Discovering Lake Clearwater
Lake Clearwater, one of the larger lakes in the high country tussock lands of Hakatere Conservation Park, also known as the Ashburton Lakes, is located next to the smaller Lake Camp on Hakatere Potts Road. There is a collection of holiday homes on the south side of the lake, with a campground nearby on the edge of Lake Camp. The golden tussock-covered mountains to the north-northwest reflect in the lake when it’s still.
A Scenic Setting
The lake sits in the high country, around 700 metres above sea level. To the northwest are the 2,000+ metre Potts Range and Big Hill Range. Immediately to the northeast is Mt Guy at 1,319 metres. Smaller Lake Camp is immediately to the south, on the other side of the Hakater Piotts Road, and is a popular location. The environment is mostly dry, with golden grass and mountain tussocks, typical of the high east side of the Southern Alps.
Popular activities on the lake include fishing (trout from November to May), kayaking, windsurfing, and swimming in Summer, and ice skating in Winter if it’s cold enough for long enough. Powerboats are not permitted on the lake but are allowed on Lake Camp.
Hiking Opportunities
From the small settlement around Lake Clearwater, you can take on several hikes. A 10.5 km loop around the lake offers scenic views and connects to a track leading to the summit of Mt Guy. This hike features a 600-metre vertical climb and typically takes 1.5 to 2 hours. Additionally, the loop intersects the Te Araroa Trail as it crosses the park.
How to get there
From Christchurch, take State Highway 1 south to Rakaia. There, take Thompson’s Track, then the Tramway Road across the Canterbury Plain to Mt Somers township. From there, take Ashburton Gorge Road to Hakatere in the Hakatere Conservation Park, where the road turns to gravel. From there, follow Hakatere Potts Road to the lake. The drive takes 2 hours and is 150 km.
Nearby, check out Hakatere and other lakes, including Lake Roundabout, Lake Emma, Māori Lakes and Lake Heron.
