New Zealand Walk: Lake Alta Track - a climb to a

Lake Alta Track - a climb to a glacial lake

By Yvonne van Eerden

We had a week in Queenstown to do some tramping and looking around.

The morning was clear and we decided to go up to the Remarkables to walk to Lake Alta (a walk of one and a half hours return).

Lake Alta is an alpine cirque lake (bowl shaped amphitheater – like Above: A mirrtor image in Lake Alta. Below left: The low cloud had rolled in but we were nearly back at the carpark.

- a climb to a glacial lake

depressions that glaciers carve into mountains and valley side walls at high elevations).

We headed up to the Remarkables skifield by car to walk to Lake Alta from the skifield, (there was a toll gate and we were more than happy to pay the $10 which goes towards keeping the road in good condition).

There was no snow to be seen, the day was crisp with unbelievable clear blue sky and no wind. On the way up the road, we stopped at view points to take photos of Queenstown and the surrounding area.

Once at the car park we organised Above right: Looking into the still waters of Lake Alta.. Below right: The track beside rocky terrain up to the lake.

Lake Alta Track - a climb to a glacial lake

ourselves with our gear and made sure we had lunch. What an amazing place and we were only at the carpark. It was so incredibly unreal to see all the surrounds, the mountain peaks, the ski road, the chair lifts and the blue sky.

We headed up to the ski building and followed the signs which were especially for trampers and walkers to follow to Lake Alta. This was not a huge tramp as it was only one and a half hours but we knew we would Above: The skifield building in Summer. Below left: Walking through a tussock patch.

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take our time and just soak in the spectacular views, stopping many times. We headed to the ski conveyors and snow making ma chines and saw all the ski buildings with the chair lifts. The skifield was certainly a huge place.

After walking up the 4WD road we came to the start of the smaller track up to Lake Alta where we had ice under foot in places with the schist rocks which were slippery in places, so you definitely had to watch every step. There were huge boulders around. You never got tired of looking at the surrounding scenery.

We kept a close eye on the weather as the cloud was coming in behind us but it was very slow moving so we knew we had plenty of time. The weather can change at any stage and we had all the gear.

We reached Lake Alta and at first you could not see the water as it was so grey. As we came closer you realised it was water.

How absolutely incredible to be able to see Lake Alta with all the surrounding boulders and mountain peaks. There was so much scenery to soak in. As you got closer the shallow parts of the lake were as clear as anything all the way to the bottom.

We met some other hardy trampAbove: Time for a rest and enjoy the scenery. Below: Some of the huge bolders beside the track.

ers, some even going higher to the top peaks but we were definitely happy to sit on some rocks to have our lunch and then take many photos.

After lunch we headed back to the car park and we soon reached the low cloud so stopped to put some more layers on but we knew we had the best part of the day.

What an unbelievable place to visit with spectacular views. How lucky we are to have been able to walk on the skifield to see Lake Alta. A great day had by all.

Fact file

Lake Alta Track

Located in Remarkables Conservation Area in the Otago region the climb to the glacial (by both definition and temperature!) Lake Alta will give you a perspective of the Remarkables Ski Area outside of the ski season.

It begins on the road behind the skifield buildings and follows a road to the top of the Alta Chairlift. From there, cairns and flagstones mark the way through alpine wetlands, up to the picturesque lake framed by the mountain’s jagged peaks.

Duration: 1.5 hours return

Best time to go: Summer months from November after the ski area has closed. In winter with appropriate snow gear (skins or snowshoes) only.

Start/Finish: The Remarkables Ski Area base, via the Remarkables Ski Area access road. South of the Kawarau River on the eastern side of Lake Whakatipu, turn off SH 6 at the signposted junction to the Remarkables ski area.

Difficulty: Advanced, tramping track Bike-friendly: No

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Above top: My husband Bruce on the newly opened walkway in Meadowbank. This lovely walkway is the Section 2 of the Glen Innes to Tamaki Drive shared pathway. It boasts stunning views of the river and reserves. Photo by Josephine Alexander, Henderson, Auckland.

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Above left: A member of the Upper Hutt Walking and Tramping Club blending in well with the greenery on the Banks Peninsular Track in January 2022’. Photo by Sharon Dunstan, Whitby, Porirua Above right: If you go into The Hanmer Forest Sculptural Walk today you’re sure of a big surprise’. But don’t forget to look up also for its amazing what one might find on this easy walking track, suitable for all ages. Photo by Ann Kidd, Motueka. Below right: Time for reflection on the Wetlands Loop at Bushy Park, Whanganui. Photo by Zoe Cooper, Paraparaumu

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