LAKE HAYES: A BEAUTIFUL 8KM LOOP

The Lake Hayes walk is a beautiful walk near Queenstown for those who want a decent round trip without too much elevation, and plenty of scenic views.

The round trip is right around 8km long, and with less than 100 metres elevation on a maintained track, it’s certainly pretty.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Lake Hayes Walk Details & FAQ
2. Lake Hayes Map
3. How To Get There
4. My Lake Hayes Experience

1. LAKE HAYES WALK DETAILS & FAQ

QUICK DETAILS:

• Distance: About 8km
• Elevation Gain: ~100 metres total
• Difficulty: Easy

How easy is the Lake Hayes walk?

Easy. You’ll be right!

How long is the loop around Lake Hayes?

A walk around Lake Hayes is right on 8km.

What’s the elevation gain for the Lake Hayes Track?

There’s about 100 metres of elevation on the Lake Hayes walk, the majority of that is on the western (Queenstown) side of the lake.

Here’s the elevation profile starting from the carpark at the Arrowtown end:

How long does it take to do the Lake Hayes walk?

The majority of people will complete this walk comfortably in the 2-3 hour range.

If you’re a fast walker and aren’t spending time at the viewpoints etc, you could get it done in 90 minutes.

Is Lake Hayes safe to swim in?

I remember thinking that Lake Hayes might be a nice lake to swim in given how cold Lake Wakatipu is.

And while you can, the water quality is often poor due to the duck poo that collects around the edge of the lake. You can see the latest water quality updates here.

Can you bike around Lake Hayes?

Yes, you can and many do. It’s a well-maintained track but there are some steeper drop-offs so maybe it’s not suitable for younger kids.

There’s some elevation so you might find yourself pushing the bike for a few minutes up a couple of hills. It’s rated as grade 2.

Are dogs allowed on the Lake Hayes loop track?

Yes, you can take your dog with you on your walk around Lake Hayes, but they must be leashed.

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2. LAKE HAYES MAP

If you click on the image below, it’ll open a new tab on the NZ Topo Website.

As you can see above, the track really does stick to the edge of the lake. You won’t (shouldn’t) get lost on this track 😀

You can find the loop on Google Maps here, or have it on your topo map app.

3. HOW TO GET THERE

Driving: It’s a short drive from both Queenstown and Arrowtown, with Lake Hayes bordered by SH6 and the Lake Hayes-Arrowtown Highway.

I recommend parking at the north end of Lake Hayes where there’s lots of parking and picnic space.

Public Transport: If you’re using the bus to get around Queenstown, the Lake Hayes track is easy to reach. Catch the #2 Queenstown to Arrowtown bus and get off at the Amisfield Winery stop.

Cycling: You can cycle to Lake Hayes via the Queenstown Trail.

4. MY LAKE HAYES WALK EXPERIENCE

Having completed a bunch of walks around Arrowtown, I finally decided to give the nearby Lake Hayes Loop a go on a nice sunny day.

And I can see why it’s a loop that people love. The reflections on the lake are beautiful, and you get to see the mountains surrounding Queenstown.

And all of this while not having to think about where you’re going as it’s a loop track that’s go no where turn offs or deviations away from the lake.

I’ve always preferred going around Lake Hayes in a clockwise direction. If you’re starting from the Northern end car park, this means you’ll get the slopes on the western side of the lake at the end of the walk.

On the other side of the lake, you can often see the houses on properties right by the lake which is incredible.

And at the southern end, I’ve found a couple of times the low points of the walk will be underwater after heavy rainfall. That’s something to keep in mind 🙂

If possible, walk around Lake Hayes when there’s no wind about and the sun’s out so you can get some amazing reflections. The reflections you can see on most of the lakes in Queenstown is something I’ll never forget once I move on from here.

I’ve yet to go around the Lake Hayes loop at sunset, but friends have said it’s absolutely beautiful with a few clouds about so the colours reflect on the water.

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The Lake Hayes walk is a beautiful loop that is a good way to fill in a few hours.

If you have any questions and/or comments about Lake Hayes, mention them below or email jub@churnewzealand.com.

p.s. Here’s a map of all the walks and hikes documented on Chur New Zealand. You can click the icon to see brief details, as well as a link to read more about the hike (like this post).