Jane Campion is a bit of a legend. You probably know her from The Power of the Dog or The Piano, but for a lot of us, her real masterpiece is a gritty, unsettling, and hauntingly beautiful crime drama set in the wilderness of New Zealand and Australia. If you’re hunting for where can you watch Top of the Lake, you’ve likely realized it’s not as simple as just hitting "play" on Netflix anymore.
Streaming rights are a mess. Honestly, it's frustrating. One day a show is there, and the next, it’s vanished into the licensing void.
The series, which stars a phenomenal Elisabeth Moss as Detective Robin Griffin, is split into two distinct seasons: Top of the Lake (2013) and Top of the Lake: China Girl (2017). They are vastly different in tone. The first is a rural "Laketop" mystery involving a pregnant twelve-year-old; the second is a sprawling, urban noir set in Sydney. If you're looking to dive in, you need to know which platforms actually hold the keys to the kingdom in 2026.
The Best Places to Stream Top of the Lake
Right now, the most reliable way to access both seasons is through Hulu. For years, Hulu has been the primary home for the show in the United States. If you have a basic or ad-free subscription, you should find both the New Zealand-set original and the Sydney-based sequel ready to go.
But wait. There’s a catch.
Sometimes shows move. If you’re outside the US, or if Hulu’s licensing deal has shifted in your specific region, you might need to look at BritBox or Acorn TV. These services specialize in high-end drama from the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Top of the Lake was a co-production between BBC Two, SundanceTV, and UKTV, which means it often bounces between "prestige" streaming services.
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In the UK, the BBC iPlayer is your best bet, though it tends to rotate in and out depending on the BBC’s current broadcast schedule. If it’s not there, Sundance Now or the AMC+ bundle often carries it because of SundanceTV's original stake in the production. It’s a bit of a digital scavenger hunt.
Why This Show Still Haunts People
It’s not just a "whodunnit." Not even close.
When it first aired, people compared it to Twin Peaks, but it’s much more grounded in reality. It’s heavy. Campion and co-writer Gerard Lee created a world where the landscape is as much a character as the people. The cinematography in the first season—filmed around Glenorchy and Queenstown—is breathtaking. It makes the lake look like a cold, indifferent god.
Elisabeth Moss is incredible here. Before The Handmaid’s Tale, this was the role that proved she could carry a massive, complex narrative on her back. She plays Robin Griffin with this raw, vibrating vulnerability that’s honestly hard to watch sometimes. You’ve also got Peter Mullan as the terrifying Matt Mitcham and Gwendoline Christie showing up in the second season to provide a completely different energy.
The show deals with some incredibly dark themes: sexual violence, misogyny, and the way small communities protect their own monsters. It’s not "comfort" TV. It’s "stare at the wall for twenty minutes after the episode ends" TV.
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Where Can You Watch Top of the Lake If You Don't Stream?
If you're tired of checking "Where can I watch Top of the Lake" every six months only to find it has moved again, there is always the "buy" option. This is the only way to guarantee you won't lose access mid-binge.
- Apple TV (iTunes): Usually carries both seasons in HD.
- Amazon Prime Video: You can buy individual episodes or full seasons.
- Google Play / YouTube TV: Available for purchase in most territories.
Interestingly, the physical media for Top of the Lake has become somewhat of a collector's item. The Blu-ray sets are still floating around, and they often include behind-the-scenes features that you won't find on any streaming platform. For a director as meticulous as Jane Campion, seeing the process of how they captured that New Zealand light is actually worth the price of the disc.
The "China Girl" Pivot
Some fans were thrown off by Season 2. It moved from the foggy, mountainous Laketop to the neon and concrete of Sydney. Nicole Kidman joins the cast, sporting a wild grey wig and an even wilder personality. It’s a different beast. While the first season is a tight mystery, China Girl is a sprawling look at motherhood and the sex trade.
If you find yourself watching the first season and thinking, "I want more of this exact vibe," just be prepared. The second season is a deliberate departure. It’s weirder. It’s more abrasive. But it’s still quintessentially Campion.
Technical Details You Should Know
When you finally settle on a platform, check the resolution. Because the show was filmed with such high production values, watching it in 4K (where available) makes a massive difference. The textures of the forest, the water, and even the actors' faces are central to the experience.
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If you are using a VPN to access the show from a different country—say, tuning into BBC iPlayer from the US—make sure your service is robust enough to handle high-definition streaming without buffering. There is nothing that kills the tension of a Jane Campion scene faster than a spinning loading icon.
Moving Forward With Your Watchlist
Finding the show is the hard part. Once you're in, you're in for a ride.
To make sure you actually get the best experience, start by checking Hulu first if you are in the States. If you're a "completionist" who hates the idea of a show disappearing from your library, buying the seasons on Apple TV or Amazon is the smartest move for the long term.
Once you finish Top of the Lake, your next logical step is to explore more of the "Sundance Noir" genre. Shows like The Kettering Incident (set in Tasmania) or the original Broadchurch carry a similar DNA. They focus on the atmosphere and the psychological toll of a crime, rather than just the forensics.
Check your current subscriptions tonight. Search "Top of the Lake" in the global search bar of your smart TV or Roku. If it’s there, start the first episode immediately. Just maybe leave a light on.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Verify Availability: Open your Hulu or AMC+ app and search for the title immediately to see if it’s currently in their rotation.
- Check Your Library: If you have a local library card, check the Libby or Hoopla apps; these often have premium TV series available to stream for free.
- Compare Purchase Prices: If it’s not on your streaming services, compare the "Season Pass" price on Amazon vs. Apple TV, as one is often significantly cheaper than the other during sales.