Moke Lake New Zealand – Hiking and camping near Queenstown

Moke Lake New Zealand – Hiking and camping near Queenstown

Complete guide to Moke Lake New Zealand - epic campsite and mountain lake hiking area near Queenstown.

Moke Lake New Zealand is a small mountain lake near the small suburb of Closeburn, near Queenstown. Although this lake is a relative stone's throw from the busy adrenaline center, Moke Lake offers a much quieter and more relaxed atmosphere as well as opportunities for short day hikes and viewpoints.

If you're looking for a cheap place to pitch your tent for the night, then this DOC campsite is one of the best options near Queenstown.

Where is Moke Lake New Zealand?

Moke Lake is about 14 km from Queenstown, over the hills on the road that leads from Queenstown to Glenorchy. The lake lies between two mountain ranges and is accessible via a dirt road that runs down the valley alongside Moke Creek.

How to get to Moke Lake from Queenstown?

To get to Moke Lake you have to whiz down the Queenstown-Glenorchy road for 6km before turning onto the Moke Lake road. Shortly thereafter, look for signs indicating a left turn on the dirt access road to Moke Lake.

It shouldn't take more than 25 minutes to reach the lakeside campsite from Queenstown - once you've got past the traffic and actually left the city!

Note: Winter access is only open to 4WD vehicles.

RELATED POST: Queenstown accommodation guide

Moke Lake Campground

Moke Lake Camp Ground is a Department of Conservation (DOC) campground. Both independent and non-autonomous vehicles are allowed to stay here. There is also enough space to set up a tent.

You cannot book Moke Lake Campground in advance, sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis. That being said, the entire area surrounding the lake is huge, and you shouldn't have any trouble securing a spot at any time of the year.
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Campsite costs

The cost of camping is $15 per person, whether you pitch a tent or sleep in a vehicle. At the entrance to Moke Lake Campground there is a small form and box where you can fill out your vehicle information and pay your fees.

Facilities

Facilities at Moke Lake include:

• Toiletten
• Frischwasserhähne (abkochen oder zuerst behandeln)
• Unterstand zum Kochen
• 50 nicht mit Strom versorgte Zeltplätze
• Viel Platz zum Abstellen eines Wohnmobils

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READ MORE: THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN QUEENSTOWN

Moke Lake Campground Review

We visited Moke Lake Campground because we really wanted to explore the lake viewpoint and loop trail. When we arrived we were surprised at how well maintained the campsites and facilities were.

We pitched our tent right on the lakeshore, which meant we had a spectacular sunrise view for breakfast.

At $15 per person it's probably one of the best places to camp near Queenstown.
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Hiking at Moke Lake New Zealand

Below is some information about the three main hikes and short day hikes that start at Moke Lake.

Don't miss the Ben Lomond hike from Queenstown.

1. Moke Lake Loop Track

The Moke Lake Loop Track is one of the most popular hiking trails on the lake. The route is fairly flat and follows the circumference of the lake for a total length of around 6km.

The Moke Lake Track trailhead is located directly in front of the campground, near the beach access on the shore.
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2. Viewpoint on the slope

The Moke Lake Overlook was my personal favorite hike in the area. The trail is unmarked but obvious if you know where to look.

The trail takes about 40 minutes up a steep hill to a flat clearing that offers some of the best views of Moke Lake.

I found the track by reading Destinationless Travel's excellent guide, so go here for directions and location.
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3. The Moonlight Trail

Moke Lake New Zealand's longest hiking trail is the Moonlight Track. This path goes all the way past the Ben Lomond saddle over to Arthur’s Point, near the Edith Cavell Bridge and the Shotover Jet.

This trail is steep and much longer – a total of 4 hours of walking time. In winter it can also be slippery and icy, so it's best to be prepared.

The Moonlight Trail from Moke Lake to Arthur’s Point begins above Moke Lake near Ben Lomond Station.
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More things to do in Queenstown

I hope you found this Moke Lake New Zealand travel guide useful. For more ideas on what to do in this incredible part of New Zealand's South Island, check out the links below this post.
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