Lake Johnson

Tucked away in the hills, you’d never imagine that Lake Johnson is only 4 minutes from the Queenstown Airport! It is known in te reo Māori as ‘Waipuna’, which means ‘spring of water’ and is a true local gem. This lake is picturesque and peaceful. I remember thinking how quiet and calm it was the last time I was at Lake Johnson!

How do we get there?

Lake Johnson is situated at the end of a gravel road which can be accessed with either a 2WD or a 4WD car. Once you’ve parked, it will be a 5 minute walk through the countryside to get to the lake’s edge. There is no designated track to the lake, so comfortable shoes are recommended!

What should we wear?

For this location I recommend wearing neutral, nude or earthy tones. 

When should we go?

Lake Johnson is picturesque all year round, but will be a little more difficult to get to in Winter, as there is no designated track. 

In the months of April - October the sun will set around 4:30pm, so I recommend meeting at the location at 3pm to make the most of the beautiful golden hour before sunset. Between November and March, the sun will set much later in the day. The exact time varies from 7:30pm to as late as 9:30pm. During this time of year we will meet roughly 2 hours before sunset, however this will be communicated and confirmed with you upon booking.

Recap

If you are after convenience, this is your location! Hidden from view, and unadvertised, this location remains a locals secret despite its close proximity to the airport and Five Mile Shopping Centre! Lake Johnson comes alive at golden hour! So planning your shoot around that time is the best bet for getting magical photos here. If you’d Like to book a photoshoot at Lake Johnson, click here.