Lake Matheson


One of the attractive natural attractions of New Zealand is Lake Matheson, striking with its purity and unsurpassed, pristine beauty. A special charm of the pond is attached to the fact that it is surrounded by mountains - above it towering peaks of Cook and Tasman. These are the highest peaks of the island state.

The water in the lake is not just clean, but has a unique reflective ability comparable to a mirror - it is the sight of this watery surface with the reflection of the mountains that is rightfully considered one of the main symbols of New Zealand , confirming the purity of nature and the magnificent ecological situation of the country.

Glacial origin

The lake, also called the Mirror Lake, is more than 14 thousand years old. His "father" can be considered the glacier Fox - it was after his convergence and appeared a pond. Dropping from the mountains, the ice mass actually cut through the rock in the place under the lake.

After the glacier descended into the water, there was an innumerable amount of various minerals accumulating at the bottom. Various substances are entering the lake today. They provide a mirror of the water surface and give it a special brown tone.

Charming landscapes

The local landscapes can charm any, even the experienced traveler, who has seen many natural attractions in his life.

According to New Zealanders, the best time to visit the lake is sunrise and sunset. Thus, in the morning the Matheson lake lights up with a bluish light streaming from the mountain peaks, scattering fog and reflecting mountains. In the evening, the mountains take a red-yellow, crimson color and create a fabulous landscape, supplemented by an unthinkably beautiful reflection in the water.

Naturally, much depends on weather conditions - if you manage to come here on a cloudless and calm day, you can enjoy all the delights of the local species.

The source of the river and hiking trails

From the lake flows the river Clearwater, the name of which says a lot - it is translated as Pure Water. And although initially it is not so clean, but more brownish, then slightly downstream, when the mineral substances contained in the lake finally settle on the bottom and banks, the water becomes really crystal clear.

Around the lake Matheson is a tourist hiking trail with a length of just over 2.5 kilometers. It is quite simple, and therefore suitable for everyone. On the route there are several observation platforms, allowing you to enjoy the beauties of nature as much as possible.

It is noteworthy that around the lake there are several species of endemic trees, that is, those that are found only in these places:

Going to the shores of Lake Matheson, tourists need to remember the variability of the local weather. Therefore, with a need to take a comfortable and warm clothes that repel water. Also, sunscreen can be useful.

How to get there?

The unsurpassed, unique natural landmark, which is Lake Matheson, is located within the boundaries of one of the New Zealand National Parks Westland Thai Putini, which is on the West coast of the South Island . There are organized tours from many cities of New Zealand. You can also get on your own by renting a car.