Activities
Scenic Walks
Lake Rotoroa Walks
The mixed beech-podocarp forest surrounding this picturesque glacial lake offers lodge guests several tracks that explore the lake edge and the park's tranquil forests. Both short walks and half-day walks are possible, making Lake Rotoroa an ideal place for all ages and capabilities.
The walks are well signposted and graded, with bridges across most streams and rivers. As this is an alpine environment, we strongly advise guests to bring firm footwear and warm clothing.
Short Walks
For those guests who prefer an easy stroll, several pleasant walks are available.
Flower’s Walk (15 minutes)
Named in memory of two early settlers at Lake Rotoroa (Cyril and Hubert Flower), this short walk is located at the northern end of the lake, between the lake foreshore and the outlet, just a few steps from the front door of the lodge.
Flower's Walk starts to the right of the car park and jetty and passes through a stand of kahikatea forest before following around the lake outlet to the beginning of the Gowan River.
Kahikatea (Podocarpus dacrydioides) was once common as pure stands in swampy areas of alluvial flood plains and on the margins of lakes, rivers and estuaries throughout New Zealand. The clearance, drainage and conversion of these areas to farmland has resulted in kahikatea forest being very rare. Kahikatea is our tallest tree, often reaching 197 feet (60 m) in height. Whilst preferring wetter, low-lying areas, kahikatea will also grow in forests on drier sites up to 1970 feet (600 m) in altitude.
Short Loop Track – Nature Walk (30 minutes)
The Short Loop Track starts at the picnic area near the lake and proceeds along the Lakeside Track for about 10 minutes before branching off to the left onto the loop section. It returns to the picnic area via the start of the Porika Track.
The gentle nature of this ramble is a botanist's delight. Of all the short walks in the park, this one contains the greatest variety of tall forest trees, shrubs, climbing vines, mosses and, particularly, ferns. Here, the beech/podocarp forest around the lake is at its most diverse.
Near the beginning of the walk, on the forest floor and along the edge of the stream are many different fern species. The large size of the attractive hen and chickens fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) indicates a very favourable growing site. The fern derives its name from the tiny plants or bulbils that sprout from the fronds. The bulbils are capable of growing into new plants if they make contact with the ground.
Half-Day Walks
For a longer wak here are some options for walks that will help you absorb the fantastic scenery.
Braeburn Walk (2 hours return)
The Braeburn Walk leads through a diverse remnant of the beech/podocarp forest, rich in bird life, along a wide and well-graded track to a picturesque mossy waterfall.
The track starts from the Braeburn Road, 220 yards (200 m) from the front of the lodge on the other side of the Gowan Bridge. Initially, the track follows the remains of a road constructed in the 1950s, during the hydroelectric investigations. Flanking this flat section is a grove of distinctive fushia trees forming a natural avenue. They can be recognised by their flaky, paper-thin red bark, which peels away from the often gnarled and twisted trunks.
Known to Maori as kotukutuku, tree fushia (Fushia excorticata) is not only unique to New Zealand, but is the largest member of the fushia family in the world. It also has the distinction of being one of our few deciduous native species. In spring, the lifeless-looking trees produce new leaves and, later, green flowers that change in colour to an attractive burgundy.
The flowers occur in two forms, a hermaphrodite (both male and female) flower, which can be distinguished by its very unusual blue pollen, and a female flower. Both occur in the same area but not on the same tree.
Porika Lookout Track (1 hour 30 minutes or 3 hours return)
The Porika Lookout Track heads up onto the northern end of the Muntz Range which runs along the eastern side of Lake Rotoroa. From here, a spectacular view can be gained of the lake and the surrounding bush-clad, bare-topped mountain ranges.
The track begins after the parking area on the road from the lodge which branches left a short distance from our front door. Alternatively, begin at the picnic area and walk a short way (10 minutes) along the Lakeside Track, then take the Short Loop Track to meet the Porika Track. This option passes through a delightful area of mixed beech/podocarp forest with an impressive variety of ferns, mosses, shrubs and tall forest trees.
Soon after leaving the parking area, the four-wheel drive track, which is used to service the power transmission lines, climbs steeply through the beech forest in a series of zigzags to the lookout points.
The dark granite rock, flecked with shining mica, that makes up the Muntz and Braeburn Ranges, can be seen in the road cuttings. The 300 million year old rock of the Rotoroa igneous complex lies on the north-western side of the Alpine fault which runs across the head of Lake Rotoroa in a SW to NE direction.
By contrast, the ranges on the south-eastern side of the fault are composed of greywacke and argillite. These are sedimentary in origin, having been gradually accumulated on the bed of the ocean about 200 million years ago.
For a more interesting round-trip, the walk over the historic Porika Track, which branches off to the left after about 15-20 minutes, is the recommended option. Allow 3 hours for the longer round trip and 1 hour 30 minutes for the shorter walk on the four-wheel drive track. This was the stock route used by drovers avoiding the steeper parts.
Long Walks
The Lodge forms a great base to start a longer walk in the surrounding area.
Walks at the End of the Lake: Sabine and D'Urville
Many say that the only way to really appreciate the beauty of Lake Rotoroa is to take a boat trip to the end of the lake. The Sabine and D'Urville rivers flow into the southern end of Lake Rotoroa. There are numerous walks and hikes which showcase the beauty of this conservation area. Three examples are described, but there are many others, such as to the peak of Mount Misery, which are equally stunning.
Mouth of the Sabine to the Mouth of the D'Urville (approx 3-4 hours)
It is possible to take a boat to the mouth of the Sabine, walk up the Sabine for approximately 40 minutes, then track back down the river and along the end of the lake to the flats at the mouth of the D'Urville. This walk will take approximately 3 hours during which time you will be surrounded by the steepest of mountains, which form the beginning of the Southern Alps such as Mount Cedric (5026 ft/1532 m) and the Travers Range (approx 7415-7480 ft/2260–2280 m).
Mount Cedric (full day; approx 7-8 hours)
For the more adventurous and the fit, Mount Cedric provides a very steep climb, during the first stage of which you will gain well over 2953 feet (900 m) in 2½ miles (4 km)! However this gradient lessens greatly as you clear the tree line and see the breathtaking view over the entire lake, Sabine Valley and surrounding mountains.
Multi-day treks into the National Park (Sabine - D'Urville 3 days)
For those who really want to experience the outback of the National Park, and are prepared to overnight in the Department of Conservation huts (placed strategically around the parks for safety and shelter), it is possible to walk all of the way to the West Sabine Hut (approx 6 hours), then onwards to the Blue Lake Hut (another 3-4 hours), which is a good place to overnight just on the bush-line. If you push on another ½ mile (1 km) to beyond the final stand of beech you will reach one of the most stunning spots in the park with views over Lake Constance and the Blue Lake, vivid in its blue and turquoise colouration.
The following day you progress towards Ella Hut which will take 5-6 hours and leads to the summit of Moss Pass (5856 ft/1785 m) and see the view of Mount Ella and the D'Urville Valley. To enter this there is a steep, long descent to the swing bridge across the D'Urville River and on to the Ella Hut itself about ½ mile (1 km) north down the west bank of the river.
The final day of your trek you will follow the D'Urville Valley all the way back down towards Lake Rotoroa which will take the better part of 8 hours. Meet the boat at the end of the lake and return to the lodge for a hot shower and a meal that somebody else has caringly prepared for you!
