Lake Matheson is one of the most beautiful lakes in New Zealand. On a calm day the water reflects a mirror image of Aoraki Mount Cook and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. It’s a truly incredible sight. However, there are several lookouts around the lake and not all viewpoints are created equal. Time of day and conditions also make a big difference when it comes to seeing that crystal clear reflection.
We’ve visited the lake many times and will take you through everything you need to know for the perfect trip to Lake Matheson, including details on sunrise, sunset and the circuit walking track.
The perfect trip to Lake Matheson
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How to make sure you capture that reflection
The most important thing to consider when planning a trip to Lake Matheson is the wind conditions. If you visit on a windy day the water on the lake will be churned up and the reflection will be a blur.
You will want to pick the least windy day that you possibly can for the most clear reflection. Early mornings tend to be best as a rule, but you can use this website to check the wind speed throughout the day.
Ideally you want a clearish sky but this is less important than the wind factor. Some cloud cover can look really pretty, as they will also reflect perfectly in the water.
There are a couple of different lookout points around the lake, you want to head for the 'Reflection Island’. This is the spot which offers the perfect reflection.
You will see a reflection at other points but it is always much more rippled. The quickest route to Reflection Island is 1.9km from the visitor centre and you’ll want to head anti-clockwise around the lake (turning right at the junction).
This took us about 25 minutes to walk, so make sure you factor this in if aiming for a specific time of day.
Sunrise or sunset are the best times to visit, as these are the times when the mountain range and view look especially glorious. If you visit in winter, sunrise can also bring unexpected gems like a beautiful fog and deep frost in the surrounding fields.
Lake Matheson: Sunrise vs Sunset
If you’re particularly keen on photography, then visiting at sunrise and sunset is a must. Each time gives a unique feel to the image, although the time of year can make a big difference.
The view from Reflection Island is the perfect spot for both sunrise and sunset, and we recommend arriving with plenty of time to spare as this can be a popular spot.
Sunrise
During the winter the sun rises to the west of the mountain range, and casts a glow over the tops of the mountains. The foreground is in shadow, but this accentuates the snow caps on the mountain tops which we loved.
It draws your eye to the magnificent Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman which made it our favourite time of day to visit.
Sunrise
Sunrise is also a lot quieter. When we visited, there was no one there at sunrise, but a few people had set up tripods and cameras for sunset (it wasn’t many, but it made a difference).
A key thing to note though is that sunrise in the summer is different. We’ve been told that the sun rises directly behind the mountain ranges and creates a glare which causes the mountains to become silhouettes.
That’s why in summer we’d recommend sunset.
Sunset
Sunset creates a different light, primarily because of the position of the sun. In both summer and winter, the sun sets behind your position at Reflection Island, lighting up the entire scene evenly.
This is perfect for illuminating the whole landscape, but doesn’t quite have the unique contrasts of sunrise in winter.
Sunset is a popular time, and it’s likely that you will be sharing Reflection Island with more people. There isn’t masses of room for tripods on the viewing platform, so in peak season you’ll want to allow some time to claim a good spot.
Sunset
Which is best?
If you are visiting in the summer, then I would definitely recommend going at sunset. It’s harder to get the perfect conditions for the reflection and you will need to arrive early to get a spot, but this is the best time to get that iconic photo.
In the winter, we’d have to say that sunrise is by far the best time to go. The light is glorious, there’s no one else around and you are more likely to get the still conditions needed for the perfect reflection. You can treat yourself to a coffee afterwards to warm up as well. ;)
The Lake Matheson Walk (4.5km circuit)
The Lake Matheson walk is an easy circuit with an excellent wide gravel path. Although the track does undulate there are no steep bits and the terrain makes it suitable for anyone who can walk for an hour to an hour and a half.
Although everyone visits for the lake, the forest here is magnificent too, with an abundance of moss dripping from the trees which gives it a real Lord of the Rings feel.
From the visitor centre you’ll cross over the wooden bridge and head straight into the forest. You’ll reach a junction where you can head either left (clockwise) or right (anti-clockwise). For this guide, we’ll be heading left.
After 1.1 km you’ll arrive at the Jetty Viewpoint, it’s a lovely one but the least good of the three lookouts, so make sure you walk the track anti-clockwise if you don’t plan on doing the whole circuit (this heads to Reflection Island first).
The view from Jetty Viewpoint
From Jetty Viewpoint you’ll continue through the forest and along boardwalk before reaching a staircase on the left which leads up to the ‘View of Views’.
This is the second best view and reflection along the trail and is just under 1km from the jetty.
You are then just 400m away from Reflection Island and the best view on the whole trail. Wooden steps will take you down onto the viewing platform for an uninterrupted look at Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman.
From Reflection Island you have a short uphill climb before the path flattens again and you arrive at an open section of track which offers some magnificent views of the mountains. In the early morning it is often a little foggy which makes the whole scene even more atmospheric. The final part of the loop is completely flat.
If you have more time you can also visit the fabulous Lake Gault which is an 8km return walk (from the visitor centre) which branches off the Lake Matheson Track.
How to make the most of your visit
The Lake Matheson Cafe
The Lake Matheson Cafe is my favourite in the Franz Josef/Fox Glacier area and is well worth a stop. The views are of course tremendous and the floor to ceiling windows and outdoor deck take full advantage of them. The food and coffee are great and it’s a lovely bright space inside.
There’s nothing like catching a sunrise at the lake and then heading into the cafe to warm up. The bread is homemade so it’s a great place to stop in for brekkie.
The unmissable viewpoint nearby
Most people don’t realise that just a five minute drive from Lake Matheson is a drive up viewpoint that is hands down one of the best views of Fox Glacier. The drive along Cook Flat Road to get there also offers magnificent views, but there aren’t any great places to stop unless it’s incredibly quiet.
The Peak Viewpoint has a parking area and a little sign which points out the names of all the peaks you can see.
Fox Glacier is centre stage and you won’t find a drive up view like this anywhere else in either Fox or Franz Josef Glacier. It’s definitely worth making the short detour to visit.
Other great walking tracks in the area
If you’re a keen hiker then further along the road from Peak Viewpoint you’ll find several walking tracks which begin at the wild and remote Gillespies Beach. We walked the Galway Beach Track which offers some magnificent views of the Southern Alps quite early on in the track. You can read more about it here.
The Galway Beach Track
If you’re planning to visit Lake Matheson for sunset and have a little extra energy we’d recommend heading to the Minnehaha Walk in Fox Glacier town afterwards. Head a few minutes into the forest and then turn your torch off and you’ll begin to notice the little twinkling blue lights of the resident glow worm colony.
It’s magical and best of all you’ll probably get it all to yourself!
Essential information about visiting Lake Matheson
Getting there
Lake Matheson is located 5km from Fox Glacier town which is roughly a five minute drive. It’s 28km and roughly a 30 minute drive from Franz Josef. Car parking is free and unlimited (at time of writing).
If you don’t have a car, a shuttle bus operates between Franz Josef and Lake Matheson. There used to be a shuttle from Fox too but I can’t see it online anymore. It would be easy to take a taxi though if it has stopped operating.
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