Have you heard of Lake Moke or Moke Lake as it’s known locally? Whether you have or haven’t heard of Lake Moke, I’ve got you covered! I’m going to share all you need to know to plan your visit to this beautiful hidden gem in Queenstown, New Zealand.
If you haven’t heard of Moke Lake, I hope this convinces you to add it to your Queenstown itinerary. It truly is a beautiful place tucked away on the outskirts of Queenstown and one of my top things to do when visiting this area of New Zealand.
Moke Lake is always beautiful. It’s one of those places that has a sense of peace and calm and feels like a world away. I have to say it’s especially magical when there is little to no wind as the mountains reflect perfectly in the still water.
Moke Lake is one of the South Island’s best kept secrets and a favorite spot amongst local photographers. If you want to take beautiful photos at Moke Lake you’ll find some of my best tips below, including a secret vantage point for the ultimate view!
Lake Moke – A Queenstown Hidden Gem
About Lake Moke Loop Track
| Distance: 6km (3.7 miles) loop tack | |
| Time to complete: 2-3 hours | |
| Difficulty: Easy walking track with gentle gradients | |
| Facilities: Toilets, large car park, picnic tables, campground |
Moke Lake is a small lake located on the outskirts of Queenstown and surrounded by freshwater wetlands, farmland and mountains. As you drive through Moke Lake Road you’ll likely see flocks of sheep dotting the rolling green pastures. It’s such a serene and idyllic landscape to enjoy as you navigate your way to the main car park and starting point of the Moke Lake track.
The Moke Lake track is an easy well maintained gravel track with some boardwalk sections that takes you right around the lake and is surrounded by mountains. There is a small section of wetland that you cross over on the Southern end via a small boardwalk and the rest of the track is through grasslands on a well groomed gravel path.
There aren’t any steep sections, but you do get a gradual elevation that is enough to get you stunning views over the lake and back towards the pasture area and mountains beyond.
One of the things that makes this lake so special is its unique shape. At the Northern end of the lake a peninsula of land juts into the lake creating two distinct sections. In fact its traditional Māori names Punamāhaka and Waikāmāhaka translate to “twin lakes” referring to this distinct characteristic.
How to get to Lake Moke
Lake Moke is a short 20-minute drive from Queenstown, however it is a little off the beaten path so you will need a vehicle to get there. There aren’t any public transport options such as a bus, and a taxi or Uber would be quite expensive if they did accept a journey to Lake Moke (which wouldn’t be a very practical option given the remote location).
The best thing to do would be to hire a car from Queenstown. There are several car hire providers near the Queenstown airport and Frankton areas to choose from. If you are traveling during the winter season and there has recently been snowfall, you may need a 4 wheel drive to access Lake Moke.
I would also recommend you hire snow chains from the car hire company if they aren’t already included with the rental. They may be needed if you plan on traveling around the area in winter. Roads such as the Crown Range will have checkpoints to ensure you are carrying chains and you may be fined if you do not have them.
From Queenstown, head towards Glenorchy on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road. After about 13.7km (8.5 miles) turn right onto Moke Lake Road. The sign can be easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled at about the 13km mark. You’ll be in a suburb of Queenstown called Closeburn.
Moke Lake Road starts out sealed. It’s a steep and windy road with a few switchback turns before turning into a gravel road. Carry on for about 8kms.
You’ll be traveling through private property as you pass through farmland and will cross over a few cattle grates. It will probably feel like you’re going the wrong way in the middle of nowhere. Keep going, you’ll soon pass along the edge of a small lake called Lake Kirpatrick before you come to Lake Moke.
As you near the lake the road narrows so proceed with caution and be courteous if other cars are on the path, it will be a tight squeeze in some spots. Continue along the edge of the lakes until you reach the car park at Lake Moke Reserve. This is where the track starts.
If driving yourself is not an option, this Queenstown to Moke Lake tour will provide transport from Queenstown to Moke Lake plus the option to explore the lake by kayak or SUP.
Best time to visit
Lake Moke is lovely to visit in any season. As mentioned above it can be difficult to access in winter and a 4 wheel drive may be needed, particularly if there has been recent snowfall. Moke Lake Road can be ungroomed and icy so definitely check the conditions before heading out there. The DOC website is a great source to check if there are any alerts in relation to access to Moke Lake.
We visited in Autumn and had a beautifully calm sunny day. The colors surrounding the area were quite pretty, although there wasn’t any snow on the mountain peaks just yet.
The trail is exposed for the duration of the loop so if you are visiting in summer be sure to take plenty of water and a sun hat. The sun can get quite intense out there especially in the peak afternoon.
Lake Moke is a favorite spot amongst local photographers so if you are keen on capturing beautiful images then sunrise or sunset is the best time to visit. Check out my best photography tips below. It will be quite dark out there so don’t forget to bring a flashlight or torch.
You’ll be well away from the light pollution of the main surrounding towns so if you stick around after the sun goes down, and it’s a clear night, you’ll be treated to a stunning display of the stars and depending on the season, maybe even the milky way!
Due to its sheltered location surrounded by mountains it’s often calm and serene at Lake Moke which means you’ll be able to see the most beautiful reflections in the lake. It’s still worth checking the weather though for the best chance of optimal conditions for photographing the reflections.
Whether you visit to stretch your legs with a daytime walk in beautiful surroundings or to capture stunning photographs, Lake Moke is a great place to visit any time of the day and year.
