Auckland visitors Mark and Michelle Connelly were aware of the flood before they arrived for their four-day break. They felt sorry for shopkeepers, but said seeing the flood mitigation measures was "fascinating" from a tourists' perspective.
"It's been interesting to watch the preparations and wonder if it's going to happen," Mr Connelly said.
The couple said they had wanted a quiet holiday and were not inconvenienced by the closing of some flood-prone activities, although they had cancelled a visit to Glenorchy.
"The community's pulling together by the looks of things and sandbags are much needed, but I don't think you've got the whole water down yet," Ms Patterson said.
German visitors Julia Mueller, of Freiburg, and Kerstin Funkae, of Berlin, said they did not understand how the lake could flood, as rivers tended to flood in their homeland.
"We heard it should rain much on the West Coast, but it's not normal here," Ms Mueller said.
"It's a little bit hard to plan ... I hope it will not go on like this."
Brian and Bunny Jaggers, of Kent, in England, added a two-day visit to Queenstown after their fourth visit to family in Napier, before flying out.
"We're a bit disappointed with the weather," Mr Jaggers said.
"Today was the first time we've seen the mountains."
The flood "seemed OK this morning until the wind picked up and lapped water over the edges". However, the rain and flood would not deter them from recommending Queenstown to friends back home, but they would suggest they visit earlier in the year.
