Firefighters head back to battle huge fire at Queenstown’s Walter Peak

<p>A large vegetation fire that tore through an estimated 1350ha of land has been contained this evening after burning for three days.</p> <p>The blaze broke out near <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/10/07/walter-peak-fire-up-and-down-hill-smoke-drifts-towards-queenstown/" target="_blank">Walter Peak Station on Tuesday afternoon</a>. The fire had burned through 1400ha of tussock and scrub on the southern shores of Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown, Fire and Emergency NZ said yesterday evening. </p> <p>Fire and Emergency NZ District Commander Blair Kiely said this evening that the Walter Peak fire "has been fully contained, and firefighters have demobilised this evening".</p> <p>"After an assessment of the conditions on the ground this afternoon and the expected weather, the fireground is being handed back to the landowners to manage." An exclusion zone for vessels near the Walter Peak shoreline had been lifted.</p> <p>Kiely said some areas may continue to smoulder over the coming days and people may notice smoke.