Lake Clearwater, South Island, New Zealand

Also known as:  Lake Tripp

When the winds are not blowing hard from off the mountains, Lake Clearwater holds images like a broad mirror. In it you can see reflections of the snow-capped Southern Alps that stretch for miles beyond under billowing clouds. No wonder this New Zealand treasure is called Lake Clearwater. The lake, in the Christchurch-Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island, is located in a remote tussock-covered mountain valley…
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    • All About Lake Clearwater, New Zealand

    Lake Locations: New Zealand - South Island, NZ - Christchurch – Canterbury Region, South Island, NZ -

    When the winds are not blowing hard from off the mountains, Lake Clearwater holds images like a broad mirror. In it you can see reflections of the snow-capped Southern Alps that stretch for miles beyond under billowing clouds. No wonder this New Zealand treasure is called Lake Clearwater. The lake, in the Christchurch-Canterbury region of New Zealand’s South Island, is located in a remote tussock-covered mountain valley at the headwaters of the Ashburton River.

    The region spans the extreme heights of the Southern Alps to the fathomless depths of dolphin and whale inhabited ocean. Lake Clearwater, which once had the name Lake Tripp, lies somewhere in between, in New Zealand high country characterized mostly by pastoral land over 2000 feet in elevation. Deer, alpaca, and sheep graze on farmlands amid the looming mountain ranges. Now part of the Hakatere Conservation Park, Lake Clearwater is a wildlife reserve for the endangered Great Crested Grebe. Many of the breeding nests for the elegant birds are signposted and often fenced off. As part of the refuge’s protective measures, only wind-powered crafts may troll on Lake Clearwater. But don’t worry, power boating is allowed on Lake Camp (once known as Lake Howard), a smaller lake just south of Lake Clearwater.

    Lake Clearwater has a good rainbow trout and brown trout fishery that can pose a hard challenge in such an open valley vulnerable to strong, funnelling wind. The fish become difficult to stalk when the water surface gets choppy. But what might be less favorable conditions for fishermen are excellent circumstances for sailors, windsurfers and kiteboarders whose adventures are made with the varying temperaments of the wind. Windsurfing clinics and kiteboarding tournaments attract hosts of windlovers each year. Because the lake is shallow, it is easily warmed in the summer. For the same reason, it freezes in frigid winters.

    A village of holiday homes, or baches, are popular at Lake Clearwater and offer viable options whether you are looking for vacation rentals or real estate property for purchase. These holiday baches offer long term vacations on Lake Clearwater and a whole season of mountain biking and hiking the area’s terrain, swimming, challenging trout fishing and exhilarating windsurfing.

    Things to Do at Lake Clearwater

    These are some activities in the Lake Clearwater, New Zealand area visitors can enjoy:

    • Vacation Rentals
    • Fishing
    • Boating
    • Sailing
    • Swimming
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Biking
    • Wildlife Viewing
    • Birding

    What Kind of Fish Are in Lake Clearwater?

    Lake Clearwater has been known to have the following fish species:

    • Brown Trout
    • Rainbow Trout
    • Trout
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    Find Places to Stay at Lake Clearwater

    If you’re considering a Lake Clearwater lake house rental or hotel, we’ve made it super easy to find the best rates and compare vacation accommodations at a glance. Save time using this interactive map below.

    Note: These are affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click and make a purchase. Read our full disclosure policy here.

    More Sites to Book a Lake Clearwater Vacation

    Our interactive Lake Clearwater lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Find a Campspot
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    Lake Clearwater Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Not Dammed

    Surface Area: 489 acres

    Normal Elevation (Full Pond): 2,192 feet

    Maximum Depth: 65 feet

    Trophic State: Oligo-mesotrophic

    Lake Clearwater Map

    More local lakes to explore in this area:

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    Lake Coleridge, New Zealand

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    Lake Pukaki, New Zealand

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    Lake Heron, New Zealand

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