Woman hurt after crashing into Lake Wakatipu at Devils Staircase, south-east of Queenstown

State Highway 6 follows Lake Wakatipu between Kingston and Queenstown. Photo / Google Street View

A woman has survived crashing off a Central Otago highway and into Lake Wakatipu this evening.

A police spokeswoman said emergency services were alerted just after 6pm that the woman had crashed off State Highway 6 in the Devils Staircase area.

"[She's] gone into the lake and was trapped ... the driver is out and is speaking with emergency services."

A St John Ambulance spokesman said the woman suffered moderate injuries and would be taken to Lakes District Hospital in Queenstown, which is 35km to the north-west.

The crash occurred in the Devils Staircase area, on State Highway 6.

The woman had told emergency services no one else was in the vehicle.

The Coastguard were called to help, but were stood down before arriving at the scene.