Lake Matheson Walk
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Photos
Information
Lake Matheson Walk
Time: 1 hr 30 min round trip
Dawn or dusk are the times to try and be the pro photographer. The Holy Grail here is to catch the reflection of the highest peaks on a clear day with perfectly calm waters on the lake.
Walking Track
Timing
Lots of tourist buses visit here around 9am, so if you seek a quieter experience then time your walk for very early in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Even if its raining this walk is still memorable for the rainforest.
Access
From the northern end of Fox township, turn into Cook Flat Rd and drive 4 km to where Lake Matheson is well signposted.
There is a large parking area, gift shop/cafe and toilets.
Track
This well graded loop of the lake is well furnished with steps, benches, lookout platforms and signage.
Cross the swingbridge and take a left at the loop junction. The walk unfolds better this way.
Take the detours to the View of Views and Island Jetty.
Even if its raining this walk is still memorable for the rainforest.
Geology
All those postcards of snow-shimmering peaks reflected on still, forest fringes waters. ‘Come to NZ’ they say. They are taken here.
Lake Matheson occupies a kettle hole - a depression left by a broken off ice-block from the retreating glacier, which melted in situ.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC West CoastCentral government organisation |
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Location |
South Island ▷ West Coast ▷ Fox Glacier |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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5.0/5
21April.
Adults.
Great walk. Best when not busy as so peaceful.
Cafe very good but a shame they play music in the outside area when there is plenty of birdsong.
The separate gallery has closed but has stock inside the cafe building.
Loads of parking especially for vans and motorhomes.
Loved it.
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5.0/5
We did the walk at dusk.
There was not a breath of wind and the reflection on the lake was incredible. It had just rained that afternoon and the forest was amazing. Really loved this short hike and would highly recommend it.
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5.0/5
Great walk around the lake, view is stunning!!
The cafe next door serves good coffe. We did it on a rainy day and it was still one of the best walks!!
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3.5/5
Yes indeed, it actually is a very silent lake at the right time (early).
Even cloudy it makes nice mirror-photo's. If it's cloudy ánd windy...skip it. Track itself is a regular bushwalk with lot's of birdlife. Best part: The Robins and Fantails. They are extremely curious so will come real close (on your shoe or on a long stick on your shoulder)...if you're patient.
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5.0/5
20Oct18.
Weather dry and warm. A slight breeze so the lake was not mirror flat.
Good walk anyway and a cafe at the end.
Last time we were here it was mirror flat. The downside was it was the eye of the storm. We caught the end of a cyclone when we left!
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5.0/5
Well maintained track, loop around lake can be done in either direction.
We were lucky enough to be in the right places at the right times to catch reflections - worth the early morning wake-up call.
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3.5/5
Great view of Mt Cook and nice walk around the Lake.
Need to get there early morning for clear reflection of the mountains.
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5.0/5
May 2107 Walked in the late afternoon, so no problem with crowds.
Again blown away by the fantastic condition of the DOC tracks. This a great short walk as you wind around the lake, regardless of whether you see the reflections, which will only be seen in the optimum conditions. If you see the famous reflections it is a bonus, but enjoy one of the best short walks through a beautiful rainforest environment catching views of Aoraki Mt Cook and Tasman. Loved this meandering walk with the sun glittering through the leaves ... one of my favourites.
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3.0/5
Nice landscape, but very crowded in the peak season.
Need to be there very early in the evening or late in the afternoon, otherwise, you cannot see reflections.
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5.0/5
One of the best things I have ever seen.
Pictures will last a lifetime and definitely would recommend to others. Easy walk as well.
-
5.0/5
21April.
Adults.
Great walk. Best when not busy as so peaceful.
Cafe very good but a shame they play music in the outside area when there is plenty of birdsong.
The separate gallery has closed but has stock inside the cafe building.
Loads of parking especially for vans and motorhomes.
Loved it.
-
5.0/5
We did the walk at dusk.