Tips for visiting Lake Moke
- There is a large parking area at the edge of the lake which can accommodate larger vehicles and camper vans. It is also where the track starts. I’ve never seen the car park full so you should be fine for parking even during busier times.
- To the side of the car park are public toilet facilities.
- There are picnic tables (and the friendliest ducks you’ll ever meet) at the lakes edge but there isn’t anywhere to purchase food or drink nearby so be sure to bring your own, especially enough water if you plan on doing the loop track. It’s a lovely spot for a picnic lunch. Be sure to take any rubbish home with you and leave no trace to help keep Moke Lake as beautiful as you found it.
- Being a gravel track surrounded by grassland and wetlands it can get muddy after a good rainfall so be sure to wear appropriate footwear.
- Although protected by the surrounding mountains and often a calm and serene environment it is exposed to the elements, there is no shade or shelter along the track so be sure to dress appropriately for the season including sunscreen, a sun hat and sunglasses which may be useful even on a sunny day in the cooler months. Layers work well especially in the shoulder seasons like Spring or Autumn so you can adjust to the temperature as needed.
- Although I’ve never seen Lake Moke busy, it is becoming more known and popular so if you really want the place to yourself try avoiding busy periods such as weekends or school holidays. Weekday mornings are a good time to visit.
- As mentioned above Lake Moke can be difficult to access during winter and you may need a 4WD vehicle if there has been a recent snowfall.
- Moke Lake has a Campsite that has 50 non powered sites available on a first come first serve basis. Fees are $15 per night for an adult and $7.50 per night under 17 years and no charge for children under 5 years.
- There is also a unique glamping experience available at Moke Lake.
- You can swim and kayak in Moke Lake. In fact you can take a Moke Lake Paddleboard Tour that will even provide transport to Moke Lake from Queenstown.
- Moke Lake is the starting point to other bigger hiking tracks such as the Moonlight Track and Ben Lomond. The Moonlight Track starts from Moke Lake and goes to Arthurs Point, passing through Ben Lomond Saddle. The views from here are incredible. The Moonlight Track will take about 4 hours one way and you’ll need a decent level of fitness to complete this more difficult track. This track is not suitable to do in winter as it can be icy and dangerous.
Best photo spots (including secret vantage point)
If you want to take beautiful photos at Lake Moke I have a couple of tips for you including a secret vantage point that I’m going to share with you how to find.
Lake Moke has some of the best reflections for landscape photography in New Zealand. As mentioned above, it’s usually calm at Lake Moke due its location and most times you will get a reflection. It’s still worth checking the weather report for wind speed and direction just to be sure you have the conditions if photographing reflections is your goal.
As you make your way around the lake there are several vantage points offering different perspectives. You’ll want a wide angle lens to capture as much of the lake as possible.
Across the gravel road you came in on, looking across from the lake there is an old stone farm building. It’s private property so you will not be able to get close or enter the property but if you have a decent telephoto lens on hand it’s a great little building full of old world character with the mountains as a backdrop which makes for a pretty stunning shot.
Lake Moke is the ideal location for sunrise, sunset, long exposure and astrophotography. Since there is a campground on site right by the lake an overnight stay is highly recommended so you can shoot all three.
And finally I’m going to share the secret vantage point that will give you a spectacular birds eye view of Moke Lake to really appreciate its unique shape and beautiful surroundings with 360 degree views. To be fair, it’s not so secret anymore but it’s an unofficial trial and useful to know how to find it.
It will take more effort to reach the lookout spot and is an unmarked and unsigned trail so if it doesn’t feel right at any stage turn around and stick to the loop track.
The track is uphill and steep all the way until you reach a flat clearing at the top and will take you about 45-60 minutes to complete. It should only be climbed in good weather, it will be slippery and dangerous if it’s been raining or covered in snow and ice.
From the Moke Lake car park head right on the Moke Lake Loop track until you cross a little wooden bridge over a small wetlands section. A little past the bridge the fence on your right side will end and the loop trail around the lake continues to the left. At this point turn right so that you are walking along the fence line and heading away from the lake.
After about 300 meters (1000 feet) you will see a gate in the fence. Walk a little further along past the gate and you should be able to make out the start of the track. The track further along from the gate will take you up a slightly less steep path. I started right near the gate at first and had to turn around and come back down because it was too steep and not safe.
Regardless, it is a very steep and unmarked track which can be dangerous. It’s not suitable for children and should only be attempted if you have a good level of fitness and are comfortable with heights. Once at the top the views are absolutely spectacular especially during sunrise or sunset. Just remember to bring a flashlight or torch to help navigate in the low light.
This secret viewpoint is a favorite spot among the locals with a big reward for a bit of effort.
Final thoughts
I hope this guide helps you to plan the ultimate day trip to Lake Moke, be it for a picnic lunch, casual stroll in nature or to capture spectacular photos. It’s one of our favorite places to visit in the area and we hope you enjoy this little slice of paradise as much as we do.
If you are keen to learn about more great views check out our post on 5 Queenstown Hills with the best views. If you’re ready for the ultimate hot pool experience located in another idyllic Queenstown location be sure to book a session at Onsen Hot Pools. You won’t regret it!
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Pin it for later!
Heather is a travel enthusiast living in New Zealand with her family. She writes about living in and enjoying travel to New Zealand.