Lake Matheson Jetty Lookout Walk

Lake Matheson Jetty Lookout Walk is a 2.4 km out-and-back from Lake Matheson car park to Jetty Lookout, about 45 minutes return. It gets you to the lake's famous mountain-reflection view without committing to the full 4.4 km circuit. This car park-to-jetty section is the wheelchair-accessible short walk; turn back at the jetty if that is your route. The full circuit carries on beyond it to View of Views and Reflection Island, where steps lead to separate viewing platforms.

From the car park, a short connector reaches the gravel track and a suspension bridge over Clearwater Stream. The gravel path then winds through native rainforest, past ferns and tall kahikatea, rimu and tōtara. Jetty Lookout has a bench beside the water. Turn around here and return the same way.

Aoraki/Mount Cook, Mount Tasman/Te Horokōau and the Southern Alps can reflect in the lake's dark water. Organic matter from the forest floor gives the water its dark color. Dawn or dusk on a fine, windless day gives you the best chance of seeing the peaks mirrored; wind and cloud can wipe out the effect. From the jetty, leave dark water in the foreground so the reflected mountains show clearly in a photo.

The lake formed about 14,000 years ago as Fox Glacier retreated from its last significant advance, leaving a basin of glacial debris that filled with water. Lake Matheson/Te Ara Kairaumati is a customary mahinga kai, or food-gathering place, for Ngāi Tahu. Long-finned eels, or tuna, are abundant here and are taonga.

You may hear or see tūī, silvereyes/tauhou, fantails/pīwakawaka, kererū and tomtits/miromiro in the forest. Canada geese and mallards are common on the lake; pūkeko, paradise ducks/pūtangitangi and New Zealand scaup/pāpango are other wetland birds to look for.

Lake Matheson car park is free for cars and campervans, with three marked mobility spaces and an accessible toilet. There is no drinking water, and sandflies can be fierce, so bring water and repellent. Dogs are not allowed, and bookings are not required. Food and petrol are available in Fox Glacier/Weheka.