Lake Dunstan is about 30 minutes from Wānaka by car. It is a hydro lake between the Pisa Range to the west and the Dunstan Range to the east. You can drive to Cromwell on either side of the lake. To get to the east side, take the east road to State Highway 8A just before Luggate. Go through Luggate to the west side of the lake. There are several good places to stop on both sides, with Lowburn and the 45th Parallel Track a highlight.
The creation of the dam on the Clutha River at Clyde, south of Cromwell, and the filling of the lake over 1992 / 1993 was the last major hydro project in NZ. Consequently, Cromwell's old town was moved above the new waterline and is worth a visit.
The lake also filled the Cromwell Gorge, which runs between Cromwell and the Clyde Dam. Today, the drive on the northeast side is especially picturesque, with multiple places to stop. On the southwest side, the Lake Dunstan Trail, a 55-km shared walking and cycling trail, has been developed. There is an easier set of connected trails on the west side which starts north of Cromwell and follows he edge of the lake through the town and on to Bannockburn, where it connects with the Lake Dunsatan Track.
Try to hit the lake earlier in the day when there is a better chance it will be calm.
