Lake Hayes: Birdlife, Walking Trails and Māori History

Lake Hayes brings together lakeside habitats, diverse birdlife and a circuit trail with different walking and cycling times. Its history includes an original Māori name, references to Māori camping places and the settler name Hays Lake. If you are travelling with family or a group, you can make nature, exercise and local history your different priorities.

Landscape, Birdlife and Conservation Status

Lake Hayes and its shores are designated as a Wildlife Refuge. The lakeshore areas are also designated as a wetland of regional significance under Schedule 9, number 75. Lake Hayes is an important breeding area for various waterbirds, including paradise shelducks, grey ducks, New Zealand shoveler, pukeko and coot. The lake has relatively large populations of the Australasian crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus australis), classified nationally as nationally critical. The lakeshore areas provide habitat for the threatened native fish kōaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) and the threatened Australasian bittern (Botaurus poiciloptilus). Lake Hayes and its catchment are also the focus of a native biodiversity restoration project. The nature experience therefore ranges from breeding and lakeshore habitats to the catchment.

Circuit Trail, Walking and Cycling Times

The Waiwhakaata Lake Hayes Trail is an 8 km circuit. It takes about one hour by bicycle and about two to three hours on foot; the trail is graded as intermediate, Grade 3. The trail is used by walkers and cyclists and offers views of the lake and surrounding mountains. The Lake Hayes Walkway is part of the Te Araroa Trail. The Lake Hayes Trail connects to the Countryside Trail via Rutherford Road. These two trail connections are distinct from the circuit itself and help distinguish the names within the trail network.

Several access points provide entry to the trail: the North Lake Hayes picnic area, Lake Hayes Pavilion, the Showgrounds on SH6, Bendemeer Bay, Arrowtown Road, and Rutherford Road off Speargrass Flat Road. Parking is available at several of these points.

Other Connections to the Lake

Lake Hayes is an important recreational fishery for brown trout and perch. Kayakers also train on the lake, and the Whakatipu Rowing Club is based there. If you would like to swim in Lake Hayes, check LAWA’s water quality information first.

Names and Local History

Kai Tahu originally named Lake Hayes Te Whaka-ata a Haki-te-kura. Settlers originally called the lake Hays Lake, after D. Hay, an Australian who came to the area in 1859 to look for grazing land for sheep. References to Māori camping places in and around Waiwhakaata | Lake Hayes are also part of the area’s historical record. The Māori name, the references to camping places and the settler name offer different perspectives on the history of Lake Hayes.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Kingston, Speargrass Flat, Albert Town, Arthurs Point, Hawea Flat, Moonlight, Queenstown, Closeburn.

For the broader travel overview: Queenstown Lakes District.