Lake Marian is, without a doubt, one of New Zealand’s most beautiful alpine lakes and a must-do if you love hiking and photography.

I first saw a photo of Lake Marian on Instagram in 2016, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it until we visited in 2022. I still think about that view and can’t wait to return as soon as possible. It made me fall even more in love with the South Island!

Track overview

• Difficulty: Moderate to hard, depending on your fitness level (uneven, steep and slippery)

• Length: 7km return

• Time: approx. 3 hours + time by the lake

The trail starts at the Lake Marian carpark off Lower Hollyford Road. Parking is free, and there’s one long drop/compostable toilet. When we visited, it was a little worse for wear and had no toilet paper (so be prepared!). In any case, I still think it's good to know it's there!

The hike itself is pretty challenging, but so worth it. The trail is muddy and steep in parts, and the biggest thing to be mindful of is how uneven it is. Once you reach the lakeside, there are plenty of rocks to sit on, so make sure you’ve factored in enough time to soak in the views before heading back the same way to the carpark.

Know before you go

You can hike the Lake Marian Track at any time of the day, but I highly recommend doing it mid-morning to midday. The lake is surrounded by mountains, so you want the sun high in the sky to see the reflections on the water. I took these photos at 12:30 pm.