Lake Wakatipu is the 80-kilometre-long glacial lake that defines Queenstown's geography — a narrow, zigzag-shaped body of water (reaching 380 metres depth in places, making it one of the deepest lakes in the world) formed by glaciers that carved the valley between the Southern Alps about 15,000 years ago. The lake's unique 'tide' — the water level rises and falls approximately 100mm every 27 minutes due to a seismic standing wave called a seiche — is a geographical quirk found in only a handful of lakes worldwide.
Māori legend attributes the lake's shape and tide to the body of a sleeping giant (Tipua) slain by Māori hero Matakauri. The lakefront walk from Queenstown Bay west to the Queenstown Gardens and east to Frankton Beach provides a 3-kilometre flat easy walk that takes in most of the town's waterfront. Swimming is possible November-April but the water stays cold (typically 15°C in summer).
Verified Facts
Lake Wakatipu is 80 kilometres long
The lake reaches 380 metres depth
The seiche tide rises and falls approximately 100mm every 27 minutes
The lake formed around 15,000 years ago from glaciation
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