The styles are great for walkers but really hard for single person’s with a heavy e-bike. Go in the morning as early as you can before the wind gets up, then you’ll get those stunning photos of a mirror lake. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I recommend exploring this off the beaten track gem as it really does provide an amazing view - perfect for a picnic The walk is very scenic with a great view north across Moke Lake from the bluff on the south of the lake. Hiking Around Moke Lake. In 1869 at Moke Creek “a regular definite deep lead of gold” is struck. What's the weather like in Queenstown right now. Heading off the main road up to the right, the initially sealed road becomes unsealed – but at the time of writing it was well graded. Follow the Moke Lake loop track from the car park, keeping a keen eye on the farmer’s fence that follows the track on the right. ... All reviews gravel road picnic spot walking track surrounding mountains great walk the loop photo stops new zealand hike glenorchy ... where it may have just snowed or rained. kestonr2018 wrote a review 06 Jan. Wellington, New Zealand 193 contributions 23 helpful votes +1. Great walk that took us nearly 5 hours. Getting there. This popular short, undulating walk through grassland is surrounded by mountains and goes right round the lake. This walk is going to offer crazy different scenery depending on the time of year you visit, but I must say when I was there in late September the surrounding snow was gorgeous (it’s rare to have snow that low at that time of the year). If you like to soak in a good sight, beware that you’ll have a slow start to the hike; the view of the lake is immediately incredible. The first 5 minutes is steep and windy then it’s better. Starting from the gravel Moke Lake Road, the Moke Lake Track circumnavigates Moke Lake (1,800 ft) in a remote valley not too far from Queenstown.Moke Lake is surrounded by mountains with Mount Crichton (6,135 ft) and Mount Hanley (5,348 ft) to the west, Ben More Peak (6,043 ft) to the north, and Ben Lomond Peak (5,735 ft) to the east. From Queenstown, drive along Glenorchy-Queenstown Rd for about 10 minutes then take the turnoff to Moke Lake Rd on your right. From Queenstown, drive along Glenorchy-Queenstown Rad for about 10 minutes then take the turnoff to Moke Lake Rd. The start point to the Moke Lake track is directly in front of the … From here, the aptly named 3km Gold Digger trail winds its way through old gold workings before joining the gravel Moke Lake Road, and continuing for around another 6km to the DOC campground, passing little Lake Kirkpatrick along the way. Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Whakatipu-wai-Māori / Queenstown Visitor Centre. Drive for about 8 kilometres, passing the smaller Lake Kirpatrick, before you arrive at Moke Lake Reserve, where you can start the walk. After a short climb, you will be rewarded with a stunning view overlooking the lake. Hope you enjoy my photos and description of the the whole walk below. Get the best prices here. Moke Lake's close proximity to Queenstown, yet secluded … You’ll need to make your own way there with a car. The Moke Lake Loop Track. Got questions? Turn left to Moke Lake, or right to Arthurs Point. We were able to drop our car at the bottom of the Lake Dispute track and get a Blue Bubble taxi van to take us up to Lake Moke to allow us to do the point to point walk which was billed as being a bit longer than the standard round the lake track. There are a few changes you can make with this walk; for a bit of added excitement you can also catch the gondola up and walk to the Ben Lomond Saddle, from here you can drop down and walk to either Arthurs Point or to Moke Lake. The gravel road is a bit bumpy but no need for a 4WD especially for the trip. Or you could hire a car for the day. Starting from the gravel Moke Lake Road, the Moke Lake Track circumnavigates Moke Lake (1,800 ft) in a remote valley not too far from Queenstown. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, camping, and fishing. Wealth ensues. The lake may not be clean enough to swim in, check for signs. Stunning mirror lake views if you go in the morning. ... All reviews gravel road picnic spot walking track surrounding mountains great walk the loop photo stops new zealand hike glenorchy ... where it may have just snowed or rained. Queenstown Tourism; Queenstown Hotels; Queenstown Bed and Breakfast; Queenstown Vacation Rentals; Queenstown Vacation Packages; Flights to Queenstown; Queenstown Restaurants To cater for the miners, Sefferstown tent village springs up where Moonlight and Moke creeks meet. This will take you away from the lake, but that’s ok. We’d come back to Moke Lake to walk the loop track we’d started and not finished the summer before. Copyright @ Freewalks.nz – Website built by Cool Web Design, Please leave your email address so we can get in touch if we have any questions. Not even at the campground. The views on the way round take in the Williamson spur to the east, the flats of Moke Creek, which winds around Ben Lomond (hidden from view). He thought the little lake would provide adequate resources for the mine, as the area offered plenty of grass for the horses and trees to provide timber for the mine. The distance between Queenstown and Moke Lake is 14 km. Visit the our Facebook Group, ask questions, get answers, meet people, post photos and share your walking experiences! The Moonlight Track is a narrow but well defined trail that starts at picturesque Moke Lake and follows the historic route into the Moonlight goldfields. The