The Wakatipu Vessel is a large stainless steel sculpture shaped like a waka, or Māori canoe, perched on four central columns along the Lake Esplanade. Created by New Zealand artist Virginia King, the structure is flanked by six laser-cut…
Lakefront Art and Sculptures
This easy lakeside walk showcases the creative side of Queenstown, guiding you past beautiful Māori carvings, historic bronzes, and contemporary sculptures along the waterfront and into the gardens.
Listen to this tour in the Mira app →Walk it in street view
1. Wakatipu canoe sculpture
2. Kiwi Statue
The large, wooden kiwi statue rests near the edge of Lake Wakatipu, situated close to the bustling steamer wharf in downtown Queenstown. This sculpture depicts the flightless bird that serves as the national symbol of New Zealand,…
3. Wakatipu to the Core Sculpture
The sculpture known as Wakatipu to the Core sits at seventy-eight Beach Street in Queenstown. It is defined by a heavy stone base that rises into a slender, vertical metal column. This piece serves as a formal tribute to the heritage of…
4. New Zealand Moa Statue
The moa statue on Beach Street is a life-size representation of a flightless bird that was once the largest animal in New Zealand. Standing near the shore of Lake Wakatipu, this sculpture depicts a creature that grew up to three meters in…
5. Statue of William Rees
The bronze statue of William Gilbert Rees stands upon a stone boulder along Marine Parade, overlooking the waters of Lake Wakatipu. Rees, who lived from eighteen twenty-seven to eighteen ninety-eight, was an explorer and surveyor who…
6. Kuri
Within the Queenstown Gardens, a three point six meter sculpture of a dog mid-leap rises from the water of a pond. This bronze figure, crafted by sculptor Richard Wells, depicts the kuri, a breed of dog brought to Aotearoa New Zealand by…
7. Fleur
The bronze figure of a woman sitting on a stack of cushions rests in the Queenstown Gardens, near the shores of Lake Wakatipu. This sculpture, created by artist Elizabeth Hall, is known simply as Fleur. While the name is synonymous with…