Coronet Loop & Coronet Peak Trails are Closed for winter.
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One of the most scenic short loops in the Queenstown Trails Network. Popular with walkers and cyclists, the Lake Hayes Trail offers superb lake and mountain views. There are some short, steep climbs, and the trail is narrow in sections.
8km loop trail
Intermediate (Grade 3)
The trail around Lake Hayes offers exquisite mountain and lake vistas, a boardwalk protecting local wildlife, historic cottages and a close-up view of some of the area’s most notable homes.
Starting at the Rutherford Road end of the trail, and travelling in an anticlockwise direction: The Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Trail climbs above the lake and meanders across the flanks of Slope Hill before dropping down at the southern end to the boardwalk section. The trail winds through Willow trees before emerging by the Lake Hayes Pavilion (home of the famous Lake Hayes A&P Show). The trail crosses in front of the Wakatipu Rowing Club (public toilets are located here) onto Bendemeer Bay and the Lake Hayes Reserve - the perfect picnic spot and more toilets.
The trail can be narrow in sections with steep drop offs down to the lake.
If you'd like to take a plunge, Lake Hayes is a popular swimming spot during the summer months as its significantly warmer than the other lakes in the district - Check the LAWA web page on water quality if you're planning to swim in the lake.
Lake Hayes is at the very ‘heart’ of Queenstown’s 130km trails – the jewel in the crown, it is easily accessible from the Countryside and Twin Rivers Trails. So while it’s an enjoyable short ride in itself (under an hour), many like to make a day of it and incorporate the Lake Hayes Trail into rides from Gibbston, Arrrowtown and Queenstown. Alternatively its just a 5 minute drive from Arrowtown or a 20 minute drive from Queenstown.
- A well-maintained track, smooth gravel surface
- Steep drops beside the track on the western side of the lake
- Sign-posting and good phone reception
- Walkers (including dog-walkers) and bikers sharing the track
- Board walks at the southern end of the lake - please ride with care
- Narrow sections of trail
- Some short, steep climbs
Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Trail is a Grade 3 (Intermediate) trail. If you are not comfortable riding a Grade 3 trail, try walking it instead or riding one of the Grade 2 sections of the Queenstown Trail.
8 km loop trail
The trail around Lake Hayes offers exquisite mountain and lake vistas, a boardwalk protecting local wildlife, historic cottages and a close-up view of some of the area’s most notable homes.
Starting at the Rutherford Road entrance to the trail, there's a gradual climb to an elevated bench above the lake where the trail meanders along the contours of the hill before dropping down to the southern boardwalk section of trail and then cruising around past Bendemeer Bay and the Wakatipu Rowing Club to the Lake Hayes Reserve - the perfect picnic spot.
The Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Trail has multiple access points:
The Lake Hayes Trail is a great scenic loop that joins the Countryside Trail via Rutherford Rd. From the Twin Rivers Trail, the Lake Hayes Trail can be reached via the Lake Hayes Estate Link.
Many of our Official Partners offer guided tours and shuttles to and from the start and end points of the trails - allowing you to ultimately tailor your trail experience and pick up tons of local knowledge and discover secret spots along the way!
Click here to see our Directory of Tour Operators.
Check the LAWA web page on water quality for you and your dog if planning to swim in Lake Hayes.
Watch children closely, as there are sections with steep drops by the track edge.
If you are riding the track, choose a mountain bike rather than a road bike. On the southern end the trail goes over a boardwalk – please reduce speed or dismount.
Pack water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sunhat (for walkers) or a helmet visor (for bikers) in summer. In winter, carry plenty of warm and waterproof clothing – it gets very cold.
You can combine this trail with other nearby bike trails for a longer ride. It is part of the Queenstown Trail Great Ride.
The track occasionally floods on the southern side. If there is water over the track, avoid this section. You might also encounter maintenance work on this section of the track. Signage will alert visitors to any flooding or track work.
Respect Others
Respect the Rules
Respect the Trails
Share the Road
MOTORBIKES & E-MOTORBIKES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THE TRAIL
Lake Hayes is home to a healthy population of Australasian crested grebe.
The local Māori iwi (tribe) of Kai Tahu originally named the lake Te Whaka-ata a Haki-te-kura after an ancestress called Haki-te-kura whose image was said to be reflected in the lake.
Settlers originally knew the lake as Hays Lake after D. Hay, an Australian who came to the district looking for sheep country in 1859. Its name gradually changed to Lake Hayes, as its discovery was credited erroneously to Captain "Bully" Hayes, an early local character of the district.
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