Okay, I can’t claim to have seen ALL the lakes in New Zealand, but the collection of my top 10 shots in this post unveils the variety and beauty of some of them: Lake Matheson is located on the west side of the Southern Alps and is one of my favorits. A hidden gem with a wonderful view towards New Zealands highest mountain Aoraki/Mount Cook. Patience is needed to catch a moment of calmness.
On the east side of the Southern Alps the view towards Aoraki/Mount Cook was a bit better. The 15 km drive along Lake Pukaki towards the mountains should not be missed.
Probably one of the most frequently photogpaphed sujets in New Zealand is the famous “Wanaka Tree” that grows within the lake. A long exposure shot flattens the water and produces a bit of mirroring. The sunset lit up the hills in the background on this clear sky evening.
Lake Wanaka is surrounded by many mountains that offer stunning views across the lake. I chose to hike up Rocky Mountain in the Diamond Lake Conservation Area. The peak is at 770 m above sea level. The three sheep-like clouds on the photo fit perfectly well with NZ landscapes 🙂
The next large lake further south is Lake Wakatipu with Queenstown as the main city. This Lake is very long and s-shaped. On the most northern point is Glenorchy with the Glenorchy Lagoon: A beautiful place for a walk and to watch birds.
The “Mirror Lakes” are a popular stop on the State Highway 94 (actually a little road) to Milford Sound. In New Zealand the fjords are called sounds. In Milford Sound one can hop on a boat and ship the sound towards the sea – it feels like being in Norway.
Back to the lakes: Further north and on the east side of the Southern Alps – parallel to Lake Pukaki – is Lake Tekapo. Once again did the calm morning offer nice mirrorings along its coast.
I don’t want to miss mentioning three lakes on the north Island. Lake Tarawera and Lake Rerewhakaaitu which can be overlooked nicely from the peak of Mount Tarawera at 1’111 m above sea level.
I’d like to finish this post with my favorite lake on the North Island: Lake Mangamahoe close to New Plymouth. The scenery with Mount Taranaki – the New Zealand version of Mount Fuji – is just breathtaking. More about Mount Taranaki you can find here.
structures & shapes 