QT, Queenstown Tourism
Top of the Lake
🎬 TV Drama

Top of the Lake

2013–2017 · Directed by Jane Campion

Jane Campion's acclaimed drama used Queenstown's moodier side — the misty lakes, isolated communities and raw alpine light that define the region's winter character.

Filming Locations

Moke Lake

Scene: Paradise community (Season 1)

Accessible

15 min from Queenstown. DOC campsite. Gravel road, 2WD fine.

Glenorchy Wharf

Scene: Multiple lake scenes

Accessible

Famous red shed at end of Glenorchy wharf. Free access.

The Story

Jane Campion's Top of the Lake is arguably the most artistically significant television ever shot in the Queenstown region. The series — starring Elisabeth Moss and Nicole Kidman across its two seasons — used the landscapes not as backdrop but as character: the brooding lake, the isolating mountains, the small-town dynamics that the geography enforces.

Moke Lake, a small alpine lake 15 minutes from Queenstown, stood in for the fictional community of Laketop (Season 1, though the series was officially set in Glenorchy). The lake is a DOC reserve with a campsite and a 2-hour walking track around its perimeter. On a still winter morning, with mist hanging over the water and the Remarkables reflected on the surface, it is exactly as it appears in the series — unsettlingly beautiful.

The Glenorchy wharf and its iconic red shed appear in multiple lake scenes. It's one of the most photographed spots in the region, and the 45-minute drive from Queenstown along Lake Wakatipu is itself worth the trip. Go at dawn to catch the same light Campion's cinematographer Adam Arkapaw captured.

Visual Style & Cinematography

Moody, painterly, natural light only. Arkapaw shot on ARRI Alexa with vintage Cooke lenses, favouring overcast days and low-contrast colour grading. The palette is cool blues, mist greys, and deep greens — winter in Queenstown as locals know it.

FrameThrower search queries for this film

misty lake mountainsovercast alpine landscapesmall town lake moodygravel road mountains wide

Book the Experience

Stand where they stood. These tours take you to the actual filming locations.

Frame by Frame

Cinematography stills via FrameThrower — the cinematography search engine.

A vast landscape features a wide, calm lake nestled between several large green mountains. The water surface reflects the dim daylight while the surrounding hills descend into shadow.

A vast landscape features a wide, calm lake nestled between several large green mountains. The water surface reflects the dim daylight while the surrounding hills descend into shadow.

A wide mountain range sits behind a calm lake under a cloudy sky. A wooden fence stands in the foreground to the right near the water edge.

A wide mountain range sits behind a calm lake under a cloudy sky. A wooden fence stands in the foreground to the right near the water edge.

A wide view of a large body of water bordered by silhouettes of mountain ranges. Overcast, cloudy sky hangs above the water during daylight hours.

A wide view of a large body of water bordered by silhouettes of mountain ranges. Overcast, cloudy sky hangs above the water during daylight hours.

A dense mountain forest valley with endless evergreen trees covering the landscape. Sunlight hits the far ridge of the slope casting shadows across the foreground trees.

A dense mountain forest valley with endless evergreen trees covering the landscape. Sunlight hits the far ridge of the slope casting shadows across the foreground trees.

A vast alpine lake sits surrounded by steep, green-sloped mountains under a heavy overcast sky. The water reflects the dark clouds and surrounding terrain in its calm, glassy surface.

A vast alpine lake sits surrounded by steep, green-sloped mountains under a heavy overcast sky. The water reflects the dark clouds and surrounding terrain in its calm, glassy surface.

Dense evergreen trees cover the slopes of a mountain under a light fog. Low clouds cling to the peaks as the sun begins to rise.

Dense evergreen trees cover the slopes of a mountain under a light fog. Low clouds cling to the peaks as the sun begins to rise.

A river flows through a dense, forested valley surrounded by undulating green hills. Sunlight reflects off the water surface as a lens flare appears over the ridge.

A river flows through a dense, forested valley surrounded by undulating green hills. Sunlight reflects off the water surface as a lens flare appears over the ridge.

A still, reflective mountain lake sits between two large, rocky, layered mountain ranges. A small, pine-covered island rests in the center of the dark, clear water.

A still, reflective mountain lake sits between two large, rocky, layered mountain ranges. A small, pine-covered island rests in the center of the dark, clear water.

A dark river flows between dense evergreen forests under a heavy overcast sky. The river surface appears still with muted light reflections beneath tall treed hills.

A dark river flows between dense evergreen forests under a heavy overcast sky. The river surface appears still with muted light reflections beneath tall treed hills.

A dense mountain landscape covered in lush green vegetation and dense shrubbery. Two small hikers traverse a narrow trail along the summit of a verdant ridge.

A dense mountain landscape covered in lush green vegetation and dense shrubbery. Two small hikers traverse a narrow trail along the summit of a verdant ridge.

An outdoor area with dark, blurred foliage in the background. A woman looks downward with strands of blonde hair blowing across her face.

An outdoor area with dark, blurred foliage in the background. A woman looks downward with strands of blonde hair blowing across her face.

A dimly lit indoor space with dark, indistinct surroundings. A woman with wet hair and smeared makeup stares ahead with a wide-eyed expression.

A dimly lit indoor space with dark, indistinct surroundings. A woman with wet hair and smeared makeup stares ahead with a wide-eyed expression.

Common Questions

Where was Top of the Lake filmed?

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Season 1 used Moke Lake (near Queenstown) and Glenorchy as its principal locations, standing in for the fictional Laketop. Season 2 was set in Sydney with additional New Zealand scenes. Both seasons were created by Jane Campion.