Lake McKay

Lake McKay: 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 Lake McKay

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 Lake McKay — distance from nearby cities

Coordinates: -44.85019, 169.21255. Road distances are estimates; the road-trip planner uses real routes and adds stops worth the detour.

Places to visit near Lake McKay

• Pisa Range · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~3 km · Must-see
• Cardrona Bra Fence · attraction · Queenstown-Lakes · ~19 km · Must-see
• That Wānaka Tree · attraction · Queenstown-Lakes · ~23 km · Must-see
• Kawarau Gorge · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~27 km · Must-see
• Mount Cardrona · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~27 km · Must-see
• Roys Peak · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~27 km · Must-see
• Dunstan Mountains · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~30 km · Must-see
• Crown Range · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~32 km · Must-see
• Cromwell Gorge · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~38 km · Must-see
• St John's Presbyterian Church · church · Queenstown-Lakes · ~40 km · Must-see
• Arrowtown Chinese Settlement Historic Reserve · sanctuary · Queenstown-Lakes · ~40 km · Must-see
• Treble Cone · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~45 km · Must-see
• Coronet Peak · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~47 km · Must-see
• The Remarkables · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~52 km · Must-see
• Queenstown Hill · viewpoint · Queenstown-Lakes · ~56 km · Must-see
• Lindis Pass Scenic Reserve · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~56 km · Must-see
• Poolburn Gorge workers' camp · viewpoint · Central Otago · ~59 km · Must-see
• Queenstown Police Station · fort · Queenstown-Lakes · ~60 km · Must-see

See everything within a day’s drive of Lake McKay

Other lakes, dams & reservoirs near Lake McKay

• Queenstown Gardens · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~60 km · Must-see
• Lake Dunstan · lake · Central Otago · ~28 km
• Arethusa Pool · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~43 km
• Sheehey Lake · lake · Central Otago · ~43 km
• Lake Hayes · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~44 km
• Clyde Dam · lake · Central Otago · ~47 km
• Lake Alta · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~49 km
• Lake Wānaka · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~50 km
• Fraser Dam · lake · Central Otago · ~50 km
• Lake Johnson · lake · Queenstown-Lakes · ~52 km

All lakes, dams & reservoirs in Otago

Frequently asked