There’s no shortage of beautiful viewpoints on the South Island, and Devil's Staircase is easily one of the most popular. This short winding section of the Southern Scenic Route follows the edge of Lake Wakatipu, offering incredible 180° views of the lake and surrounding mountains. It’s a photographer's dream!

You can visit Devils Staircase at any time of day, but sunrise and sunset are particularly lovely. There’s something special about watching golden-hour sunshine hit the mountains and reflect on the lake.

When you arrive, the lookout point has plenty of parking so you can safely pull over and stretch your legs. However, it isn’t signposted from Queenstown via State Highway 6, which is a bit of a pain. However, it’s almost always busy, so keep an eye out for crowds.

Once you’ve taken as many photos as your SD card will allow, head into Kingston, where you'll find a couple of lovely cafes - perfect for a coffee and a bite to eat after an early morning watching the sunrise!

Recommendations from yours truly

If you’re already driving between Queenstown and Milford Sound, I highly recommend stopping here to break up your road trip. However, I wouldn’t bother coming out here for the view alone. If you’re staying in Queenstown and would like to drive out of your way for an amazing view, I’d recommend heading down Queenstown-Glenorchy Road to Bennett’s Bluff Lookout instead. Glenorchy is a must-visit on any Queenstown itinerary anyway, and Bennett’s Bluff offers a much more dramatic perspective of Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding mountains.