An early morning departure to catch the best light, with William Patino on board. We will visit Lake Camp, Lake Clearwater and Lake Heron.

1. There will be a charge for the bus – we will advise prior to registrations opening.

Located 1½ hours from Ashburton at the foot of the Southern Alps, Lake Camp is set in the Hakatere Conservation Park. It is a popular, remote, scenic destination offering camping, boating, kayaking and swimming. There is a holiday settlement of around 100 holiday homes located between Lake Camp and Lake Clearwater which is only a few minutes’ walk away. There is no power here and limited cell phone service, so many people use this area for an off-the-grid vacation.

Lake Clearwater covers approx. 197 hectares, with a maximum depth of 20metres. This lake is popular for recreational activities such as fishing, kayaking and wind-surfing. Motor-powered craft are not allowed on this lake. It gets its name from the stunning reflections that can be captured on a still day, with the surrounding mountains in the background.

Lake Heron is a high-country lake located in inland Canterbury. It is one of the many lakes in the area managed by the Department of Conservation. Lake Heron is one of the larger Ashburton lakes, covering 695 hectares and has a maximum depth of 37metres. The lake was named after the white heron/kotuku, which were found around the shores.

Unfortunately, only an occasional white heron visits the area now but the lake is still home to many birds, including Australasian crested grebe, marsh crake, and the Australasian bittern. It is a popular lake for fishing for brown and rainbow trout and quinnat salmon. The Maori Lakes are two smaller lakes located to the south of Lake Heron in the Hakatere Conservation Park. They are surrounded by wetland, but are often hard to access as the ground is very swampy. They are home to birdlife including ducks, swans and rarer species like the Australian bittern, marsh crake and great crested grebe.