Destination view

Lake Ohau

Located in the Mackenzie Basin, Lake Ohau is a glacial lake fed by the Hopkins and Dobson rivers. Cradled between the Ohau Range to the west and the Ben Ohau Range to the east, Lake Ohau Alpine Village is a great holiday destination all year round. The Ohau Snow Field attracts many skiers and snowboarders in the winter months, and in the summer months, trampers and mountain bikers can enjoy the stunning wilderness areas.

Walking
There are numerous walks and hikes around the Lake Ohau area. From the village, you can walk down to the lake and wander either way through the beech forest.
Just a short drive further up the valley there are some great walks. Temple View walk is a one-hour return in a beautiful beech forest with some lovely streams. There is also a 5-hour return walk up the north branch of the Temple stream.

Mountain Biking
Lake Ohau Lodge sits right on the newly developed Alps to Ocean Cycle Trail, which runs from Mt Cook Village to Oamaru. A great section to ride is from the nearby town of Twizel, back to Ohau Lodge. The trail meanders around the edge of the lake and once on the road, it is a steady ride to the Lodge for a coffee or well-deserved lunch.
Another option is to ride from the Lake Ohau Lodge over the hill to Omarama, enjoying the stunning expansive views. If you look back, you can see all the way up the Hopkins Valley to Aoraki Mt Cook, and looking east you can see much of the Mackenzie Basin and Lake Benmore.

Ohau Snow Fields

Ohau Snow Fields

Ohau Ski Area caters for all skiing and snowboarding abilities and offers a breath-taking backdrop of the Southern Alps and Lake Ohau below.  For beginners, the snow mat takes you to gentle slopes for learning and you can book lessons with the friendly Ohau instructors.  Intermediate skiers and boarders are well looked after with 50% of the terrain graded intermediate.  Take the double chair lift to the top of the mountain where you’ll ride wide flat slopes down the Boulevard with style.  For those looking for more of a challenge, hiking around the tops to access the best powder snow is definitely worth it, not to mention the unbelievable views.  Wanting to practice your tricks there are 2 terrain parks, 1 for beginners and an intermediate/advanced park.  When you’re ready for a break the day lodge is a cosy space with a log burner, large social tables and the onsite café offers great food and coffee.

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