Best time to visit
- Sunrise: the safest bet for glassy reflections and soft color.
- Late afternoon to sunset in autumn: golden light on the hills and mountains.
- Weekends in summer get busy—arrive early and share the jetty politely.
Overview
About Lake Hayes Jetty
Tucked on the south end of Lake Hayes beside the Pavilion, this simple timber jetty is the lake’s postcard foreground—no hike, just a short, flat stroll from the car park. On calm mornings the water turns to glass and you’ll get those perfectly symmetrical reflections that made this spot famous.
Why stop
- Classic mirror-reflection photo spot with zero hiking
- Easy access and parking beside the Lake Hayes Pavilion
- Public toilets close by at the rowing club/showgrounds
Heads up
- Small jetty that crowds at sunrise and sunset
- Parking can fill at peak times and event days
Map
Where it is
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Lake Hayes Jetty
Park at the Lake Hayes Pavilion car park and walk a minute to the jetty.
Arrive 30 minutes before sunrise or sunset to claim tripod space.
If you plan to swim in summer, bring water shoes for the rocky lakebed.
Check on-site signage for dog leash rules and any drone restrictions.
For reflections, aim for calm mornings; even light breezes kill the mirror.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
Getting There & Facilities
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 Jetty, 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 place
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 as you drive up to Lake Hayes Jetty in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Arrowtown's Autumn Colours
- Hampshire Holiday Park: A Convenient Arrowtown Base
- Arrowtown Chinese Settlement and Trailheads
- 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 Jetty
What You’ll SeeThink jetty lines leading your eye to the Remarkables and Cecil Peak, with long, clean…
Think jetty lines leading your eye to the Remarkables and Cecil Peak, with long, clean reflections when the wind behaves. Late light warms the hills; on still days the entire scene doubles in the water. It’s small, intimate, and very photogenic—hence the tripods at golden hour.
Things To Do NearbyLake Hayes Walkway: a mostly flat 6.
- Lake Hayes Walkway: a mostly flat 6.5 km loop around wetlands, willows, and open shore—great for walking, running, or biking.
- Summer dip: the south end is popular for swimming; the lakebed can be rocky, so water shoes help. There’s also a rope swing near the southern end.
- Make a day of it: nearby cellar doors and eateries (think Central Otago pinot) are an easy add-on after your shoot.
WildlifeKeep an eye out for black swans, paradise shelducks, pukeko, pied stilts, New Zealand scaup,…
Keep an eye out for black swans, paradise shelducks, pukeko, pied stilts, New Zealand scaup, Australasian crested grebe, and black shags. Early mornings along the reserve edge are best—bring binoculars if you have them.
Quick History NoteThe lake’s Māori names—Waiwhakaata and Te Whakaata a Hakitekura—nod to its mirror-like surface.
The lake’s Māori names—Waiwhakaata and Te Whakaata a Hakitekura—nod to its mirror-like surface. European settlers later adopted the Lake Hayes name.
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.
