Lake Alta Hike Queenstown - Saddle Viewpoint Hike

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

Lake Alta Hike Queenstown leads to one of the most beautiful Alpine lakes in the South Island of New Zealand. The lake lies at the foot of a small dome made of rugged peaks and is so picturesque that it was seen as a dimrill dale in the Lord of the Rings. The short but rewarding hike is often seen as one of the best remarkable hiking trails.

Even if you are not a gone fan (how could you not be), you should be a trip to the Remarkables chain and a short 1-hour hike to the Alta Lake on every Bucket List from Queenstown.

Arrival to Lake Alta Track

Access to the Queenstown Lake Alta hike is located directly from the parking lot on the Remarkables ski area. The journey here takes about 30 minutes from the center of Queentown.

You have to leave the state highway 6 (SH6) on the signposted junction to the ski area. From here a steep, winding but well -developed road leads up the mountain slope.

Drive to the Remarkables

The trip to the Remarkables is already a little adventure, and the view is certainly a warming up for the upcoming things.

The road is steep, but in the warmer months with a two -wheel drive easy to master. Snow chains are required in winter or after snowfall. On the way upwards and at the base there are several chain passports into which you can drive into.

access road Remarkables costs: $ 10 per car only during the summer months (December 16 to April 30)
Alt = “Shotover Country from Lake Alta Saddle Viewpoint”> View from the street on Shotover and the Kawarau River

Read more: Complete list of the best conversations in Queenstown

Alta Hike Queenstown Information

After we reached the parking lot of the ski area, we found a guide with path information immediately after turning right onto the pedestrian road.

This is indeed the starting point. At the beginning of the hike you have to go up a few streets to the ski areas before going on the right, up a slope and over a well -marked path.
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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: Simply

Seehöhe: 1850 m

There are a few small and gentle brook crossings before reaching Lake Alta, but they are easy to cope with without getting wet.

The route is quite steep on the entire path to the lake and reaches about 220 meters from the parking lot to Lake Alta. Expect a further 150 meters of altitude to the viewpoint of the saddle to reach just over 2000 m.

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Alt = “Alta-Sattel-Out viewpoint scamble”>

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

Do not miss the Ben Lomond hike from Queenstown

Lake Alta Hike GPX card

Below I inserted the Lake Alta GPX route that I recorded on my Garmin watch. This path could be useful for those who try to find the way to the viewpoint on the saddle. However, remember that the conditions change and you should not only rely on GPX.

gpx file: download

Mein Strava: Visit

Best viewpoint on the Altasee: The Saddle Scramble

We had heard that it was possible to climb the overview saddle directly north of Lake Alta. We couldn't see a marked path, but we thought we would try our luck by going up the rocks to the obvious rocky lead under the saddle.

As soon as we approached the rock, we were able to make a clear climbing route to the tip of the smooth, grass -covered saddle.

To find the exact route we have taken, refer to the GPX file or my strava above. Note that you have to try this at your own risk because it is not a Doc track. At least in summer we thought it was simple and relatively safe. I would imagine that it would be slippery and much more dangerous in winter.
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Don't miss: 8 Best hikes in Queenstown

Outlook from above

After a short but steep climb, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the Lake Alta below us. On the other hand, there is a unhindered view of the Lake Hayes, the Kawarau River and even the giants of Mount Aspiring Range, which protrude over the Coronet Peak skieldern beyond the valley.
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Alt = “Shotover and Sattel-Out viewpoint on the Alta-See”>
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associated post: overnight stays in Queenstown

More epic queenstown hikes

I hope that this travel guide will answer all your questions for the Lake Alta hike in Queenstown and inspired you to visit this jewel from Queenstown. Scroll for more pictures at the end of this page, where you can also find links to other epic hikes around Queenstown such as Ben Lomond, Moke Lake and Queenstown Hill.

Alternatively, take a look at this mega list with the 31 best hikes on the South Island.

where in Queenstown

I wrote a separate, comprehensive accommodation leader with the best accommodations in Queenstown - be sure to look at it to get a great offer! Otherwise you will find a short summary of my top picks below.

Best luxury accommodation: Shotover Penthouse & Spashotover Penthouse & Spa is an incredible apartment that has an outdoor terrace with grill and whirlpool. It is 200 m from the Skyline Gondola and Luge and 1.3 km from the Shotover River.

Best Value Lodge: Melbourne Lodgedie Melbourne Lodge is five minutes walk from the center of Queenstown. It offers a picturesque view of the Remarkable Mountains and has a large common sun terrace outdoors. This is a great choice for a cheap stay in Queenstown. This lodge is suitable for families or solo travelers with a small budget.

Where I stayed: SpaceShip Car Waring of my last visit to New Zealand I drove stylishly in a spaceship rental car. These are ideal for price -conscious adventure travelers because they check their accommodation and transport in a decent package.

cheapest hostel in Queenstown: Base Backpackersqueenstown is known for many things; Adrenaline sports, epic day hikes and a fantastic nightlife. What it is not known for, has something to do with the word cheap. If you book in advance, you can still get a dormitory bed for less than 25 NZD at Base Backpackers.

lakefront hostel with atmosphere: Yha Queenstown LakeFrontyha compared to the incredible Lake Wakatipu is one of the best and highest rated hostels in Queenstown. If you meet other adventure travelers, be close to the action and prefer a comfortable dormitory bed, don't look past the Yha Lakefront

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More photos of the Lake Alta Hike Queenstown

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Alt = "sunset at the Remarkables">
Alt = "Mount aspiration from the remarkable">
Alt = "Mount aspiration from the remarkable">
Alt = ““> Rock Scrambling back to Lake Alta
Alt = “Shotover and Sattel-Out viewpoint on the Alta-See”>

My camera and photo equipment

  • Mirrorless camera: Canon R5
  • drone: DJI Mavic Pro 2
  • 360-degree action camera: Insta360 One X2
  • landscape lens: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8l
  • all-round lens: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
  • telephoto lens: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4.5–7.1 l
  • Long action rod: Insta360 Invisible Pole (Bullettime)
  • landscape lens filter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
  • camera backpack: F-stop Tilopa
  • Favorite photo accessories: Peak Design Capture Clip

A list of my recommended photo equipment (including what I use and why) can be found in my guide for camera equipment for the trip.

If you want to use one 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 from pictures on WE Seek Travel.

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