Dunedin university student Blair Andrew Martyn (21) was swimming alone in Lake Hawea when he drowned on Tuesday and was not missed by his friends for more than six hours.
Mr Martyn had just completed a chemistry and biochemistry degree at Otago University and it is believed he intended to return to complete his honours year.
Wanaka police said search and rescue volunteers recovered Mr Martyn's body from beneath the Scotts beach pontoon at Lake Hawea about 8.30pm on Tuesday.
Mr Martyn had been staying at a holiday home at Lake Hawea with friends and had gone for a swim about 10.30am.
He was reported missing at 5pm, after friends became concerned he had not returned.
They went to the beach, discovered Mr Martyn's clothes and contacted police, who immediately began a search.
Snr Sgt Alan Grindell, of Wanaka, described the drowning as a tragic accident.
Mr Martin was a strong swimmer and police did not believe alcohol was involved. They are waiting for postmortem results.
The pontoon remains moored about 30m from the shoreline.
Queenstown Lakes harbourmaster Marty Black said Mr Martyn's drowning reinforced his message that people must not swim alone and must look after their mates.
Mr Black said Mr Martyn's body was found near the bottom of the lake and was not directly under the swimming platform.
Mr Black and divers have examined the pontoon and no safety concerns are held.
Mr Martyn spent his childhood in Queenstown and went to Queenstown Primary School. The family moved to Timaru, where he attended Mountainview High School.
His sister, Sarah Martyn, of Timaru, told the Southland Times the death seemed unreal.
"No-one was watching him. Whether that would have made a difference, I don't know," she said.
A search for a missing swimmer in Queenstown on New Year's Eve ended when the swimmer turned up at a bar later in the evening.
Mr Black said the man entered the water at Park St and his friends did not see him come out.
The police and the Queenstown Coastguard were alerted and searched without success.
"It turned out he had got out but didn't tell his mates," Mr Black said.
