You can be exploring the Ashburton Lakes in just a few hours from Christchurch. This area, while known as the Ashburton lakes, is actually the Hakatere Conservation Park. Its an outdoor lover’s dream, a little hidden piece of paradise with some awesome walks and tramps.
It is on the tourist trail, thanks to it being a location for Lord of the Rings, but it is still unspoilt. No buses will get you here, you need to drive yourself or come as part of a tour. I want to share a snap shot of it with you and I hope you get to enjoy it sometime. Just remember the Tiaki Promise for New Zealand though.
Getting there:
Google maps will pretty much sort you out. From Christchurch the first stop is definitely for coffee at Staveley Store
Carry on through Mt Sommers, picking up any last minute supplies, and once you hit the start of the gravel road take some time to look around the old homestead and buildings – including mid-Canterbury’s oldest dwellings, the ‘Stone Cottage’, which was constructed in 1862 to accommodate the manager of Hakatere Station. It all gravel from here on in, well formed though. If you continue straight you will soon hit the little settlement of Lake Clearwater or turn right towards Lake Heron. I love them both, so you can’t go wrong.
Accommodation
Apart from a few lodges dotted around this area is largely camping with a few holiday homes at Lake Clearwater that you can rent. Note that there is no power, shops or any other amenities anywhere around here, and public toilets in only a few places, so make sure you are fully prepared to take in and out all you need. I did find a seat just for me which was a bonus.
Camping
There is camping at Lake Heron, Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater. Doc has a bit more information on the options. Our most amazing stay though so far was in a tent on the eastern side of Lake Camp, it was magical both during the day, as the sun set, and first thing in the morning. During summer the lake is packed but in early November it was very peaceful. I got some great photos from here. This is a good time so say how amazing the night sky is. I am not really a photographer of astro so you will just have to take my word for it.
Bach (holiday homes)
While there are a few flash places, most bachs at Clearwater are simple, and fantastic in my opinion. You usually need to bring in your own firewood (but those details are on the booking sites if you are not lucky enough to know someone to rent from). We got a great old rustic bach to stay in with friends and just loved it. There are quite a few booking sites you can try. It’s a tiny little settlement so everything is close to the lakes.
Tramping huts
We have walked into two tramping huts so far, both very basic old musters hut. Double Hut and Manuka Hut. Personally I love this kind of thing, but it is not to everyone’s taste. I will have a link to a blog about those tramps on here when I find time to write it but feel free to message me if you have questions.
Lakes around the Haketere
The huge attraction here is the great number of lakes all very close together. Its hard to pick a favourite and you can easily get between most of them so here is just a short guide.
Lake Clearwater (Te Puna a Taka)
This is a large non-motorised water sport lake with a lovely little Island in the middle and beautiful mountains all around. The little settlement sits between this lake and Lake Camp. It is also full of protected wildlife.
Lake Camp (Ōtautari)
So far I have enjoyed this one the most as its pretty spectacular for sunrise and I have been lucky to get a couple of stunners. It’s a very small lake and one of the only ones for motorised sport so once everyone is up and the jet boating starts you don’t want to be anywhere near it.
Lake Emma
This lake is off to the left on your way to Clearwater village. This is one you can 4WD to (and I mean a proper 4WD not just a car the ruts are pretty huge) or you can walk from the turn off or Lake Camp. It has a huge number of birds on it and is popular for fishing. The far end is an old DOC Hut that you can’t stay in any longer but is still pretty awesome to go and visit.
These first three are all on the road to Lake Clearwater but if you head into Lake Heron another stunning set of lakes is accessible to you. The first on is Maori Lakes.
Maori Lakes (Ō Tū Wharekai)
There are lots of vantage points around this little lake including fences heading into the lake, reflections from a number of directions and again heaps of wildlife.
Lake Heron (Ō Tū Roto)
You carry on to nearly the end of the road and you are hit by the magnificent Lake Heron. Once again a non-motorised lake so always peaceful and the beginning of some lovely walks. Getting a great reflection here is just amazing to see. It also has a little camping ground but we have not stayed there yet.
There are some other very lovely lakes but you need to walk or 4WD to them, Lake Emily and Lake Manuka I will share more eventually on my tramping blog but here is a small teaser. There are still others just dotted along the side of the road! It really is so beautiful.
Walks and tramps
Once again too many to mention and we have only done a few but I will share those with you and add to it as we do as well. Feel free to add in the comments some of your favourites.
Mt Sunday
Carrying on past Lake Clearwater on the gravel road you head into the land of The Lord of the Rings. Mt Sunday is a very popular walk and is only about 30 minutes to summit so probably the easiest ‘mountain’ you will ever climb. This is the site where Edoras was set up for those that are Lord of the Rings fans. But even if you’re not, this walk gives you a stunning view up into the mountains and down the valley without too much effort.
Mt Guy
This walk that will take a little more out of you. It is not particularly long, but it was definitely built by a mountain goat and just goes straight up the ridge. The views are amazing and worth the knee pain for the next few weeks – You look right out towards Mt Sommers one way and back over Lake Clearwater the other – if your fit enough definitely do it.
Manuka and Double Hut
You can tramp into Manuka Hut and Double Hut from along the road to Lake Heron or from Lake Heron itself. We did them both as simple overnights but you can do a full loop as well. Once again I will have this on a seperate blog at some point but here are a few photos to show you the country.
We also drove a little past Mt Sunday and there are some lovely walks there, we were hunting for an old ski field that Cam had been to as a teenager but we didn’t go all the way to the top. Department of Conservation or TramperNZ have lots of information.
Wildlife
The area is full of wildlife, mainly birds and while I fully enjoy capturing wildlife it has not been my focus here but most of the lakes are protected from motorised boats not allowed to protect the wildlife, including my favourite the Australasian Crested Grebe – these are from another spot but just to give you an idea, if you like wildlife check out my nature photography page.
