8 AMAZING LAKES IN QUEENSTOWN YOU CAN VISIT

If you’re looking for the best lakes in Queenstown to visit, you’ve got seven to choose from in this post.

Some of the lakes you’ll know, they’re fairly obvious (Lake Wakatipu), but a couple of them are off the beaten path and one is on private land. You’ll need to get permission to visit that one, Lake Luna…it’s a stunner.

THE 8 LAKES IN QUEENSTOWN

Note: clicking the link below will open the map on a new page.

1. LAKE WAKATIPU

If you’re coming to Queenstown, you can’t exactly avoid the famous lakes in Queenstown, Lake Wakatipu (or what people sometimes call Queenstown Lake). So let’s get this one out of the way before moving onto the lesser-known lakes in Queenstown.

Here are a few quick facts:

• It’s New Zealand’s longest lake (80km).
• It’s the third largest lake in the country by area (291 km2).
• The lake reaches almost 400 metres in depth!

There are heaps of activities you can enjoy on the lake (like HydroAttack, parasailing, the TSS Earnslaw, swimming etc.), but for the budget-conscious, there are lots of beautiful walks next to Lake Wakatipu (the Bob’s Cove Track is a crowd favourite).

Other locations to visit next to Lake Wakatipu include Wilson Bay and the Queenstown Gardens.

For those wondering, the photo above is from the Queenstown Hill walk. There’s a lot of walks in Queenstown where you’ll get a glimpse of Wakatipu 🙂

If you fancy yourself as a lake swimmer, check out this video of the Southern Lakes Swimming Club swimming in the wild lakes near Queenstown.

RELATED READ: WHERE TO STAY IN QUEENSTOWN

2. LAKE HAYES

Lake Hayes is a Queenstown lake you can stop at between Queenstown and Arrowtown.

The best time to do the walk around Lake Hayes is sunset if you ask me, ideally when some light clouds are around so you get some awesome reflections.

The water quality of Lake Hayes is sometimes a bit dodgy so it’s a lake in Queenstown you might want to avoid swimming in…not to say you can’t. If you’re planning to spend a couple of hours here, head to the northern end of the lake where there’s more parking space and you can set up a picnic etc.

3. MOKE LAKE

Moke Lake is another gorgeous spot in Queenstown, with the lake looking marvellous if there’s been snow down to a low level and equally so on a perfect summer’s day when it can really warm up in the valley.

The Moke Lake loop track is the main activity for people who visit, but there are plenty of grassy areas around where you can enjoy a picnic while doing some fishing or SUPing in between.

It’s also one end of the Moonlight Track connecting to Arthurs Point.

Bonus, there’s a DOC campsite here too so you can stay overnight. I’ve yet to see the sunset from here, but have heard (and seen photos) it’s amazing.

4. LAKE JOHNSON

Lake Johnson is a smaller lake close to the busy five-mile shopping area. Despite the location, it’s visited by very few people.

You get there by driving to the top of Hansen Road. You’ll see a yellow sign pointing towards Lake Johnson, you walk in that direction (there’s a vague track) for a few minutes and you’ll arrive at Lake Johnson.

You’ll almost certainly have the lake to yourself from there, so it’s time to just hang out and chill for a while. It’s a good little spot to relax without having to drive a long way (about a 20-minute walk from the shopping centre).

I decided to climb one of the hills next to the lake to get the photo above. You can walk all the way around the lake if you want.

5. LAKE DISPUTE

Lake Dispute is one of the lakes in Queenstown that people don’t realise exist as you can’t see it from any roads. But you can see it from the Mount Crichton Loop Track where the photo above is taken from.

From the viewpoint above there’s a track nearby which drops down to Lake Dispute. Or you can follow a track that starts here on the Queenstown to Glenorchy Scenic Drive.

Then there’s also a walkway that connects Lake Dispute and Moke Lake which is also beautiful as you go over a little pass. So while you can’t see Lake Dispute from any roads, it’s well connected with trails make for a great lake near Queenstown to visit.

In saying that Lake Dispute isn’t a lake you’ll spend all day at. It’s more of a ‘woah, this is nice’ lake you walk by on one of the various trails mentioned. Unless you’re a fisherman, as you can catch brown, brook and splake trout here.

6. LAKE LUNA

Lake Luna is the most off-the-beaten path lake on this list. I purposefully avoid writing lots about it on Chur New Zealand as it’s on private land.

Provided you ask for permission prior to going the owners usually don’t mind you going to the lake, but if they get overwhelmed with people that could change in an instant. Message me on Watsapp (+642041702764) if you want the number to call for permission.

The walk to Lake Luna isn’t easy as you follow a 4WD track up and down the station. The walk is about 12km each way to the far end of the lake, with the photo above taken from just over 8.5km from the trailhead.

There’s a decent amount of climbing for this hike, so it’s better to start off earlier in the day. It’s a beautiful spot though, and back in 2015 there was talk about incorporating Lake Luna as part of a new Great Walk (never got going).

At the far end of the lake is a private lodge for the owners, I wish you could book this out. Instead, you can relax in the grassy areas in front of the lodge and take a swim etc. This is a lake best visited in summer!

7. LAKE ALTA

Lake Alta is a beautiful lake at The Remarkables ski field. In the winter months, the lake is frozen over, but in the summer you can get some beautiful views of the glacial lake from various vantage points.

A lot of people will drive up to the Remarkables car park to do the short walk to Lake Alta, but for the ambitious, you could consider walking from Wye Creek to Lake Alta. This is a big day out, but you get to see a variety of beautiful terrain.

And if you’re super keen, you might want to visit Lake Alta when the ice dive is held from time to time 😮

8. LAKE ISOBEL

Lake Isobel is similar to Lake Luna in that it’s one of the lakes near Queenstown that people aren’t often aware of. There’s no marked route to it which helps. You can get there from a few different start points, but I like the idea of going along what I called the Mount Crichton summit traverse.

This is a lake that’s not easy to access, it’s a hard hike. And that’s in the summer. I wouldn’t advise trying to get to Lake Isobel in the winter and/or spring.

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There are so many things to do in Queenstown, but why not put lake hopping in Queenstown on your list 🙂

If you’ve got any tips about visiting any of these lakes in Queenstown, I’d love for you to share them below.