Lake Dispute Walkway
A short, steep climb from the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road to a high country lake, with DOC links on to Moke Lake and the Mt Crichton Loop Track.
Published 15 September 2026 · Last checked 18 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
Key facts
Open. DOC's page for the walkway and its Queenstown area listing showed no alerts on 18 September 2026, and DOC's track record lists it as open. The track crosses private land. Checked 18 September 2026 on DOC, Lake Dispute Walkway (opens in a new tab).
- Time
- 1 hour 30 minutes return
- Distance
- 5.6 km return
- Track type
- Return the same way
- Grade
- Easy to intermediate walking track
- Surface
- Steep single track zigzagging up through shrubland, then along the lake
- Winter
- Care needed in winter
- Starts at
- Lake Dispute Walkway signpost, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 1.4 km past Wilson Bay
- Bus
- No Orbus stop within 1.2 km of the start
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Bikes
- Shared with bikes
- Buggies and wheelchairs
- Not suitable for buggies. Not wheelchair accessible
- Cost
- Free
In short: Lake Dispute Walkway is a 5.6 km return walk that DOC times at 1 hour 30 minutes and grades an easy to intermediate walking track. It starts at a signpost on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 1.4 km past Wilson Bay, and zigzags up through shrubland to Lake Dispute.
What the track is like
The zigzag through kōhūhū/pittosporum shrubland opens onto Lake Dispute, a high country lake used for trout fishing, and the Mt Crichton link looks back over the lake and across to Lake Wakatipu.
From the signpost on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road the track climbs straight away, zigzagging up through kōhūhū/pittosporum shrubland to Lake Dispute. DOC times the out and back at 1 hour 30 minutes for 5.6 km, and the lake is the natural turnaround. DOC's grade is for people with moderate fitness and basic outdoor skills, and allows for sections that are steep, rough or muddy. The track crosses private land, so keep to it, give stock room and leave gates as you find them.
At the southern end of the lake a signposted link climbs to the Mt Crichton Loop Track. DOC says the link takes about 40 minutes and gives views above Lake Dispute and across Lake Wakatipu. Bikes are not permitted on it.
The Lake Dispute to Moke Lake Track carries on from the walkway. DOC lists it as 5.8 km and 2 to 3 hours one way on a 4WD track: from a cattle grid near the southern end of the lake it follows the eastern shore, climbs a short, steep saddle, skirts farmland along the fence line and reaches the southern end of Moke Lake. Either side of the Moke Lake Loop Track then takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to the campsite. Those times come on top of the climb to the lake, so arrange transport at Moke Lake or treat the saddle as your turnaround.
Mountain bikers share the track. DOC classes the steep single track from the road to the lake as advanced (Grade 4) and the rest as intermediate (Grade 3). On the connector the approach to the saddle often has large loose rocks, and DOC notes some riders walk those sections.
How to get to the start
The signpost is on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road 1.4 km beyond Wilson Bay. DOC describes a small car park on the left side of the road, opposite the track on the right. Traffic on this road is fast and heavy in summer: DOC advises against parking on the roadside or reversing out onto the road, and says parking is easier in the morning or early evening.
There is no Orbus stop within walking distance: the nearest, Treetops on route 1, is about 6 km back towards Queenstown. There is no bus at Moke Lake either, so walking the connector one way needs a second car or a pick-up at the campsite.
- Start: Lake Dispute Walkway signpost, Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 1.4 km past Wilson Bay (directions (opens in a new tab)).
- Parking: Small car park on the left side of the road, opposite the signposted track on the right
- By bus: There is no Orbus stop within walking distance of the start: the nearest, Treetops on route 1, is about 6 km back towards Queenstown. Routes and fares are in the bus guide.
Is it open, and what is it like in winter?
Open on 18 September 2026. DOC's page for the walkway and its Queenstown area listing showed no alerts on 18 September 2026, and DOC's track record lists it as open. The track crosses private land. Check DOC, Lake Dispute Walkway (opens in a new tab) on the day; conditions change quickly.
