Sight · Fiordland National Park
Remote alpine lake ringed by tarns on the Dusky Track
Overview
Lake Roe is a true Fiordland backcountry prize: an alpine lake tucked above the treeline, ringed by tussock, granite outcrops, and a scatter of small tarns. It’s remote, beautiful, and decidedly not a casual stroll—most people reach it as part of the challenging Dusky Track.
Unlike Fiordland’s larger, forested lakes, Lake Roe sits well above the trees, giving you uninterrupted alpine vistas and that rare “tarns everywhere” feel. Its remoteness—days from the nearest road—keeps it quiet even in peak season.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhat Makes It UniqueMap
Local know-how
Treat or boil all water; the hut supply is not treated.
Sort backcountry hut tickets or a pass before your trip.
Expect deep mud and steep terrain—plan extra time and energy.
Watch for snow poles above the bushline to stay on route in low visibility.
Aim for late summer–early autumn and always check the weather and river conditions.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Expect a high, open basin with big-sky views and classic Fiordland granite underfoot. The lake itself is modest in size (about 19.2 hectares) but deep (around 41 meters), with numerous nearby tarns adding texture to the landscape. From the Pleasant Range you’ll find sweeping panoramas, including sights toward Tamatea/Dusky Sound and surrounding peaks.
On the approach near the bushline, keep an ear out for native birdlife such as yellowheads (mohua) and kākā. The higher basin is more about big landscapes than dense fauna, but patient, quiet travel often pays off.
Weather turns fast up here. Expect exposure, low visibility in clag, and snow pole markers above the bushline that are invaluable when the cloud drops. Heavy rain can render rivers dangerous and the track a boot‑sucking slog—plan conservatively and come fully self‑sufficient.
Wildlife
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Parkwolf’s Fiordland ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
