Lake Alta hike Queenstown – Saddle Viewpoint hike

Lake Alta hike Queenstown – Saddle Viewpoint hike

The Lake Alta hike Queenstown is a short and easily accessible alpine hike located high on the Remarkables Mountain Range above Queenstown.

Lake Alta Hike Queenstown leads to one of the most beautiful alpine lakes on New Zealand's South Island. Located at the base of a small dome of jagged peaks, the lake is so picturesque that it was featured as Dimrill Dale in The Lord of the Rings. The short but rewarding hike is often considered one of the best Remarkables hikes.

Even if you're not a LoTR fan (how could you not be), a drive to the Remarkables chain and a short 1-hour hike to Lake Alta should be on everyone's Queenstown bucket list.

Getting to the Lake Alta Track

Access to the Lake Alta Queenstown hike is directly from the parking lot at Remarkables Ski Area. The drive here takes around 30 minutes from central Queentown.

You must exit State Highway 6 (SH6) at the signposted turnoff to the ski resort. From here a steep, winding but well-maintained road leads up the mountainside.

Trip to the Remarkables

The drive to the Remarkables is a bit of an adventure in itself, and the view is certainly a warm-up for things to come.

The road is steep, but easily manageable with a two-wheel drive in the warmer months. Snow chains are required in winter or after snowfall. On the way up and at the base there are several chain pass passageways that you can drive into.

Remarkables Access Road Cost: $10 per car only during the summer months (December 16th to April 30th)
alt=“SHOTOVER COUNTRY FROM LAKE ALTA SADDLE VIEWPOINT”>View from the road of Shotover and the Kawarau River

READ MORE: FULL LIST OF THE BEST ENTERTAINMENT IN QUEENSTOWN

Alta Hike Queenstown information

After we reached the ski area parking lot, we found a signpost with route information immediately after turning right onto the pedestrian street.

This is indeed the starting point. At the start of the hike you will therefore have to go up a few streets towards the ski areas before continuing to the right, up a slope and along a well-marked path.
alt=“LAKE ALTA HIKING QUEENSTOWN”>
Length and duration of the hike: 3.5 km (1 hour) back to the lake. 5 km (1.5 to 2 hours) back to the Sattel viewpoint.

Difficulty: Easy

Altitude: 1850 m

There are a few small and gentle stream crossings before you reach Lake Alta, but they are easy to do without getting wet.

The route is quite steep the entire way to the lake and reaches about 220 meters in elevation from the parking lot to Lake Alta. Expect to climb another 150 meters up to the saddle viewpoint to reach just over 2000m.

alt=“REMARKABLES SKI AREA HIKING TRAIL TO ALTERSEE”>
alt=“ALTA SADDLE VIEWPOINT SCAMBLE”>

Further information and current route status can be found on the official DOC website.

Don't miss the Ben Lomond hike from Queenstown

Lake Alta hike GPX map

Below I have included the Lake Alta GPX route that I recorded on my Garmin watch. This trail could be useful for those trying to find their way to the viewpoint on the saddle. However, remember that conditions change and you should not rely solely on GPX.

GPX file: Download

My Strava: Visit

Best viewpoint of Lake Alta: The Saddle Scramble

We had heard that it was possible to climb to the overlooking saddle just north of Lake Alta. We couldn't see any marked trail, but we thought we'd try our luck by walking up the rocks to the obvious ledge below the saddle.

Once we approached the rocks, we could make out a clear climbing route to the top of the smooth, grassy saddle to the right.

To find the exact route we took, refer to the GPX file or my Strava above. Note that as this is not a DOC track, you must attempt this at your own risk. We thought it was easy and relatively safe, at least in summer. I would imagine it would be slippery and much more dangerous in the winter.
alt="VIEW OF LAKE ALTA">
alt="Lake Alta Saddle Viewpoint">

DON'T MISS: 8 BEST HIKES IN QUEENSTOWN

View from above

After a short but steep climb, we were rewarded with an incredible view of Lake Alta below us. On the other side, there are unobstructed views of Lake Hayes, the Kawarau River and even the giants of the Mount Aspiring Range looming over the Coronet Peak ski fields across the valley.
alt=”LAKE ALTA QUEENSTOWN HIKE”>
alt="SHOTOVER AND SADDLE VIEWPOINT ON LAKE ALTA">
alt="Lake Alta Saddle Viewpoint">

RELATED POST: Where to Stay in Queenstown

More epic Queenstown hikes

I hope this Queenstown Lake Alta hike guide has answered all your questions and inspired you to visit this Queenstown gem. For more pictures, scroll to the bottom of this page where you will also find links to other epic hikes around Queenstown such as Ben Lomond, Moke Lake and Queenstown Hill.

Alternatively, check out this mega list of the 31 best hikes in the South Island.

Where to stay in Queenstown

I've written a separate, comprehensive accommodation guide with the best places to stay in Queenstown - be sure to check it out to get a great deal! Otherwise, you can find a quick summary of my top picks below.

Best Luxury Accommodation: Shotover Penthouse & SpaShotover Penthouse & Spa is an incredible apartment that features an outdoor terrace with a grill and a hot tub. It is 200 meters from Skyline Gondola and Luge and 1.3 km from Shotover River.

Best Value Lodge: Melbourne LodgeMelbourne Lodge is a five-minute walk from central Queenstown. It offers scenic views of the Remarkable Mountains and has a large shared outdoor sun terrace.This is a great choice for a budget stay in Queenstown. This lodge is suitable for families or solo travelers on a budget.

Where I Stayed: Spaceship CarDuring my recent visit to New Zealand, I cruised around in style in a Spaceship rental car. These are ideal for budget-conscious adventure travelers as they tick off your accommodation and transport in one neat package.

Cheapest Hostel in Queenstown: Base BackpackersQueenstown is known for many things; Adrenaline sports, epic day hikes and fantastic nightlife. What it isn't known for has anything to do with the word cheap. If you book in advance, you can still get a dorm bed for under $25 NZD at Base Backpackers.

Lakefront Hostel with Atmosphere: YHA Queenstown LakefrontYHA, opposite the incredible Lake Wakatipu, is one of the best and highest rated hostels in Queenstown. If you want to meet other adventure travelers, be close to the action, and have a comfortable dorm bed, don't look past YHA Lakefront

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More photos of the Lake Alta hike Queenstown

alt=“REMARKABLE SUNSET VIEWPOINT ACROSS THE TRACK”>
alt=“REMARKABLE SUNSET HIKE”>
alt="SUNSET AT THE REMARKABLES">
alt=“MOUNT ASPIRING FROM THE NOTEWORTHY”>
alt=“MOUNT ASPIRING FROM THE NOTEWORTHY”>
alt=““>Rock scrambling back to Lake Alta
alt="SHOTOVER AND SADDLE VIEWPOINT ON LAKE ALTA">

MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT

• Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
• Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
• 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
• Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
• Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
• Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
• Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
• Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
• Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
• Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip

For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.

If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.

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