Kingston Beach, Lake Wakatipu

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Last Updated on March 14, 2023 by Jon Algie

Kingston, around 45 minutes from Queenstown on the road to Te Anau, is a small town with an excellent beach. Kingston Beach is a beautiful stretch of sand and stone, with an impressive mountain backdrop thrown in for good measure.

Where Is Kingston Beach?

Kingston Beach is located at the eastern edge of Lake Wakatipu — it’ll take you 45 minutes to drive there from Queenstown (more if you stop for lots of photos). From Te Anau it should take around 90 minutes. The beach is a short drive / walk from the main road through Kingston. I wrote a full post about the drive between Queenstown and Te Anau, and the bit between Queenstown and Kingston is the best bit.

Note: I did some research about this place and couldn’t find a name for this beach. I’ve gone with Kingston Beach, but let me know if you know its official name.

Kingston Beach

There are a few different access points for the beach in Kingston. We drove to a few of them and it looked a little different each time. There are picnic tables around and there’s also a café close to the beach (Flyer Café). If you’re looking for something more basic you’ll find a couple of cafés on the main road. It really is the ideal place to stop for a coffee or lunch when driving between Queenstown and Te Anau.

READ MORE: Queenstown Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Queenstown

How Does it Compare to the other Queenstown Beaches?

Lake Wakatipu is home to some awesome beaches, including Queenstown Bay, the main beach in Queenstown. That’s my personal favourite, mostly because it’s right in town and you can take your food and drinks there. There are also lots of beaches on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy.

READ MORE: Where Are the Best Beaches in Queenstown?

Other Things to See Nearby

The drive between Queenstown and Kingston is full of great views (especially the last 20 minutes or so). There are a few roadside lookouts where you can pull over and bask in the glory of Lake Wakatipu. As for the town itself, you can hike the Shirt Tail Track or just enjoy the laidback vibe of the town and the beach.

Are you planning a trip to Queenstown? Check out our list of the best things to see and do!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.