Queenstown Lakes District: Lakes, Trails and History

Three main lakes offer a clear starting point for planning a trip to the Queenstown Lakes District: Lake Whakatipu, Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea are used for boating, swimming and other water sports. There are also hikes of varying lengths, trails through grassland or along a river, and historic places in Arrowtown and Queenstown. You can shape your stay around the scenery, outdoor activities and culture.

Hiking around Queenstown

The Ben Lomond Track is a challenging full-day hike from Queenstown, with 1,438 metres of elevation gain. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views over Queenstown, Lake Whakatipu and the surrounding mountain ranges. Four access points near central Queenstown include the Tiki Trail beside the Skyline Gondola station on Brecon Street, the Skyline Access Road on Lomond Crescent, the One Mile Creek Track at the Fernhill roundabout, and the Skyline Gondola. Alpine conditions can vary; check current track updates before setting out.

The Queenstown Hill Time Walk starts on Belfast Street and takes two to three hours, including the return to the car park. Its viewpoints and the “Basket of Dreams” sculpture give the walk a distinctive focus. The time commitment is quite different from the Ben Lomond Track: this is a walk of a few hours compared with a challenging full-day hike.

Riverside trails and a loop walk

The Hāwea River Track connects Albert Town with Hāwea and is part of the Te Araroa Trail. The route passes through kānuka scrub and open plains before following the river upstream to Domain Road. Access parking is available at Albert Town Campground and on Domain Road. Check local road conditions before driving.

The Moke Lake Loop Track offers a different kind of walk: the loop circles the lake through grassland surrounded by mountains. It can be reached via Glenorchy-Queenstown Road and Moke Lake Road; road conditions can vary. The district therefore offers both a river route between Albert Town and Hāwea and a loop walk in a mountain setting.

Lakes, history and urban green space

The district’s three main lakes—Lake Whakatipu, Lake Wānaka and Lake Hāwea—are used for boating, swimming and other water sports. These activities add ways to spend time by the lake to the hiking options.

The Arrowtown Chinese Settlement is a public historic site classified as Category 2 and the last relatively intact Chinese settlement in Otago. It commemorates the Chinese presence on the goldfields of Central Otago. A visit connects a specific place with the history of the gold rush and the region’s Chinese community.

The Lakes District Museum presents the history of Queenstown and the Southern Lakes District. Its collections include artefacts, photographs and films about the region’s Māori and Chinese settlers, as well as the pioneering gold rush. In central Queenstown, Te Kararo Queenstown Gardens is an important public space for locals and visitors to explore and enjoy.

Hiking in the Matukituki Valley

In the Matukituki Valley, Mount Aspiring National Park offers day hikes across farmland and through areas of beech forest. The area also provides access to challenging trekking and climbing routes. Alpine hazards vary by season, which should be taken into account when planning these trips.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Speargrass Flat, Arrowtown, Glenorchy, Queenstown, Cardrona, Makarora, Arthurs Point, Lower Shotover, Kingston, Moonlight, Gibbston, Lake Hayes, Wanaka, Albert Town, Closeburn, Mount Nicholas, Hawea Flat, Dingle Burn.

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