Department of Conservation | Te Papa Atawhai, https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/aoraki-mount-cook-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/blue-lakes-and-tasman-glacier-walks/. Image: Charles Quirk | Creative Commons. There are good views of the lower Haupapa/Tasman Glacier and lake, icebergs and the mountains at the head of the valley. We skipped the little side trail to see the Blue Lakes, but did notice and read about how/ why they are now green rather than blue. 16.) NZTopo50 map sheet: BS24Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1571514, N5343732. Initially it did so by undercutting the cliff at the end of the glacier, causing parts of the cliff to fall into the lake. Put this in the honesty box at the hut. Just big puddles really. Mount Cook National Park is the obvious highlight (check out the Hooker Valley, Tasman Glacier, Kea Point and Red Tarns hikes) and Lake Tekapo is one of New Zealand’s most scenic towns. Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier walks: Blue lakes were disappointing - See 260 traveler reviews, 483 candid photos, and great deals for Aoraki Mount Cook National Park … And a short detour to Blue Lake (5 minutes return). The retreating Tasman Glacier melts to create the intense blue of Lake Pukaki and make this one of the most beautiful areas in New Zealand. Blue Lake is not accessible by car or on a day walk. Walk from the Sabine Hut to the West Sabine Hut (5hrs) and from here to the Blue Lake Hut (3.5hrs). The rifleman, New Zealand’s smallest bird. Rapidly changing weather – this walk is in an alpine region. Blue Lake (Rangimairewhenua in Māori) is a lake in Nelson Lakes National Park, in the northern reaches of New Zealand's Southern Alps and is sacred to local Māori, it now has been deemed to have the clearest natural fresh water in the world. At the carpark, there is also a shelter and toilet facility. Walk is a rough, mostly stepped track; information panels are useful. Lake Matheson, New Zealand - As one traveler put it, "Lake Matheson looks like a work of art." This is a serviced 16-bunk hut in the Nelson Lakes area. After Queenstown, we set out to meet our friends at the Hermitage Hotel, a beautiful hotel inside Mount Cook National Park.This was 3.5 hours away from Queenstown, so we woke up early, grabbed breakfast from Ferg Bakery, and then were on the road again. From the info hut go towards the glacier first (you'll get a view over the lakes from this part of the walk). Walk from the Sabine Hut to the West Sabine Hut (5hrs) and from here to the Blue Lake Hut (3.5hrs). The Tasman Glacier Lake (1 hour return 2.6 km), which branches off shortly after the start of the walk on the right. That walk is about one hour return. The lake is located deep in the backcountry and it takes a minimum of two days backcountry tramping to visit it. The rifleman, New Zealand’s smallest bird. Blue Lake, St Bathans, NZ. Turquoise blue water is found in pools where more … I counted 333 stairs to the top at the lookout Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier walks: Excellent views - See 262 traveler reviews, 485 candid photos, and great deals for Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu), New Zealand, at Tripadvisor. Nelson Lakes - Robert Ridge - Travers Sabine Circuit - Blue lakes - WAIAU Pass is a 59.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Saint Arnaud, Nelson-Tasman, New Zealand that features a lake and is only recommended for very experienced adventurers. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for unlimited use at most Serviced and Standard huts for a 6 or 12 month period. The Blue Lakes trek is a relatively short, 15 minute trek that ascends rather quickly to an elevated position where you can view a series of three small lakes that at one time were fed by glacier runoff from the Tasman Glacier. Also check out the Waitaki Valley ( Benmore Peninsula Track , Elephant Rocks ) and the scenic drive to Queenstown through the Lindis Pass . Located in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park in the Canterbury region, Tasman Glacier lake Image: Shellie Evans ©, Tasman Glacier walk Image: Shellie Evans ©, Rifleman/tītipounamu Image: Michael Hamilton | Creative Commons, Walking tracks in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park brochure (PDF, 4,461K), Walks around Aoraki/Mount Cook Village brochure: Chinese (PDF, 1354K) | French (PDF, 1145K) | German (PDF, 1144K) | Spanish (PDF, 1145K), Time: 40 min returnGradient: Gradual incline with rock steps. At around 27 km long, the Tasman Glacier is the longest glacier in New Zealand and a relatively recent addition, having started its formation in 1974. To access the lake the shortest way, take the water taxi from Lake Rotoroa Jetty to Sabine Hut. We hope you enjoy your Blue Lake Walk when visiting Rotorua in … Tasman in the background. There were some boats on the lake, which helped drive home just how large the lake and glacier are. Nelson Tasman Heli Flights - Mt Owen Lord of the Rings ... Blue Lake is a small lake located in Nelson Lakes National Park, in the northern reaches of New Zealand’s Southern Alps. Lying long and deep in the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is the incredible Tasman Glacier, a terminal ice structure that is the biggest of its kind in New Zealand.. You can also access a range of short walks from the lakefront. This walk branches off the Blue Lakes Track just past the Blue Lakes shelter and leads to a viewpoint of the glacier’s terminal lake. Blue Lake. (Photo by Terry Bamforth) Critical Ecosystem Pressures on Freshwater Environments, Biodiversity inventory and monitoring toolbox, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use. The BLUE LAKE is south west of Gladstone on B82, which goes onto Derby. The detour to the Blue lakes was disappointing. ACCOMMODATION: GLADSTONE HOTEL, Chaffey St, Gladstone (south of Musselroe Bay): (03) 6357 2143 This magnificent glacier is the largest of several in the region that flows towards