Lake Ohau
A glacial lake in the Mackenzie Basin, fed by the Hopkins and Dobson rivers from the Southern Alps. A small alpine village on its shore is known for ski fields and, from 2020, for the damage of a major wildfire.
- Where
- Twizel, Canterbury, New Zealand
- Grade
- Local gem
- Worth
- 10 points collected on site
- Coordinates
- -44.2500, 169.8500
Get the Lake Ohau stamp
Open LOQAH when you are at Lake Ohau. It checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp is yours: confirmed on site in gold and struck with the date. It goes into your Canterbury volume with your photos and a note.
Near Lake Ohau
Lake Pukaki 29 km
The largest of the three parallel alpine lakes along the Mackenzie Basin, coloured turquoise by glacial flour. From the southern shore there is a clear view up the lake to Aoraki Mount Cook.
Lake Hawea 53 km
A long glacial lake in Otago, 348 metres above sea level, separated from Lake Wanaka by a narrow isthmus called The Neck. It is 392 metres deep and is a quieter lake than its neighbour.
Mount John University Observatory 57 km
New Zealand's premier astronomical research observatory, on top of Mount John at 1,029 metres above Lake Tekapo. It lies in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, and visitors come for the views and for stargazing tours.
Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park 61 km
A national park in the central west of the South Island, established in October 1953 and named for Aoraki / Mount Cook, the country's highest mountain. Glaciers and peaks of the Southern Alps fill much of the park, with walking tracks near the village.
Lake Wanaka 63 km
The fourth largest lake in New Zealand, set 300 metres above sea level among mountains in Otago. A willow tree growing out of the water near the town has become one of the country's most photographed trees.
Lake Tekapo 67 km
The second largest of three parallel alpine lakes at the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin. Glacial flour gives it an unreal turquoise colour, and the small Church of the Good Shepherd stands on its shore.
Tasman Glacier 76 km
The longest glacier in New Zealand at around 23 kilometres, flowing south from the Southern Alps in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park. Its terminal lake, scattered with icebergs, can be explored by boat.
Aoraki / Mount Cook 76 km
The highest mountain in New Zealand, rising 3,724 metres in the Southern Alps. It stands in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, and Sir Edmund Hillary trained on its slopes before his Himalayan climbs.
More hidden gems in Canterbury
Questions
Where is Lake Ohau?
Lake Ohau is in Twizel, Canterbury, New Zealand. The nearest other LOQAH stamps are Lake Pukaki (29 km), Lake Hawea (53 km), Mount John University Observatory (57 km).
How do I get the Lake Ohau stamp?
Open LOQAH when you are at Lake Ohau and get its stamp. The app checks where you are once, at that moment, and the stamp goes into your Canterbury volume, confirmed on site, with the date.
I have been to Lake Ohau before. Can I still have the stamp?
Yes. Add it from Earlier trips in your Canterbury volume, with the date if you know it, or import your Google Timeline and LOQAH matches the places you were.
Collect your first stamp.
LOQAH is free on iPhone and Android, in India and 40 more countries, with more countries on the way. Stand at a place, collect its stamp, and keep every trip in a passport that grows.