Glenorchy
A little paradise at the head of Lake Wakatipu, where the red boathouse wharf and snowy lake views served as Lord of the Rings filming locations, and the start of the Routeburn Track.
Glenorchy sits at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu, about 45 minutes' drive (46 km) from Queenstown along the lakeside road. The road itself is one of New Zealand's most scenic self-drive routes, and the Bennetts Bluff lookout along the way overlooks the whole lake and mountain range. The small town has only a few hundred residents. Its main photo spots are the red boathouse on the lakeshore (Glenorchy Wharf Shed) and the wooden boardwalk, with the best reflections at dawn or dusk. The Glenorchy Walkway through lakeside wetlands takes about 1 hour. Scenes from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, including Lothlórien and Isengard, were filmed nearby in Paradise. You can join a four-wheel-drive filming location tour with operators such as Nomad Safaris (about 4 hours, from NZD 250), or ride a jet boat up the Dart River (Dart River Jet). Glenorchy is also the entrance to the Routeburn Track and the Rees–Dart Track. A one-day hike can cover the early section of the Routeburn Track to Routeburn Flats (about 4–5 hours return). The town has only one café and a small general store, and petrol station hours are limited, so fill up in Queenstown before setting out.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Routeburn Track
- Moke Lake
- Skippers Canyon
- Ben Lomond Track
- Lake Wakatipu
- Shotover Jet
- Skyline Queenstown Gondola
- Kiwi Birdlife Park