Producer Philippa Campbell, of Field Theory, said it was "great to be back where the story began''.
While filming for the first Jane Campion-directed miniseries in 2012 lasted 18 weeks and was done entirely on location in Queenstown and Glenorchy, the second season - on which filming began earlier this year - is largely based in Sydney.
Ms Campbell confirmed leading lady Elisabeth Moss was back in New Zealand. However, Oscar winner Nicole Kidman, who has joined the cast for season two, was not in the resort because her scenes had been shot in Sydney.
It is understood key crew members and some of the cast would be filming in and around the Wakatipu for a few days, with local extras also being involved again.
Ms Campbell said the cast and crew were "thrilled to be back in New Zealand to shoot a short sequence'' for the second season.
"As we recced a forest location today, a robin came to welcome us in the kind of magical moment that this beautiful region is so renowned for.''
The first season starred Moss as Robin Griffin, a detective investigating the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl.
It aired in 2013 and was nominated for eight Emmys, winning best cinematography for a TV movie or miniseries, and Moss won a Golden Globe for her performance.
Filming for Top of the Lake Season Two: China Girl is scheduled to premiere on BBC Two in the United Kingdom in 2017 with six one-hour episodes, which will be screened by BBC UKTV in New Zealand.
Moss is joined by Kidman, Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie, David Dencik (The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo), Alice Englert (Beautiful Creatures) and Ewen Leslie (The Daughter).
Earlier this year, The New Zealand Herald reported Top of the Lake's second season picked up four years on from season one when the unidentified body of an Asian girl washes up on Sydney's Bondi Beach.
"The case seems hopeless, until detective Robin Griffin discovers that China Girl didn't die alone,'' a plot brief said.
Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings could not be reached to confirm that, as part of the filming, about 40 car parks in the Queenstown Lakes District Council's Boundary St car park would be unavailable for public use today.
The council said in a social media post the parks were being reserved for "a film crew making an episode for an upcoming series'' and directed residents who usually parked there to either the Man St or Church St parking buildings for the day.
