The jetty
On the lake.
Andrii Slonchak from Brisbane, Australia — CC BY 2.0 · Eli Duke — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Paul Balfe — CC BY 2.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · LBM1948 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Glenorchy is a small village at the northern head of Lake Wakatipu, ringed by high snowy mountains. On the shore stand a long wooden jetty and an old red shed that has become the village's symbol, with turquoise water stretching towards the peaks. It lies about 45 km from Queenstown by road or boat and is named after a valley in Scotland. The Dart and Rees rivers flow into the lake here, and the nearby locality is called Paradise. Only a few hundred people live here, with a café, small shops and an airstrip. It is the start of well-known walking tracks in the surrounding mountains. Visitors come on a day trip from Queenstown along a scenic lakeside road, walk the jetty, photograph the red shed and stroll the wetland walkways near the village. It is about 30 km in a straight line northwest of Queenstown. Stop at the lookouts on the road; the view is lovely at every bend.
On the lake.
Village icon.
From Queenstown.
Head of Lake Wakatipu, Otago
About 45 minutes by car.
A café and small shops.