Access

From Queenstown, cross the Kawerau River on SH6 towards Kingston and turn left at the junction to the Remarkables ski field.

The access road winds up nearly 1000 metres, the last few kms unsealed. Stop at Windy Point lookout and continue to the parking area by the base building.

There’s a map of the summer terrain. Take a close look and head up the steps.

Track

The track follows the ski field road to the top of the Alta Chair lift. This section is a wide metalled road.

A signposted junction then leads to the track proper, a narrow, winding single-file snake over the schist. Interpretation panels give details on the natural history and tell a story of the life up here.

The track concludes beside and above the blue waters of the lake, with the schist peaks pointing skywards as a backdrop.

Return via the same track.

Geology

The Remarkables are a schistose range harbouring unique biota.

Flora

Bogs, cushion communities, alpine plants and tussocks are all up here. The interpretation panels are some of the best presented of anywhere.

Fauna

Insects, moths, crickets and lizards thrive in these harsh alpine zones. So close to such annihilation of their habitat by the ski field infrastructure. But they seem to co-habit just fine.