Nelson Lakes... Lake Rotoroa...

This was my next stop... Lake Rotoroa... oroa is Maori for long lake. 

The next place I haven't been to before... 

And it is stunning.

 

Nelson Lakes National Park, formed in 1956 and covering 

1,020 km², is situated in the northernmost ranges of the Southern Alps. 

Best known for its lakes, both large and small, this 101,733 

hectare park has tranquil beech forest, craggy mountains, clear

streams, open tussock lands and river edge clearings.

During the last Ice Age, massive glaciers gouged out

troughs in the mountainous headwaters of the Buller

River. Today these troughs are filled by Lakes

Rotoiti and Rotoroa, which are the largest

lakes in the area.

Turn off State Highway 6 at Gowan Bridge. A sealed road

takes you 11km up the Gowan valley and river to the lake. 

Over the Gowan River bridge...

And there is the lake. I don't know what I expected but 

I was really surprised. It's magical.

Lake Rotoroa is fed by the D'Urville and Sabine rivers. The 

greatest depth is 145 metres and the lake is completely 

surrounded by beech forest.

 There are introduced trout, which attract recreational fishermen. 

There is a  fly-fishing lodge, Lake Rotoroa Lodge, 

on the edge of the lake.

I drove round the track, through the stands of mixed beech

podocarp, matai, miro, kahikatea... Tree fuchsia...

And here I am... In sandfly territory...

This is a Department of Conservation campsite.

DoC looks after all this National Park and

provides tracks and walks, picnic areas, camps

and huts to help enjoy and explore it.

Nelson Lakes retains a semi-wilderness feeling,

the tracks and huts are uncrowded,

perfect for exploration and relaxation.

Mist lingering round the mountain tops...

On one of my walks I found this very ingenious bike...

For transport or cutting the grass I'm not sure...

But my legs seemed more reliable!

All these little houses made up the tiny settlement

of the lake... Probably all belong to fisher people...

The day I left it had started to rain and the lake was a

symphony in greys and mysteriously shrouded in

cloaks of cloud... Absolutely beautiful...

 And... The Gowan River which flows out of the lake at this point,
making the lake one of the sources of the  Buller River system.