Moke Lake Campsite

Moke Lake is Queenstown’s best-kept camping secret. While the town buzzes with bungy jumpers and bar crawlers, this DOC campsite sits in complete stillness just 10 kilometres away, on the shores of a mirror-flat alpine lake surrounded by tussock-covered mountains. On a calm morning, the reflections are so perfect they look digitally enhanced. They’re not.

There are 50 sites spread around the lakeshore, all basic. Pit toilets, no showers, no drinking water, no power. The access road is unsealed and can get rough after rain, but most 2WD vehicles handle it fine in dry conditions. No campfires allowed, so bring your gas stove and layer up because even summer nights drop sharply at 390 metres elevation. A good sleeping bag rated to at least zero degrees is essential.

The Moke Lake loop track is a pleasant 2-hour walk around the lake, and kayaking on the flat water is brilliant in the morning before any wind picks up. Paradise ducks, fantails, and bellbirds provide the soundtrack. At $15 per adult per night, it’s one of the cheapest ways to experience the Queenstown landscape without the Queenstown price tag. Book through DOC and bring your Camping Pass.