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Lake Alta Track

Queenstown

The Remarkables

A short, sharp high-altitude hike to a beautiful lake featured in the Lord of the Rings.

Hiking Easy

Distance
3.2 km
Ascent
204 m
Descent
203 m
Duration
0-1 hrs
Low Point
1.6 km
High Point
1.8 km
Gradient
Lake Alta Track Map

Despite being featured in the Lord of the Rings, the hike to Lake Alta manages to avoid the crowds around Queenstown, offering a fun trail up to a beautiful lake.

Description

Perhaps the reason the masses miss this hike is the effort it takes to get there. Starting out from the Remarkables Ski Field, the only way to access the trail in the Summer is a steep, winding road up from Queenstown (which costs NZD$10 in the summer).

From the parking lot, the trail is well defined, as it climbs up to Lake Alta. The lake itself is beautiful, and there are a couple of options for further hikes (with fantastic views) from its shores. The trail to the right looks down on Queenstown, while to the left the trail leads up to Double Cone - a technical climb that requires proper equipment.

Difficulty

Easy

Walking along a well-kept trail that’s mostly flat. No obstacles are present.

Best time to visit

between November and May

Features

  • Alpine
  • Picturesque
  • Water features

Guidebooks in this area