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 around. 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. Lake Ohau Lodge is a great place to stay, so you can enjoy all the activities in the region.

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. If you would like to enjoy the spectacular views from the Ohau Snow Fields in summer, you can get a key from the lodge reception, drive up to the mountain and take a walk from there.

Just a short drive further up the valley there are some great walks. Temple view walk is one hour return in 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.

Mount Cook
Mt Cook Village is just over an hour’s drive and there are number of spectacular walks. In particular, the Hooker Valley is approximately 3 hours return.  The new Edmund Hillary Centre has a fabulous 15-minute movie which is recommended viewing.