Lake Hawea Area Guide
Much of the southern alpine landscape owes its shape to the passage of the mighty glaciers. One such example is Lake Hawea, the smallest and most northern of the southern glacial lakes.
The small resort town of the same name sits on the southern shores of the lake, and is home to summer and winter tourists seeking a little more tranquility than nearby Wanaka offers.
As well as providing a base for explorations of the surrounding mountains and ski resorts, Lake Hawea itself plays host to many typical outdoor pursuits. 35 km long, 7 km wide and several hundred metres deep, it offers salmon and trout fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, water skiing and windsurfing.
Picnic and camping areas are dotted around its edges and those seeing drier activities can enjoy walks and climbs, or go mountain biking, horse riding or hunting. There's even a small nine-hole golf course.
Local facilities are limited given the close proximity to the larger Wanaka, but there are many simple accommodation options. As well as camping opportunities, the town has several B&Bs, motels and self-contained holiday units.
Named after a Maori tribe, the lake's importance is not limited to tourism. Fed by small creeks and the Hunter river, it feeds in turn the Hawea river which merges into the Clutha (an important source of hydroelectric power). Indeed, the lake was artificially raised last century to increase its water storage capacity for hydroelectric purposes.