Gem Lake

Gem Lake: crowds and conditions

Typical pattern: moderate; weekends busier. Been there recently? Post today’s status and it shows here for the next traveller.

Status options for this lake: Full / gates open · Low water level · Entry closed.

Best time to visit Gem Lake

Season: August to December when reservoirs are full and gates may open.

Busiest days: Weekends and long holidays.

Crowd: Moderate; weekends busier.

Typical week: Mon light · Tue light · Wed light · Thu light · Fri light · Sat busy · Sun busy.

How to reach Gem Lake — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -45.57067, 169.10650. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Gem Lake

• Old Man Range / Kopuwai · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~29 km · Must-see
• Tapuae-o-Uenuku / Hector Mountains · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~52 km · Must-see
• Tapuaenuku / Blue Mountains · viewpoint · Clutha · ~52 km · Must-see
• Tara-māhitihiti / Mid Dome · viewpoint · Southland · ~55 km · Must-see
• Mid Dome · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~55 km · Must-see
• Lammerlaw Range · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~59 km · Must-see
• Te Papanui / Lammermoor Range · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~66 km · Must-see
• Cromwell Gorge · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~66 km · Must-see
• Te Papanui Conservation Park · sanctuary · Dunedin City · ~69 km · Must-see
• Landslip Hill · viewpoint · Clutha · ~69 km · Must-see
• Eyre Mountains / Taka Ra Haka Conservation Park · sanctuary · Southland · ~73 km · Must-see
• The Remarkables · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~74 km · Must-see
• Eastern Southland Gallery · museum · Clutha · ~75 km · Must-see
• Ōtūparāoa / Umbrella Mountains · viewpoint · Southland · ~1 km
• Whitecoomb · viewpoint · Clutha · ~4 km
• The Nobbies · viewpoint · Clutha · ~5 km
• Whitecoomb Range · viewpoint · Clutha · ~6 km
• Stronach Hill · viewpoint · Clutha · ~9 km

See everything within a day’s drive of Gem Lake

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Gem Lake

• Queenstown Gardens · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~86 km · Must-see
• Blue Lake · lake · Southland · ~22 km
• Blue Lake · lake · Central Otago · ~22 km
• Skeleton Lakes · lake · Southland · ~24 km
• Lake Scott · lake · Southland · ~24 km
• Lake Gow · lake · Southland · ~25 km
• Lake Laura · lake · Southland · ~25 km
• Lake Roxburgh · lake · Central Otago · ~30 km
• Butchers Dam Recreation Reserve · lake · Central Otago · ~44 km
• Butchers Dam · lake · Central Otago · ~45 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Otago

Frequently asked