About Lake Matheson
Māori name & meaning: Te Ara Kairaumati
Lake Matheson rests beneath some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s highest peaks, its dark waters held quietly within ancient West Coast forest. When the surface settles, Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman appear in the lake as if the landscape has been perfectly doubled, framed by native foliage and open sky.
The Story of This Place
Lake Matheson was formed approximately 14,000 years ago, when Fox Glacier / Te Moeka o Tūawe retreated from its last major advance towards the sea and left a depression that later filled with water. Now enclosed by ancient native forest, the lake has become renowned for its reflections of Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, creating one of New Zealand’s most recognised and photographed alpine landscapes.
Cultural Significance
Lake Matheson / Te Ara Kairaumati is a traditional mahinga kai, meaning a place where food and natural resources were gathered. Long-finned native eels thrive in the lake’s dark waters and were an important food source for Māori travelling through the area. This customary use adds another layer to the lake’s story, connecting its forest and freshwater environment with generations of food gathering and travel.
The Experience of Visiting
The walk begins by crossing the Clearwater suspension bridge before following the forest track to the Jetty Viewpoint, approximately 20 minutes from the start. Here, the trees open to views across Lake Matheson, with Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman reflected in the dark water when conditions are calm. Visitors with more time can continue around the full circuit, where two additional viewing areas offer further mountain reflections framed by native foliage.
Natural Features
The walk to the Jetty Viewpoint passes through ancient native rainforest, where towering kahikatea, rimu and tōtara rise above ferns and smaller forest plants. Lake Matheson supports long-finned native eels, which can sometimes be seen breaking the surface, as well as a variety of water birds. Beyond the forest, the lake opens towards Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, bringing native forest, freshwater and alpine scenery together within a single landscape.
Good to Know
- Lake Matheson lies within the protected Te Wāhipounamu UNESCO World Heritage area.
- The Lake Matheson walk is one of the most popular short walks on the West Coast.
- Lake Matheson is located about 5 kilometres from Fox Glacier township.
Little-Known Facts
Lake Matheson’s mountain reflection was featured on a New Zealand postage stamp issued in 1946 to mark the end of the Second World War. The image showed Aoraki/Mount Cook and Mount Tasman mirrored in the lake, a view that can still be photographed on clear, windless days.
Look closely at the forest floor and you may spot the vivid blue werewere-kōkako mushroom, a distinctive native fungus found along the Lake Matheson walk. It is easily overlooked when attention is focused on the mountain reflections ahead.
The experience begins with a suspension bridge crossing rather than an immediate lakeside view. The forest walk gradually reveals Lake Matheson, making the first opening towards the water feel more dramatic.
One Thing to Know
Lake Matheson’s dark water is coloured by organic matter leaching from the surrounding forest floor, creating the reflective surface behind its famous mirrored views.