Cradled among the dramatic peaks of the South Island’s Southern Alps, Lake Wakatipu stretches like a lightning bolt through the heart of Queenstown. This glacier-carved lake is famed not only for its stunning alpine vistas, but also for a mysterious seiche phenomenon that causes the water to rhythmically rise and fall every 25 minutes—an effect linked to local Māori legend. Travellers can cruise aboard the vintage T.S.S. Earnslaw steamship, fish for trout, or cycle along scenic lakeside trails, with swimming and horse riding available in summer.