There was not a breath of wind and the reflection on the lake was incredible. It had just rained that afternoon and the forest was amazing. Really loved this short hike and would highly recommend it.
-
5.0/5
Great walk around the lake, view is stunning!!
The cafe next door serves good coffe. We did it on a rainy day and it was still one of the best walks!!
-
3.5/5
Yes indeed, it actually is a very silent lake at the right time (early).
Even cloudy it makes nice mirror-photo's. If it's cloudy ánd windy...skip it. Track itself is a regular bushwalk with lot's of birdlife. Best part: The Robins and Fantails. They are extremely curious so will come real close (on your shoe or on a long stick on your shoulder)...if you're patient.
-
5.0/5
20Oct18.
Weather dry and warm. A slight breeze so the lake was not mirror flat.
Good walk anyway and a cafe at the end.
Last time we were here it was mirror flat. The downside was it was the eye of the storm. We caught the end of a cyclone when we left!
-
5.0/5
Well maintained track, loop around lake can be done in either direction.
We were lucky enough to be in the right places at the right times to catch reflections - worth the early morning wake-up call.
-
3.5/5
Great view of Mt Cook and nice walk around the Lake.
Need to get there early morning for clear reflection of the mountains.
-
5.0/5
May 2107 Walked in the late afternoon, so no problem with crowds.
Again blown away by the fantastic condition of the DOC tracks. This a great short walk as you wind around the lake, regardless of whether you see the reflections, which will only be seen in the optimum conditions. If you see the famous reflections it is a bonus, but enjoy one of the best short walks through a beautiful rainforest environment catching views of Aoraki Mt Cook and Tasman. Loved this meandering walk with the sun glittering through the leaves ... one of my favourites.
-
3.0/5
Nice landscape, but very crowded in the peak season.
Need to be there very early in the evening or late in the afternoon, otherwise, you cannot see reflections.
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2.5/5
In order to get the fabled reflection, it is necessary for the weather to be both cloudless and completely calm.
A very rare occurrence in Fox. Otherwise, this is an easy, run of the mill rainforest stroll.
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5.0/5
One of the best things I have ever seen.
Pictures will last a lifetime and definitely would recommend to others. Easy walk as well.
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5.0/5
Above our expectations.
The gift shop and the cafe show how well New Zealand is invested here.
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3.5/5
Heard great things about the sights there.
Was slightly disappointed due to weather but the walk was great. Well maintained and signposted. DOC always over estimate times.
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4.0/5
Loop walking taking one hour ish.
Great little walk, worth it. Raining when we did it but if the water was calm, the 'mirrored' views I am sure would have been grand.
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4.0/5
Nice lake and surroundings, a shame we were there on a cloudy day.
Nice giftshop with local art.
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3.5/5
Beautiful lake and views!
Such a shame the sun was not shining the day we went. The shop there is quite cool with lots of art.
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4.0/5
Another beautiful day, 20 minute walk but sadly not a mirror lake today.
Amenities great paths great. Loved the ancient native forest.
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5.0/5
A beautiful walk!
It is a nice mirror lake with great mountains in the background.
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5.0/5
A beautiful walk!
It is a nice mirror lake with great mountains in the background.
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4.5/5
Easy walk into the forest to see the Matheson Lake which is a wonderful mirror lake.
Very easy walk.
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4.5/5
When the lake is calm, especially before 10am, this is a beautiful hike and has great views of Mt Cook and Fox Glacier.
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5.0/5
Loved this walk, especially before 10am when the lake is calm and the mountains are free of afternoon cloud.
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3.5/5
Should be done easily in the morning or in the evening - we could not see any mirror effects unfortunately.
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4.0/5
Nice walk, well organised path to walk.
The wind was too hard to make a mirror picture.
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4.0/5
This walk was a little bit off the beaten track but was a nice 1.5 hour loop walk through amazing wetlands and forest scenery.
Cafe at the end!
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4.0/5
Though you have to be really lucky to get the perfect sight of the mountains reflecting in the water like in a mirror it is a really nice walk through the forest.