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (September to November) | From September to November the climb can be muddy after rain, and DOC's brochure notes weather in the Whakatipu basin changes quickly at any time of year. Spring is outside the summer months DOC flags for busy parking on this road. |
| Summer (December to February) | DOC warns that car parks along the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road get very busy in summer and suggests arriving in the morning or early evening. Lake Dispute is also fished for trout. |
| Autumn (March to May) | Parking eases after summer. The grade already allows for sections that are steep, rough or muddy, so wear walking shoes or light boots with grip. |
| Winter (June to August) | The steep zigzag from the road can be slippery when frosty or icy. Wear footwear with grip, go in the middle of the day and turn back at the lake if the surface is poor. |
What to know before you go
- Both the walkway and the connector cross private land: stay on the track, keep away from stock and leave gates as you find them.
- The climb from the road is steep single track that DOC grades advanced for mountain bikes, so expect riders coming down and step aside where you can see ahead.
- The connector is 2 to 3 hours one way before the 1 hour 30 minutes around Moke Lake. DOC asks people on it to leave their plans with someone they trust and carry a distress beacon; start early enough to finish in daylight.
- Do not park on the roadside or reverse onto the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road; DOC warns traffic there is fast.
- No dogs on the walkway or the connector, and no fires at any time.
- Check DOC's page for alerts on the day; none were listed on 18 September 2026.
For emergencies call 111. The Queenstown safety guide covers the rest before a long or winter walk.
Questions people ask
How long does the Lake Dispute Walkway take?
DOC gives 1 hour 30 minutes return for the 5.6 km walk from the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road up to Lake Dispute and back.
How far is it from Lake Dispute to Moke Lake?
The Lake Dispute to Moke Lake Track is 5.8 km and 2 to 3 hours one way on a 4WD track with a short, steep saddle. Allow about 1 hour 30 minutes more around either side of Moke Lake to reach the campsite.
Where does the Lake Dispute Walkway start, and where do I park?
At a signpost on the Glenorchy-Queenstown Road, 1.4 km past Wilson Bay. There is a small car park on the left side of the road opposite the track; DOC advises against parking on the roadside.
Is the Lake Dispute Walkway hard?
DOC grades it an easy to intermediate walking track, for people with moderate fitness and basic outdoor skills. The climb from the road is a steep zigzag, and some sections may be rough or muddy.
Can I bike to Lake Dispute?
Yes. DOC classes the steep single track from the road to the lake as advanced and the rest as intermediate. Bikes are not allowed on the link to the Mt Crichton Loop Track.
Are dogs allowed on the Lake Dispute Walkway?
No. DOC does not allow dogs on the walkway or on the Lake Dispute to Moke Lake Track.
Can I get to Lake Dispute by bus?
No Orbus stop is within walking distance. The nearest is Treetops on route 1, about 6 km back towards Queenstown.
Is the Lake Dispute Walkway open?
DOC listed no alerts for it on 18 September 2026 and its track record shows it open. Check DOC's page on the day you go.
Nearby walks
- Mt Crichton loop
6.4 km loop · 2 to 3 hours for the loop; 1 hour to Sam Summers Hut · Easy to intermediate
- Moke Lake loop
6 km loop · 2 to 3 hours loop · Easy to intermediate walking track
- Seven Mile Point
3 km one way · 1 hour 30 minutes one way · Easy to intermediate
- Bob's Cove
1.5 km one way · 20 minutes to Bobs Cove, 30 minutes to Picnic Point, one way · Easy to intermediate
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Sources: DOC, Lake Dispute Walkway (opens in a new tab), DOC, Lake Dispute to Moke Lake Track (opens in a new tab), DOC, Queenstown day walks and bike trails brochure (April 2025) (opens in a new tab), DOC, Queenstown area (track listing and alerts) (opens in a new tab), Otago Regional Council, Orbus Queenstown GTFS (opens in a new tab) and DOC, Walking track categories (opens in a new tab), retrieved 18 September 2026. Distances, times and grades are the managing body's published figures; fit walkers are often quicker. Department of Conservation information is used under CC BY 4.0. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.
All walks: Queenstown walks and tracks.