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A Walk Around Lake Matheson – In Photos

July 14, 2015 by Jen Lyons 27 Comments

Have you ever been somewhere so immensely breathtaking that all you could do was sit in silence and let your eyes drink in the view? This is how I felt on my walk around Lake Matheson in Glacier Country on New Zealand’s South Island.

I’d read about and seen pictures of Lake Matheson and its famous reflection in guide books and online before leaving for New Zealand, but no words or pictures I had read or seen quite did this experience justice.

We set out from the car park for the one and a half hour walk around Lake Matheson with high expectations. Equipped with my camera, my goal was to get that perfect photo of New Zealand’s highest peak, Aoraki (Mount Cook), reflected in the dark water of Lake Matheson.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

Located not far from the Fox Glacier, Lake Matheson was formed some 14,000 years ago when the glacier retreated leaving a depression in the ground which later filled with water and become the lake you see today.

The dark colour of the lake is caused by a natural leaching of organic matter from the native forest floor that surrounds it. On a calm day, the dark surface of the lake forms the perfect canvas for the mountains to reflect on.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

It’s about a 45 minute walk through the ancient native forest to get to the first of a few reflection viewing spots along the track. The forest is damp and dense with tall trees towering above. We walk in silence; the only sounds to be heard are our own footsteps and the occasional chirp and flutter of an unseen bird.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

The mountains come into view as we clear the forest and walk out onto the pontoon. It’s a wonderful sight but I know from the previous research I’d done that if we keep walking it will only get better.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

Leaving the pontoon we head back into the forest as the track starts to lead up slightly to its highest point and next viewing point. It’s here that I find that breathtaking moment.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

The view is just a small clearing in the forest, enough to frame the mountains and the lake. It is silent and we stand at the lookout in awe of the view for a few minutes just drinking it all in. It isn’t the perfect day for the reflection with a light breeze breaking the surface of the water, but it’s good enough for me.


Read More: Two Week New Zealand South Island Road Trip Itinerary


For the next 10 minutes I’m snapping away with my camera trying out different settings and angles to get the perfect reflection shot.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

Some other walkers arrive at the lookout, chatting to one another as they climb the stairs to the top. But as they reach the lookout, the view stuns them to silence. We slink back from the edge of the lookout to give them room to have their moment with this beauty and take a seat.

We sit in silence to rest our feet and continue to stare out at the mountains. Time just seems to slip by and 15 minutes pass in the blink of an eye.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

Reluctantly we continue along the track heading back down the steps and to the lakes edge. It is here on a wooden deck over the lake that I get my best shot of the day.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller

We finish the loop walk around Lake Matheson inspired by the view and relaxed by the peace of the surroundings. My eagerness to get back and upload my photos to my laptop urges me forward.

A Walk Around Lake Matheson in Photos - The Trusted Traveller


Over to you!

Tell me about a place that was so immensely breathtaking that all you could do was sit in silence and let your eyes drink in the view?

Let me know using the comments section below or join me on social media to start a conversation.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post.

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Glacier Country, New Zealand, Oceania

Comments

  1. Gloria @NomadicChica says

    July 15, 2015 at 6:09 am

    What a beautiful park! Would love to visit this place someday, will definitely keep it in mind if I ever go to this area 😉

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 15, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Thanks Gloria.

      Reply
  2. Sandra says

    July 18, 2015 at 2:22 pm

    Wow! That is a seriously stunning view. It doesn’t get better than that. It makes me want to get back to NZ.

    Perhaps one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen was Lake Louise, near Banff in Canada. It was absolutely stunning. We canoed on the green lake with the snow-capped granite peaks all around us and a bagpipe player playing Amazing Grace in the distance. It was one of those ‘aaaah’ moments.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:03 am

      Wow sounds incredible Sandra. Lake Louise is a somewhere I’d love to visit myself someday. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  3. dannielle says

    July 18, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    I travelled around the south island a few years ago and unfortunately didn’t stop here. Seriously regretting that now however I did go to lake tekapo and it really took my breath away. I’d recommend it as an alternative

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:04 am

      I’m heading back to NZ next year and Lake Tekapo is on my list this time. I saw a pic the other day and it looks stunning. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  4. Toni | 2 Aussie Travellers says

    July 18, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    Oh wow I do miss New Zealand following along on this series. Your photos are so beautiful and I do want to be back walking in the kiwi bush with no snakes to think about, although even with this ‘cold snap’ I wouldn’t trade the climate.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Yes! One of the reasons I love walking in NZ so much no snakes.

      Reply
  5. megsy says

    July 18, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    What a beautiful place to explore. The picture with the mountains reflecting in the lake is stunning. This is yet another reason why I have to get off my butt and visit NZ.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:05 am

      You must!

      Reply
  6. Bethaney - Flashpacker Family says

    July 18, 2015 at 9:48 pm

    I’ve done this walk. It’s really beautiful but I didn’t get as good a day as you did! I like the little cafe there. Great food.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:05 am

      Yeah we had a coffee there. It was a nice way to end the walk.

      Reply
  7. Anne Klien ( MeAnne) says

    July 18, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    I woukdnt get tired wandering around this beautiful place… what a stunning view of the lake and mountains

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:06 am

      It was hard to leave that’s for sure.

      Reply
  8. Fiona @ London-Unattached says

    July 19, 2015 at 2:21 am

    wow it looks stunning – I particularly like that photo of the lake reflecting back the mountains! On my bucket list now!

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:07 am

      Thanks Fiona. Hope you get there soon.

      Reply
  9. Giulia Blocal says

    July 19, 2015 at 4:39 am

    well, in my case, the last place that was so immensely breathtaking that all I could do was sit in silence and let my eyes drink in the view is the Meteora valley in Greece, with its Orthodox monasteries suspended in the air.
    you pictures are really beautiful, and I like the idea of the ‘phototour’ 🙂

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Thanks Giulia! Meteora looks amazing and i’d love to see it for myself someday. Thanks for sharing your experience.

      Reply
  10. zof says

    July 19, 2015 at 6:24 pm

    Water, blue skies and the mountains…so beautiful. I love when the elements meet in the nature. This place looks so majestic and peaceful, I’d love to spend several days there.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:09 am

      Majestic is a great word to describe it!

      Reply
  11. Heather Widmer says

    July 19, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    Absolutely beautiful! I was fortunate to visit NZ in March of this year. It was some of the most beautiful landscape and best hiking I’ve ever done. I truly hope to return on day. I’ll be sure to visit Lake Matheson.

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:10 am

      It’s definitely a place you can visit time and time again and continue to fall in love with it.

      Reply
  12. Natalie - From Tourist 2 Local says

    July 20, 2015 at 2:14 am

    That does look like one of those breathtaking places where you just want to sit and look around. I honestly think, my favorite part of travel is not the cities, but seeing the nature around the world. This definitely looks like one of those places that should be on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    • Jen says

      July 20, 2015 at 11:29 am

      Me too. Thanks for stopping by Natalie.

      Reply
  13. rebecca says

    October 7, 2015 at 1:24 pm

    Some beautiful photos! New Zealand is just stunning!

    Reply
    • Jen Seligmann says

      October 8, 2015 at 11:11 am

      Thanks Rebecca.

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 30 Awesome Places You'd Rather Be Right Now | Savored Journeys says:
    August 5, 2015 at 5:12 am

    […] beautiful you just can’t bear to drag yourself away from it? That was me on my visit to Lake Matheson on New Zealand’s South Island. The one and a half hour walk around one of New Zealand’s most […]

    Reply

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