walk is a lovely loop right around Moke Lake, which would take you 2 and 1/2 hours if you walked it. From Queenstown, drive along Glenorchy-Queenstown Rad for about 10 minutes then take the turnoff to Moke Lake Rd. There are a few tracks in varying lengths to choose from. Moke Lake sits in a valley surrounded by mountains and on a nice calm day, the reflection on the lake is absolutely stunning. In 1863, prospectors find copper in the Shotover tributary Moke Creek. Following the discovery of a copper seam in the area, mining engineer T R Hacket prepared a report, which was republished in the Otago Daily Times in 1864. Moke Lake, Queenstown: Address, Phone Number, Moke Lake Reviews: 4.5/5. Definitely recommend the walk if you have time - the views are spectacular Can get really cold in winter so take a warm jacket. The track is fairly flat, following the circumference of the lake for a total length of approximately 6 KM. During the 1890s and early 1900s the area is heavily sluiced. The walk is a lovely loop right around Moke Lake, which would take you 2 and 1/2 hours if you walked it. Moke Lake Loop Track. ... All reviews gravel road picnic spot walking track surrounding mountains great walk the loop photo stops new zealand hike glenorchy ... where it may have just snowed or rained. All reviews gravel road picnic spot walking track surrounding mountains great walk the loop photo stops new zealand hike glenorchy cars lambs scenery kayak beauty hiking. The second two are a bit wider than the first. Drive for about 8 kilometres, passing the smaller Lake Kirpatrick, before you arrive at Moke Lake Reserve, where you can start the track. Moke Lake is named after the first donkey to encounter it (moke is an old name for donkey). After about 20 minutes you can take a short detour to the snout in the lake, with a nice stand of beech forest. Walking & Hiking Trails Walking & Hiking Trails Pukemokemoke Bush Loop Track The Pukemokemoke Bush Loop Track is a great Waikato walking trail, boasting over 300 native plants including matai, totara, kauri, kanuka and kahikatea, great picnic spots and stunning views of the wider region. Drive for about 8 kilometres, passing the smaller Lake Kirpatrick, before you arrive at Moke Lake Reserve, where you can start the track. See the full list of walks in Queenstown. Moke Lake is nestled in the mountains on Ben Lomond station located about 20 mins drive from Queenstown on the road to Glenorchy, turn off after 10 mins. Drive this steep and windy road until you reach an unsealed gravel road. Photos. There are two toilets here, both long drop type, no flushing water! Located in Queenstown area in the Otago region. Take a 10 minute drive from Queenstown, heading towards Glenorchy, and take the right turn that's signposted to Moke Lake. The walk is very scenic with a great view north across Moke Lake from the bluff on the south of the lake. We’ve personally walked each one, taken original photos and written the details as well. This walk was around 8-9kms and mostly downhill after going around the bluff at Lake Moke and then an initial gentle climb up the valley south of Lake Moke. Signs at the beginning said this route would take us 4-5 hours. Moke Lake. A short boardwalk at the southern end protects a small wetland. There is no safe drinking water on the walk so bring your own. Go early to see the stunning reflection on the mirror lake of the mountains. Category: Walking Track: Length: 4.94 km: Highest Point: 616 m: Lowest Point: 513 m: Elevation Profile (m) Hover over or click on the profile to see the position on the map. Follow the poled walking track down from Ben Lomond Saddle to the Ben Lomond Station farm road. Follow the obvious track alongside Lake Dispute, climb the hill at the head of the lake, then follow the signs to Moke Lake (very obvious!). Directions to moke-lake-loop-track trailhead (-44.997450, 168.571710) update trails status or condition Moke Lake Loop Track Trail Reports. There are lovely views of the lake all the way round. It’s a steep track so be prepared with suitable footware and layered clothing. Moke Lake is a 20 minutes drive out of Queenstown towards Glenorchy. Tour New Zealand walking & hiking with a campervan hire. The turnoff to Moke Lake is only a 10 min drive from Queenstown. Pretty good, not that wide if you’re on a bike. The lake is stunning, reflections of the surrounding mountains and amazing colours. Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/otago/places/queenstown-area/things-to-do/moke-lake-loop-track/. definitely worth the walk to this lake. Unfortunately the day we were out there it was a bit windy, so no stunning reflections for us. There is even more parking on the big flat paddock next to the gravel car park. Large motor-homes will make it there also, just be careful as the road is not that wide. We’d love to hear from you. The easiest loop track took us 1½ hours and was mostly an easy walk. Vie w walk photos Moke Lake Loop Walk: 2 - 2.5 Hours. The loop track is around 7 km and takes around 1.5 hours to complete. The first part of the hike takes you on the shaded side of the lake … Walking in winter is more stunning with snow capped mountains, but much colder than summer. The car park is huge at Moke Lake Reserve where the walk begins. The undulating walk takes you through grassland and round the lake. An estimated 4 million worth of gold is won before the area is abandoned by miners. Education, retail and drinking activities ensue. The pretty lake setting is framed by mountains and is a popular spot for walking, cycling and camping. Horse riding options there too. Moke Lake, Queenstown: Address, Phone Number, Moke Lake Reviews: 4.5/5. We did go too late in the day though. Ok, so I’ll confess right now, I biked around Moke Lake instead of walking. Start/Finish: The Gondola station, halfway up Skyline Access Road. The track is easy to see on the far side of the lake. This walk was around 8-9kms and mostly downhill after going around the bluff at Lake Moke and then an initial gentle climb up the valley south of Lake Moke. Click or drag a file to this area to upload. Or take a scenic self-guided kayak or SUP tour which includes transfers from Queenstown. 