Best time to visit
- Early and late in the day for the best light and calm water.
- Weekdays are quieter; weekends can feel busy during autumn color.
- Open year-round with no entry fee, and it’s enjoyable in any season.
Overview
About Lake Hayes
Lake Hayes (Waiwhakaata / Te Whaka-ata a Haki-te-kura) sits in the Wakatipu Basin between Queenstown and Arrowtown. It’s a small, scenic lake famous for glassy reflections, easy access, and a relaxing, go-at-your-own-pace vibe.
Why stop
- 8 km lakeside loop for walking, running, and cycling
- Mirror-like reflections and standout autumn color
Heads up
- Some sections of the loop are tree-lined with limited views
- No cafés lakeside; bring your own food and water
Map
Where it is
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Lake Hayes
Hit the loop at sunrise or late afternoon for the best reflections.
Visit on weekdays; late April is prime for peak autumn color.
Use the signed lookout points to break up the tree-lined sections.
Dogs are allowed on-leash—great for an easy family-friendly outing.
Bring water and snacks; services are limited around the shoreline.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
Getting There & Logistics
1 active Queenstown-Lakes District alert
- ClosureSkippers Bridge closed to all trafficSkippers Bridge is closed to all vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians; do not cross.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide
Your drive to Lake Hayes, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Queenstown-Lakes District, New Zealand. 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 Queenstown-Lakes District audio tourRecorded for this area
Lake Hayes: Mirrored Views and a Lakeside LoopListen
“The body of water you're near is Lake Hayes, a real favourite with locals for walking and running. It's best known for its easy, six-and-a-half-kilometre loop track that follows the shoreline.”
Plays on the road 1.7 km from Lake Hayes in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Arrowtown's Autumn Colours
- Lower Shotover Bridge: Historic Views Over the River
- Hampshire Holiday Park: A Convenient Arrowtown Base
- Exploring Historic Arrowtown and the Gold Rush
- 164 audio storiesacross Queenstown-Lakes District’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, Kākā, Kererū, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 37 trails, 111 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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
More about Lake Hayes
What You'll SeeExpect classic Central Otago scenes: calm water, schist-studded hills, and broad skies.
Expect classic Central Otago scenes: calm water, schist-studded hills, and broad skies. Birdlife is a real draw—look for native New Zealand scaup, Australasian crested grebe, and black shag alongside familiar mallards and feral geese. Anglers can find brown trout and perch, with native upland bully, koaro, and longfin eel also present.
The Loop TrackThe Lake Hayes Circuit is an ~8 km loop that forms part of the Queenstown Trail and is popular…
The Lake Hayes Circuit is an ~8 km loop that forms part of the Queenstown Trail and is popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists. Dogs are allowed on-leash. Some stretches tunnel through trees with fewer vistas, so use the signed lookouts for wider panoramas if you’re short on time.
Photography NotesThis lake is renowned for mirror-like reflections—aim for early morning or late afternoon light.
This lake is renowned for mirror-like reflections—aim for early morning or late afternoon light. Autumn turns the shoreline gold; the season’s peak color typically lands in late April.
Wildlife & Quiet CornersBirdwatchers will appreciate the mix of natives and introduced species, especially around the…
Birdwatchers will appreciate the mix of natives and introduced species, especially around the quieter bays. Give wildlife space, keep dogs leashed, and pack binoculars if that’s your thing.
A Bit of Backstory & GeologyThe Māori name references the ancestress Haki-te-kura, whose image was said to be reflected in…
The Māori name references the ancestress Haki-te-kura, whose image was said to be reflected in the lake. The wider basin was shaped by past glacial processes, leaving the terraces and valley floor that cradle Lake Hayes today. The lake itself is modest in size (~2.76 km²) yet relatively deep (~33 m), sitting around 315 m above sea level with Mill Creek flowing in and Hayes Creek out.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Queenstown-Lakes District
189 sightingsKeaMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
18 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
195 sightingsKererūMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
48 sightingsWekaMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
239 sightingsTūīMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
97 sightingsBellbirdMost seen around 6 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Queenstown-Lakes District. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
