Paddling near Queenstown, Otago

Queenstown sits on the northern shore of Lake Wakatipu in the Queenstown-Lakes District of Otago, surrounded by the Southern Alps. The area draws paddlers to a wide range of water — from the calm bays of Wakatipu and the sheltered Moke Lake to the demanding whitewater of the Shotover, Kawarau, and Dart rivers. The Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu, running through Mt Aspiring National Park, is a marquee destination for guided kayak and canoe trips into the backcountry.