1. A nice option for a walk near Queenstown. If you go walking just after it’s rained, expect muddy parts with little waterfalls beside the track. There is a walk right around the lake which we didn’t do because of time but is well sign posted and an easy walk. In 1862, Australian prospector George Moonlight strikes gold near Moke Lake and a gold rush ensues. Want to share your walking and hiking tips and advice? Moke Lake, Queenstown: Address, Phone Number, Moke Lake Reviews: 4.5/5. Signs at the beginning said this route would take us 4-5 hours. Moke Lake Secret Viewpoint is a 2 mile out and back trail located near Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The farm road forks here – take the track to the right. I’m a bit hopeless riding on skinny boardwalks and had to walk my bike on the first one. The trail is primarily used for hiking and walking. Moke Lake is surrounded by mountains with Mount Crichton (6,135 ft) and Mount Hanley (5,348 ft) to the west, Ben More Peak (6,043 ft) to the north, and Ben Lomond Peak (5,735 ft) to the east. Great walk that took us nearly 5 hours. The Moke Lake Loop Track is an easy 3 to 4 hours walking trail that loops around the edge of Moke Lake back to the carpark. The Moke Lake Loop Track is a scenic 6-7km walk 20-minutes outside of Queenstown. Travel through Ben Lomond Station, and a beautiful lake, huge DoC campground and picnic area awaits you at the end. This popular short, undulating walk through grassland is surrounded by mountains and goes right round the lake. I just about had to turn back. This trail doesn’t give you the best views but it’s a trail that’s never overcrowded and is very peaceful. Sandflies can be a pain in summer. At the peak of the rush there are more than 2000 people living in the area. Reflecting the mountains and the wonderful landscape, this lake offers million dollar photo moments. We walked via the Mount Crichton loop Track past Dispute Lake and onto the Moke Lake. Drive this steep and windy road until you reach an unsealed gravel road. Walking the tracks around Moke Lake. The lake is also a draw for fishing, and on warmer days, the temperate of the water is perfect for a dip. definitely worth the walk to this lake. There are sty steps to get over, if you go by yourself you’ll have to carry your bike over the steps, which is really really hard for one girl and a heavy e-bike. status date description; Jan … Definitely recommend the walk if you have time - the views are spectacular A more serious Lake Moke adventure can be had by starting at the Seven Mile Point car park on the shores Lake Wakatipu, 5km from Queenstown. The track is mostly easy, with some steep parts along with rocky bits. Located just a 15 minute drive from Queenstown, the Moke Lake Loop Track is a popular short, undulating walk and cycle track. The road is sealed about half, then it’s unsealed gravel road for the rest of the way. From the car park you’ll see the track winding its way around the lake. We were able to drop our car at the bottom of the Lake Dispute track and get a Blue Bubble taxi van to take us up to Lake Moke to allow us to do the point to point walk which was billed as being a bit longer than the standard round the lake track. The sign says it takes 2.5 hours, but I was in a hurry and did it in 90 minutes (I’m not very fit either, just motivated to get home on time!). Moke Lake Time: 4 hr one-way Start/Finish: Ben Lomond Track at saddle/Arthurs Point or Moke Lake Crosses private land Managed by Ben Lomond Station. Good thing my e-bike has a walk mode otherwise it would have been really hard going. Plenty of room for a picnic and large motorhome parking. When this fence stops and turns right, follow it for 400m. It begins down the far end of the campground, just in front of the main car park. The Moke Lake Loop track is a the most popular hiking track at the lake. Moke Lake Loop Track. This trail is very well maintained, flat, and easy. Moke Lake is nestled in the mountains on Ben Lomond station located about 20 mins drive from Queenstown on the road to Glenorchy, turn off after 10 mins. The track has gentle gradients and some boardwalk sections. From Moke Lake campsite follow the Ben Lomond Station farm road above Moke Creek, passing the remnants of an old mining settlement, Sefferstown. Moke Lake Loop is a 3.8 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Queenstown, Otago, New Zealand that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The track then continues down to Moke Lake where there is a DoC campsite. Speculation (and a little bit of mining) ensues. There were some steep hills in parts where we needed to catch our breath but nothing extreme. The Moke Lake Loop Track is a popular scenic trek with the locals and loops around the lake for a walk that takes around 2 hours to complete. Depending on the time of year you go, (we went in summer) it would be even more spectacular with snow cap mountains. 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