the Mackenzie Basin from the Southern Alps. An unbelievable sight is Blue Lake. Return the same way. A little more off the beaten track, Lake Rotoroa is very similar in terms of the landscape to Lake Rotoiti, but away from the tourist crowds. From the south east you approach Gladstone from DERBY by driving east on the A3 Tasman Highway, then turn north east onto B82 to reach the Blue Lake and Gladstone. Tasman Lake has quickened the retreat of the Tasman Glacier. Sacred to local Māori, it has the clearest natural fresh water in the world. Book your tickets online for Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier walks, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu): See 258 reviews, articles, and 482 photos of Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier walks, ranked No.4 on Tripadvisor among 13 attractions in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te … See photos, tips, similar places specials, and more at Blue Lake - Rotomairewhenua Respect these waters and do not wash yourself, your clothes or dishes in the lake. The 27 km Tasman glacier is the longest in New Zealand. The track leads through the glacier’s old terminal moraines (rock and stone debris left when a glacier retreats), and you can see good examples of plant succession along the route. If you wish to access Blue Lake from St Arnaud, allocate a minimum of four days return. The lake is located deep in the backcountry and it takes a minimum of two days backcountry tramping to visit it.To access the lake the shortest way, take the water taxi from Lake Rotoroa Jetty to Sabine Hut. It's true, this mirror-like lake on New Zealand's South Island is the perfect canvas for reflecting the surrounding pines and the stunning peak of Mt. It sits next to the ghost town of St Bathans, and like the town it is the result of a gold rush in the late 19th century. Return the same way. Before you go, buy 1 Standard Hut Ticket (blue for adults, yellow for youth) for each night's stay. Lake Rotomairewhenua (also referred to as ‘Blue Lake’) is located in the depths of the Nelson Lakes National Park. Or buy a Backcountry Hut Pass for unlimited use at most Serviced and Standard huts for a 6 or 12 month period. The walk first leads to "Blue lakes" which was once glacier-fed but now filled with rainwater and green with as algae. Tasman Glacier hike - general info. While only 7 m deep the clarity of the lake water can exceed 80 m which is close to the theoretically calculated clarity of distilled water. Icebergs can usually be seen floating in the lake in summer, and in winter, the lake freezes over. From here the climbing is a little steeper, until you arrive at the Blue Lake Hut. Follow this for about 7 km to the car park at the end. Another track branches off to go to the source of the Tasman River. From the car park, walk past the Blue Lakes shelter and continue up past the Blue Lakes to a viewpoint on the moraine wall. Put these in the honesty box at the hut. 6) Tasman Lake Track. Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier Lake Walk: the Blue Lake. Backtracking a little bit leads to the path towards the Tasman glacier view. The glacier and the terminal lake are visible from here. The South Island’s scenery is famously beautiful. There are a couple of roads to access Lake Rotoroa from State Highway 6. You can’t really tell how beautiful the lake is from a picture until you are actually standing there by the shore. Blue Lake, known to Ngāti Apa iwi as Rotomairewhenua (the land of peaceful waters), is thought to be the clearest fresh water in the world. Check out our Guide to the Nelson / Tasman District. From the car park, walk past the Blue Lakes shelter and continue up past the Blue Lakes to a viewpoint on the moraine wall. Blue Lakes and Tasman Glacier View Walk Discover New Zealand's longest glacier with this walk that takes in alpine-fed lakes and glacier-moulded landscapes. Located in Nelson Lakes National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region, Bookings not required - first come, first served, Blue Lake Hut Image: Charles Quirk | Creative Commons, Blue Lake, coming back from Rotopōhueroa/Lake Constance
Blue Lake, St Bathans, NZ. The hut is a decent stone throw from the amazing clear waters of the Blue Lake, situated in a large natural clearing, surrounded by mountainous peaks and native bush. Weather wasn't great but my goodness the beautiful blue lake was stunning. Free carpark; Free access to the walk; Toilets near the carpark, but none on the trails; Plan 30min return for the walk to the lookout - add 30min if you detour to the Blue Lakes; Plan 1h return of flat walking to reach the Tasman Lake shore. Great to visit without all the tourists, although the peace and tranquility at the lake was still spoilt by a large family group … Some may wish to carry on a bit further to look down on Lake Constance (signposted). The final Blue Lake I've come across so far is tucked away in a quiet corner of Central Otago, in New Zealand's south island. Blue Lake (Rotomairewhenua in Māori) is a small fresh water lake in Nelson Lakes National Park, in the northern reaches of New Zealand's Southern … BLUE LAKES and TASMAN GLACIER VIEW WALK - Aoraki M oun t Cook N ational P ark. Translated as the ‘land of peaceful waters’, Lake Rotomairewhenua holds the title of the clearest lake in the world. It is the place where the Tasman River begins. Lake Rotoroa. The 27 km Tasman glacier is the longest in New Zealand. Turn off SH80 onto Tasman Valley Road just before Aoraki/Mount Cook Village. A side trip to the Blue Lakes offers good swimming in summer and a chance to see New Zealand smallest bird, the ever-chirpy rifleman. Tasman Lake is a proglacial lake formed by the recent retreat of the Tasman Glacier in New Zealand's South Island.In the early 1970s, there were several small meltwater ponds on the Tasman Glacier.By 1990, these ponds had merged into Tasman Lake.Tasman Lake has quickened the retreat of the Tasman Glacier. 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