Lakes in South Island new Zealand

7 of New Zealand's most beautifull lakes

There is no end to a journey to the South Island of New Zealand unless you can see at least some of these lakes. All of them have their own identities and stories, not to speak of the truly impressive opinions! It gives an impression of the huge amount of room we have here in New Zealand for our exploration, adventure and discovery.

We' re fortunate to have some of these stunning lakes on the South Island; some are treasures off the well-trodden paths and others, like Lake Wakatipu, are world-famous! We have selected the seven most stunning lakes on New Zealand's South Island that you should put on your to-do lists when you visit our coasts, so see what you think!

The scenic and lively Lake Wanaka is surrounded by the rugged summits of the Southern Alps in the back. The Wanaka Township is a favourite with national and foreign visitors, with two large skiing areas for lots of snow and a variety of vineyards and restaurants in the warm season.

It is growing quite rapidly and is becoming similar to Queenstown, as it is a place to settle down for all kinds of adventurous sport! Of course Queenstown is a major visitor destination for New Zealand, and Lake Wakatipu offers lots of fun and world-class views. Wakitipu Lake is with Glenorchy at the northwestern end, Queenstown in the centre and Kingston in the south.

Queenstown offers an unrivalled view over the lakeside to the snow-capped Remarkables Mountain Range. Situated in the Mackenzie Basin, Tekapo is New Zealand's second biggest pond on the South Island. Tekapo is known for its shimmering shade of shimmering blues due to the high concentration of powdered rocks or lime and minerals that flow down stream in the glacier water that feeds the reservoir.

Lake Pukaki is known as the backdrop for'Laketown' in the film series'The Hobbit' and is another great gem in the Mackenzie Basin. Embedded in the shadows of Aoraki/Mount Cook, it was the lakes with their unmistakable lights, the astonishing tones of the Turks and the crisp summits of the Alps that attracted the original interest of Sir Peter Jackson.

When travelling with us to New Zealand, look for destinations with a stop at Braemar Island (such as our'Rimu' adventure), it is a shepherd' sanctuary on the shore of Lake Pukaki, and one of the most spectacular and breathtaking accommodation in New Zealand - we are fortunate enough to find the place for our groups.

Ohausee is another favourite place for skiing and snowboarding. Situated directly below the Ohau skiing area, it is four hour's south of Christchurch and two hour's by car just south of Queenstown. Aoraki/Mt Cook, walks through forests and sheltered bushlands. Acces roads around the pond offer demanding 4x4 paths and easy entry to several cabins and lovely walking paths.

The Manuka Tour takes place at the Lake Ohau Luxury Resort on the shore of the Lakes. Situated near Fox Glacier in southwesttland, on the west coast. It is known for its clear, reflective view of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman. This is a wonderful place to spend one or two nights by the lakeside or in a nearby chalet - there is also a great stroll through the jungle at the edge of the lakeside.

Hawea is located near Wanaka and has an area of 141 sqkm. It is a favourite site for water sports such as go Fly Angling, Kayak, Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and Boat Riding. There are many cycling and walking paths along the shore of the pond and there are several well-known game reserves in the valley.

When you are on a South Island tour on a MTB, such as the Tui experience, Lake Hawea is the starting point for our journey, which we have already explained to you, and ends on the banks of Lake Wanaka! This is our shortlist of the 7 most stunning lakes on the South Island of New Zealand, an amazing choice of wonderful lakes.

When you are considering to visit some of these places, you should take a look at our New Zealand adventures. It is our unique experience and a great way to see New Zealand. Since 1996 we have been working on the fine-tuning of this multi-year favorite and it is just a great journey. You will discover the most gorgeous, famed and little known places of the South Island - up-close with legendary friendliness and our unmatched love of detail.

To see the North Island, you can also use our 11-day'Kauri' (5-day'Kauri' available). The walks on the "Rimu" tour usually last between two and five hrs, although longer walks are possible on the multi-day tour. For a more relaxing rhythm and short one- to three-hour walks, we suggest our "Kiwi" itinerary.