Exploring Frasers Beach at Lake Manapouri
Frasers Beach (Frazers Beach on Topo Map) stretches for 3 km along the eastern side of Lake Manapouri, just below the town. This location is perfect for nature lovers, with a relaxed walk through native beech trees, intense green moss, and a chance to see Raupeka native orchids in bloom during March.
Walking the Track
To begin your walk to Frasers Beach, walk to Pearl Harbour on the Waiau River. The track starts at the western end of the Pearl Harbour boat facilities. As you walk, you'll pass through a beautiful section of beech trees, where the ground is covered with emerald green moss and a carpet of red, brown, and gold fallen beech leaves. There are a few houses at the edge of the trees, but they are barely noticeable.
Seasonal Highlights
If you visit during fungi season, you'll encounter many red-capped, white-flecked agarics (Amanita muscaria). While these fungi are visually striking, they contain hallucinatory compounds and potentially fatal toxins, so it's best to admire them from a distance.
Continuing to the Beach
After reaching the end of Pearl Harbour, the track turns right past a "Frasers Beach" sign and gradually fades near a small car park. You can continue along a short access road to rejoin the track, which leads through a mix of trees, shrubs, and a grassed reserve to an easy beach access point. Before reaching the beach, look for native orchids among the trees between the path and the lake. These orchids are quite rare and flower in March.
How to Get There
To access Frasers Beach, park on the main road in Manapouri, State Highway 95, near the Church cafe. From there, walk down to Pearl Harbour, where the track begins at the western end of the boat facilities.
Other places to explore around the area include Rainbow Reach, with access to a section of the Kepler Track along the Waiau River, and Queens Reach.
