch.