Lake Alta Track
Lake Alta Track
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  • Audrey Yeo
    Sydney, Australia14 contributions
    What a great hike!
    The entry fee is $10, card only. Following that, the road is super winding, steep and often lacks a guard rail -- be careful! It's a short walk up to the buildings from the carpark, and a steeper hike up wherever you want to walk. There are various places you could technically walk if you do so safely, but there is the recommended hike trail to Lake Alta that's marked by orange signs in the beginning, and only by yellow posts towards the end of the trail near the lake. What a breathtaking view! Both in terms of the actual landscape, the medium difficulty hike and high altitude. It was a treat when we reached the lake and got to see the LOTR location. I know this sounds crazy but I had worn my bikini in hopes to dare a dip in the freezing water, but 10 seconds of my feet in the lake had me shivering for a while after so that was it.
    Visited February 2020
    Written February 16, 2020
  • scmills
    Charlestown, Australia23 contributions
    Alpine and Lord of the Rings
    Walked up from the Ski car park - 2 x 50 yr olds and a fittish 80 yr old who took his time. Took cloaks for some great shots of the 'Leaving Moria' scenes. Got there early and there were only 2 other couples and the place is lovely. Father is into cacti and the Alpine flora was a real treat for him - only 15 mins from Queenstown - it's a gem amongst gems.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 27, 2020
  • Sas
    Montreal, Canada25 contributions
    Terrifying drive up but awesome walk
    The walk is about 1.5hrs there and back from the Remarkables Ski Area carpark. Absolutely stunning location (in a scene from LOTR as well). The walk is quite steep but suitable for all ages (and is summer time only). Go for a dip if you dare - bracing! For those who are a bit scared of heights though, the drive up to the car park (10kms of winding, sometimes cliff hugging unsealed road) is terrifying.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 18, 2020
  • mygardenbees
    New York City, New York30 contributions
    Challenging track in snow
    Lake Alta is stunning in winter. We decided to make a trip there because we were staying just below the Remarkables Ski Area. The drive up is narrow and winding, and at the end the road is unsealed - your rental car will probably need a carwash at the end of it! Finding Lake Alta in winter can be a bit tricky. When we went (1 May), the snow was about 30cms to a metre deep on the ground, so the track wasn't visible. What you need to remember is that you need to follow the Lake Alta chairlift, which starts from right in front of the car park. There is a construction road that goes to the top of the chairlift, and has been cleared from snow - take that. Once you get to the chairlift, Lake Alta will be on your right as you come from the road. From here, the track is a bit dicey - thankfully someone had walked it before us, so we just followed their footsteps. If you are the first one, then you would need to be fit (because you will sink knee deep in snow at every step), and you probably need poles to test out the ground first (because there is a real risk of injury, since you can't see what you are stepping onto). Ideally you'd have snow shoes. Just something to be aware of. The lake at the top is well worth the visit though - the views are spectacular.
    Visited May 2018
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 1, 2018
  • LarchFoodie
    Larchmont, New York1,514 contributions
    Great hike above the tree line with spectacular views
    Fabulous hike with spectacular views. The hike to Lake Alta is pretty easy although steep in sections. The lake is a beautiful blue green. But the best part of the hike is a scramble from Lake Alta up and across a boulder field and to an outlook looking over Lake Wakatipu with Queenstown in the distance. The views are spectacular! That’s a more difficult scramble best suited for sure-footed hikers. For more cautious hikers, there’s an easier path up to the lookout from the car park. In season there are also beautiful alpine flowers along the path.
    Visited January 2019
    Traveled with friends
    Written January 11, 2019
  • Figall
    Wellington, New Zealand141 contributions
    Short n sweet
    It takes a long time to drive up the remarks road to the base building, almost 45 mins. Once there it is really interesting to see the ski fields out of action and you follow the pistes to the top of the Alta chair lift to where the walk starts. It's a really pretty walk full of alpine flowers and stepping stones over streams. It takes longer to get to the walk than the walk itself but it's nice enough and I enjoyed taking photos up there.
    Visited February 2017
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 27, 2017
  • Stu T
    Tauranga, New Zealand163 contributions
    Awesome
    Climbed up to the lake with the kids. Our nine and seven year olds had no trouble with the walk. Took closer to an hour to get them up and about 40 minutes coming down. It was a beautiful warm sunny day in town but very windy and chilly on the mountain. Do NOT come up without warm clothes, no matter how hot it is in town. We were well prepared and had no problems. There was no snow at all and the lake was completely ice free. But I came 3 years ago in the middle of summer and the lake was still frozen over and a bit of snow around, so it's quite variable. The track is well marked and easy to follow. But if there's snow you'll have some trouble following it. It's an excellent walk and I'd highly recommend it.
    Visited January 2019
    Traveled with family
    Written January 10, 2019
  • kestonr2018
    Wellington, New Zealand261 contributions
    Really interesting walk
    As you step on to the lake Alta track walk your mind suddenly draws attention to the breathtaking scenery of the mountains and the lake nearby. The walk climbs up to the top of one of the chairlifts then flattens out onto a wetland with streams you have to cross but there are stones to cross over. The wetland contains some interesting insects which we actually saw and may interest you like they interested us. They include the giant weevil and native grasshopper. The track then climbs a final hill and once you are at the top you can see the lake before you. When we went up it clouded over as we got to the lake so it wasn’t turquoise like other photos but it was still very atmospheric with the jagged rocks on top of the hills all round it and snow still dotted around even though it was January. My kids quickly found a patch of snow nearby and amused themselves throwing snowballs and had a wonderful time. All up, the walk took us about an hour and a half there and back as the signs indicate. The overall altitude gain was about 200 metres between 1700 metres at the carpark and 1806m at the lake. The road up to the skifield also deserves mention. It is sealed for most of the may but is one of the highest roads in New Zealand and is quite steep. However, it is well-maintained and good and wide. There are also viewing opportunities on the way up. We would recommend Lake Alta to families and anyone wanting a walk which is a little different and who loves good views. We would like to go back and get brave enough to continue on over the saddle from the lake and do the long walk down the Wye Creek. This is however not poled and requires some navigation skill.
    Visited January 2021
    Traveled with family
    Written January 8, 2021
  • Samara D
    Sydney, Australia298 contributions
    Make the trip it’s worth it
    Drive up to the Remarkables car park (careful it’s a windy narrow road) then from the car park follow the signs to lake Alta. As you climb the more beautiful fit gets and the lake at the top is spectacular! Glacial blue! It took us about 50min to go up and about 40 to come down. Take some water and some food and stop at the lake for a snack so you can take in the view! Bring a jumper or jacket in summer as it can still be chilly at the top
    Visited February 2019
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 8, 2019
  • Aaron L
    Truganina, Australia11 contributions
    Amazing View
    The track can be difficult, and you may lose direction when majority of it is covered by snow, even in Nov when you are not expecting lot of snow. We actually came very well UN-prepared, we were expecting a short and flat track, came wearing running shoes and no equipment other than mobile phones, so getting over knee-deep snow, shallow water, rocks and mud were challenging. However, we were very pleased that we didn’t give up half way, because the view was absolutely magical and amazing, plus you can’t find water clearer than it anywhere else, it is definitely a place you need to visit around Queenstown.
    Visited November 2018
    Traveled as a couple
    Written November 26, 2018
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

4.5
23 reviews
Excellent
15
Very good
8
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0

mygardenbees
New York City, NY30 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
Lake Alta is stunning in winter. We decided to make a trip there because we were staying just below the Remarkables Ski Area. The drive up is narrow and winding, and at the end the road is unsealed - your rental car will probably need a carwash at the end of it!

Finding Lake Alta in winter can be a bit tricky. When we went (1 May), the snow was about 30cms to a metre deep on the ground, so the track wasn't visible. What you need to remember is that you need to follow the Lake Alta chairlift, which starts from right in front of the car park. There is a construction road that goes to the top of the chairlift, and has been cleared from snow - take that. Once you get to the chairlift, Lake Alta will be on your right as you come from the road.

From here, the track is a bit dicey - thankfully someone had walked it before us, so we just followed their footsteps. If you are the first one, then you would need to be fit (because you will sink knee deep in snow at every step), and you probably need poles to test out the ground first (because there is a real risk of injury, since you can't see what you are stepping onto). Ideally you'd have snow shoes. Just something to be aware of.

The lake at the top is well worth the visit though - the views are spectacular.
Written May 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LarchFoodie
Larchmont, NY1,514 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Fabulous hike with spectacular views. The hike to Lake Alta is pretty easy although steep in sections. The lake is a beautiful blue green. But the best part of the hike is a scramble from Lake Alta up and across a boulder field and to an outlook looking over Lake Wakatipu with Queenstown in the distance. The views are spectacular! That’s a more difficult scramble best suited for sure-footed hikers. For more cautious hikers, there’s an easier path up to the lookout from the car park.

In season there are also beautiful alpine flowers along the path.
Written January 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Figall
Wellington, New Zealand141 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
It takes a long time to drive up the remarks road to the base building, almost 45 mins. Once there it is really interesting to see the ski fields out of action and you follow the pistes to the top of the Alta chair lift to where the walk starts. It's a really pretty walk full of alpine flowers and stepping stones over streams. It takes longer to get to the walk than the walk itself but it's nice enough and I enjoyed taking photos up there.
Written February 28, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stu T
Tauranga, New Zealand163 contributions
Jan 2019 • Family
Climbed up to the lake with the kids. Our nine and seven year olds had no trouble with the walk. Took closer to an hour to get them up and about 40 minutes coming down.

It was a beautiful warm sunny day in town but very windy and chilly on the mountain. Do NOT come up without warm clothes, no matter how hot it is in town. We were well prepared and had no problems.

There was no snow at all and the lake was completely ice free. But I came 3 years ago in the middle of summer and the lake was still frozen over and a bit of snow around, so it's quite variable.

The track is well marked and easy to follow. But if there's snow you'll have some trouble following it.

It's an excellent walk and I'd highly recommend it.
Written January 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kestonr2018
Wellington, New Zealand261 contributions
Jan 2021 • Family
As you step on to the lake Alta track walk your mind suddenly draws attention to the breathtaking scenery of the mountains and the lake nearby.

The walk climbs up to the top of one of the chairlifts then flattens out onto a wetland with streams you have to cross but there are stones to cross over. The wetland contains some interesting insects which we actually saw and may interest you like they interested us. They include the giant weevil and native grasshopper.
The track then climbs a final hill and once you are at the top you can see the lake before you. When we went up it clouded over as we got to the lake so it wasn’t turquoise like other photos but it was still very atmospheric with the jagged rocks on top of the hills all round it and snow still dotted around even though it was January.

My kids quickly found a patch of snow nearby and amused themselves throwing snowballs and had a wonderful time.

All up, the walk took us about an hour and a half there and back as the signs indicate. The overall altitude gain was about 200 metres between 1700 metres at the carpark and 1806m at the lake.

The road up to the skifield also deserves mention. It is sealed for most of the may but is one of the highest roads in New Zealand and is quite steep. However, it is well-maintained and good and wide. There are also viewing opportunities on the way up.

We would recommend Lake Alta to families and anyone wanting a walk which is a little different and who loves good views. We would like to go back and get brave enough to continue on over the saddle from the lake and do the long walk down the Wye Creek. This is however not poled and requires some navigation skill.
Written January 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Samara D
Sydney, Australia298 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Drive up to the Remarkables car park (careful it’s a windy narrow road) then from the car park follow the signs to lake Alta. As you climb the more beautiful fit gets and the lake at the top is spectacular! Glacial blue! It took us about 50min to go up and about 40 to come down.
Take some water and some food and stop at the lake for a snack so you can take in the view!
Bring a jumper or jacket in summer as it can still be chilly at the top
Written February 9, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aaron L
Truganina, Australia11 contributions
Nov 2018 • Couples
The track can be difficult, and you may lose direction when majority of it is covered by snow, even in Nov when you are not expecting lot of snow. We actually came very well UN-prepared, we were expecting a short and flat track, came wearing running shoes and no equipment other than mobile phones, so getting over knee-deep snow, shallow water, rocks and mud were challenging.

However, we were very pleased that we didn’t give up half way, because the view was absolutely magical and amazing, plus you can’t find water clearer than it anywhere else, it is definitely a place you need to visit around Queenstown.
Written November 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RetiredBritz
United Kingdom290 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Take the road that leads to the Remarkables ski area to get to the car park at the ski lift. It's a bumpy unsealed gravel road which twists and turns, but does at least now have a crash barrier along most of the length.

We had to walk through a construction site at the base, which says 'no access' but we ignored it ... Kiwis are a laid-back bunch, and really couldn't care less it seems! You could skirt around it though.

It's a lovely short but steep walk up to the lake, through the fascinating schist rocks and beautiful lichens and fauna, and well worth it not just for the views at the top but also the joy of the walk. We saw only a couple of other people too, so it's a peaceful and welcome escape from the hubbub of Queenstown.
Written February 22, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Erert82
Bangkok, Thailand154 contributions
Feb 2018
Quite the drive up the steep slopes but still manageable. The hike is amazing and suitable for amateurs! Just wear comfortable shoes, and a windbreaker cos the winds were super strong. On the way down u can even see the Queenstown airport strip. Very scenic! Lake Alta looks quite precious with the mountain setting. Good 2hr activity near Queenstown.
Written February 4, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Naina-Damani
London, UK1,032 contributions
Mar 2020
We were driven through a steep windy road, around Lake Alta for beautiful scenery and blue green water, surrounded by mountains with great views.
Written February 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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