Best lake destinations in Oceania
Best lake destinations in Oceania
Deep volcanic crater lakes and pristine glacial water basins in Oceania
New Zealand's glacial lakes hold a distinctive turquoise colour caused by finely ground rock flour suspended in the water. Australia's smaller lake systems offer a different, considerably warmer alternative further west.
The destinations on this list range from glacial mountain lakes with consistently striking colour to warmer inland lakes better suited to swimming and watersports. Both reward visiting at sunrise, when the water is typically at its calmest.
Visiting the glacial lakes outside peak summer tends to mean considerably fewer crowds without sacrificing much of the scenery that makes them famous. Local tour operators can advise on the best vantage points for the lakes' colour. Arriving close to sunrise also tends to mean calmer water and better reflections. Most viewpoints are best reached early morning.
Lists by region
Town in New Zealand
Taupō
Volcanic Lake, Adventure and Hot Springs
Lake Taupo covers 238 square miles and is the largest lake in New Zealand. It formed when the caldera from the Oruanui eruption flooded. That eruption was the largest known in 70,000 years. Brown trout arrived in 1887 and rainbow trout in 1898. A 33 foot carving of Ngatoro-i-rangi watches over Mine Bay.
Town in New Zealand
Wanaka
Alpine Adventure, Lakeside Serenity
Lake Wanaka is the fourth largest lake in New Zealand at 77 square miles. It stretches up to 26 miles and reaches about 1,020 feet deep. Matukituki River and Makarora River feed it before the Clutha River drains it. A willow growing just inside the water has become an attraction itself.
Town in New Zealand
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
Lake Wakatipu is New Zealand's longest lake at 50 miles and plunges 1,380 feet deep. Its lake floor lies below sea level. The Remarkables mountains line the southeastern edge. A vintage steamboat regularly sails the water. A seiche raises and lowers the level in Queenstown Bay by about 8 inches.
Lake in New Zealand
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
Meltwater from the Southern Alps carries glacial silt that turns the lake turquoise. It reaches 390 feet deep and lies 2,330 feet above sea level. The Church of the Good Shepherd, built in 1935, frames the view through its altar window. Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve was designated in 2012.
City in New Zealand
Rotorua
Geothermal Wonders and Māori Culture
Lake Rotorua fills a caldera left after a volcano's last major eruption about 240,000 years ago. It is the second largest lake on the North Island at 31 square miles. Mokoia Island rises near its centre and links to the legend of Hinemoa swimming to her lover. Ngongotaha stream draws trout anglers.
National Park in New Zealand
Fiordland National Park
New Zealand’s Wildest Water World
Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri line the western boundary of New Zealand's largest national park at 4,868 square miles. A 1960s plan to raise Manapouri for hydroelectricity sparked a conservation battle. Doubtful Sound day tours cross Manapouri by boat. Lake Monowai has road access to a campsite.
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