Queenstown to Glenorchy: Your guide to one of NZ's best scenic drives

Glenorchy may be one of Queenstown’s most popular day trips, but getting there is a huge part of the attraction. The road follows the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with beaches, walking tracks, and lookouts tempting you out of the car as the landscape becomes increasingly wild and mountainous.

This guide takes you along the Queenstown to Glenorchy scenic drive. Discover the best places to stop along the route, tips for the road, and ideas for making the most of your time in Glenorchy.

Photo Credit: Expedia

Where is Glenorchy, NZ? And how far is it from Queenstown?

Glenorchy is a small town at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 km northwest of Queenstown on the South Island of NZ. It sits between the Richardson and Humboldt mountain ranges, close to the Dart and Rees rivers and within easy reach of some of the region’s best-known day hikes. 

Once you arrive, there are plenty of ways to explore Glenorchy, from hiking and farm tours to jet boating on its glacial rivers. The nearby settlement of Paradise takes you deeper into the region’s ancient beech forests, which provided the setting for Lothlórien in The Lord of the Rings. 

The relatively short distance from Queenstown to Glenorchy makes it an easy day trip, while the increasingly wild alpine scenery gives the journey a much more remote feel than the mileage suggests.

Photo Credit: Google Maps

How long does it take to drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy?

Allow around 45 minutes for the Glenorchy drive from Queenstown if you travel straight through in good conditions. In practice, an hour or two is much more realistic if you want to stop for photos or take a detour along the way.

The road has plenty of bends, rises and falls, so there’s little reason to hurry. Keep an eye on the posted speed limit, let faster traffic pass safely, and give yourself enough time to enjoy the journey.

If you’re making a day of it, leaving in the morning gives you time for several stops on the drive out, a few hours in Glenorchy and an unhurried return later in the day.

How to get from Queenstown to Glenorchy

Driving gives you the most freedom to make a day of it. Hiring a rental car means you can pull in at bays and lookouts, take a detour or stop for a walk without working around someone else’s schedule.

If you’re travelling without a car, you can join a private shuttle service between Queenstown and Glenorchy. Services and timetables vary seasonally, so it’s best to book ahead. There’s no regular public bus between Queenstown and Glenorchy.

Or, you could join an organised tour from Queenstown. Depending on the tour, you might stop at scenic viewpoints, visit filming locations or combine the trip with a Dart River jet boat experience.

The Queenstown to Glenorchy scenic drive route

Leaving Queenstown, the route heads west before settling into a spectacular run between the water and the mountains. As the buildings thin out, small bays and steep hills give way to increasingly expansive views towards the head of the lake. In winter, snow-capped mountains create a spectacular backdrop, while the warmer months bring longer daylight hours for stopping and exploring.

Whatever the season, check the forecast before setting off. Conditions can change quickly in this alpine part of New Zealand.

Best stops between Queenstown and Glenorchy

One of the pleasures of this road trip is that you don’t need to travel far between stops. Some are right beside the road, while others involve a detour or a short walk, so you can choose a few according to how much time you have. 

Photo Credit: Department of Conservation

Sunshine Bay

Only a few minutes after leaving central Queenstown, Sunshine Bay gives you an early excuse to stop. The quiet beach is backed by native bush, while the Sunshine Bay Track offers amazing views across the water towards The Remarkables. 

Moke Lake

Photo Credit: Queenstown NZ

Moke Lake requires the biggest detour of the stops on this list, but its sheltered setting among rounded mountains makes it a popular spot for walking, picnics, and photos.

Turn off the Queenstown-Glenorchy Road onto Moke Lake Road around 6 km from Queenstown. The final section is an unsealed gravel road, which can be difficult to access in winter, when the road may be suitable for 4WD vehicles only.

If you have time, the Moke Lake Loop Track circles the lake through open grassland. Otherwise, stop for a look around the lakeshore before retracing the road back to the main route.

Wilson Bay

Photo Credit: Department of Conservation

Wilson Bay is an easy roadside stop with parking close to the water and wide views towards the mountains. It’s also an access point for the Seven Mile Point Track. 

Twelve Mile Delta

Photo Credit: Department of Conservation

A little farther north, Twelve Mile Delta sits where Twelve Mile Creek reaches Lake Wakatipu. The reserve offers lake access, walking and mountain biking tracks, and the Twelve Mile Delta campground. The Lord of the Rings fans may recognise the landscape as the Ithilien Camp location.

Bob's Cove

Photo Credit: Department of Conservation

Bob's Cove is one of the best places on the route to get out of the car and stretch your legs. The track descends through native bush to a sheltered cove, then offers an optional climb to Picnic Point for views across the lake and surrounding mountains.

There’s also a historic lime kiln beside the track, a remnant of the Wakatipu Lime Company, which quarried limestone here in the 1800s.

Bennetts Bluff Lookout

Photo Credit: My Queenstown Diary

Farther along the route, Bennetts Bluff Lookout gives one of the clearest signs that Glenorchy is closing in, with the landscape opening towards the northern end of the lake. 

A 630-metre return track leads gradually from the car park to the viewpoint, where you can look across the lake towards Mount Earnslaw/Pikirakatahi and the mountains around Glenorchy. The walk takes around 15 minutes return, making this one of the easiest stops to fit into the journey.

Tips for driving to Glenorchy from Queenstown

The Glenorchy-Queenstown Road is sealed all the way, but its narrow, winding sections and limited visibility around some bends mean it pays to take your time. Stick to the posted speed limits and be particularly careful when pulling into or out of roadside stops, where other vehicles may be approaching quickly. 

In summer, parking at popular walking tracks can fill up, so use designated parking areas and avoid stopping on the roadside for photos.

Before leaving Queenstown, check the weather and current road conditions, particularly if you’re travelling in winter, when heavy rain, ice or snow can make driving more challenging. It’s also a good time to fill the tank, as fuel options become more limited around Glenorchy and beyond.

If you’re continuing into the backcountry, some roads beyond Glenorchy are unsealed and can become flooded or damaged after bad weather. Make sure you check local conditions before you head off and check that your rental vehicle is permitted on your planned route before heading farther afield.

Planning a Glenorchy day trip from Queenstown

You could drive from Queenstown to Glenorchy and back in under a few hours, but you’d miss much of what makes the route so enjoyable. For a relaxed Glenorchy day trip from Queenstown, allow most of the day so you have time to explore along the way and at your destination.

Once you reach Glenorchy, head down to the waterfront before taking a wander around the Glenorchy Lagoon Walkway. The easy track crosses wetlands near the township, with views towards Mount Earnslaw and the Humboldt Range.

Once you're in Glenorchy, there's plenty to fill the day: jet boating on the glacier-fed Dart River, horse trekking, joining a movie-location tour or tackling one of the nearby hiking trails. Glenorchy is also a gateway to the Greenstone, Caples, and Routeburn tracks and the wider wilderness of Mount Aspiring National Park.

Rather than trying to squeeze everything in, pick a couple of stops for the journey out and save anything you miss for the return.

Photo Credit: Tourism New Zealand

Hit the road with the right rental car

With mountains ahead and plenty of reasons to stop, the Queenstown-Glenorchy drive is an ideal route to explore with your own car. Pick up an Omega rental car in Queenstown and make a day of it, with the freedom to stop, walk and explore whenever something catches your eye.