Parking
Park at the Moke Lake Campsite car park in Moke Lake Reserve, reached by the unsealed Moke Lake Road. Toilets are available at the campsite.
Overview
About Moke Lake Loop
Moke Lake Loop Track is a full loop around an alpine lake in the Queenstown area. The verified route is about 6.25 km (3.9 miles) with roughly 150 m of cumulative ascent from evenly spaced terrain samples. Allow 2–3 hours for the undulating easy-to-intermediate walk, including stops for the lake and mountain views.
Why go
- Complete lakeside loop with open mountain views
- Short southern boardwalk protects an important wetland
- Moke Lake Campsite provides a practical start with toilets nearby
Heads up
- Steep, winding approach includes an unsealed gravel road
- Undulating route has exposed sections with little shelter
- No dogs; bikes are restricted on the peninsula and adjoining far-side sections
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Queenstown-Lakes District map
Full mapElevation531–607 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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 Moke Lake Loop, 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 trailhead
Moke Lake Campsite: A Remote DOC SpotListen
“The area ahead contains Moke Lake Campsite, a basic DOC spot that offers a proper 'away-from-it-all' feeling. Just be aware the final seven kilometres are on a bumpy, corrugated gravel road.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Queenstown-Lakes District Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Moke Lake: The Famous Viewpoint and Lakeside Loop
- Moke Lake After Dark
- Sunshine Bay: A Quiet Lakeside Escape
- The War on Wilding Pines
- 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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Moke Lake Loop
Getting ThereFrom Queenstown, follow Glenorchy-Queenstown Road for about 10 minutes, then turn onto Moke…
From Queenstown, follow Glenorchy-Queenstown Road for about 10 minutes, then turn onto Moke Lake Road. Continue along the steep, winding road and its unsealed gravel section for about 8 km, passing Lake Kirkpatrick, to Moke Lake Reserve and the Moke Lake Campsite. Start from the campsite car park and follow the signed loop.
Trail NotesThe route makes a complete circuit around the lake through open grassland, with a short…
The route makes a complete circuit around the lake through open grassland, with a short boardwalk at the southern end protecting an important wetland. The track is undulating and the route stays close to the lake for broad mountain views. A short gravel-road connection is included where the mapped loop links the reserve access with the named lakeside track.
Biking and dogsMountain biking is Grade 3, but erosion restrictions prohibit bikes on the peninsula and on the…
Mountain biking is Grade 3, but erosion restrictions prohibit bikes on the peninsula and on the track sections on either side of it on the far side of the lake from the campsite. Follow all signs. Dogs are not allowed on this conservation-land track.
Facilities and conditionsThe Moke Lake Campsite has toilets; the campsite information identifies drinking water as…
The Moke Lake Campsite has toilets; the campsite information identifies drinking water as untreated. The approach road is unsealed and the route includes exposed grassland, so check conditions and carry suitable water, sun and weather protection.
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.
