Mavora Lakes

 For several years we have been promising ourselves to spend some time camping in at the Mavora Lakes. We pass the turn off every time we are heading to TeAnau and so we decided that now was the time to make the effort.  We were in TeAnau for Grant and Wendy’s wedding but it has also coincided with our very long term tenant, Christine, moving out next week.  As we wanted to be back there next weekend it has been the perfect opportunity.

So on Saturday afternoon, all loaded up with plenty of food and insect repellant, we headed into the Mavora Lakes.  When you turn off the main road there is almost 40km of gravel road so you certainly want to make the stay longer than a night.

There are about 60 campsites available, and managed by DOC, so it is merely a matter of choosing exactly where you want to be. We spent the first three nights at the southern end of the North Lake. We had beautiful views of the lake and it was also close to the start of the Mavora Walkway and part of the Te Araroa Trail.

We chose to bike the 10km to the first hut though it is also a 4WD track too.  The track  certainly doesn’t give you the smooth easy ride the Central Otago trails did and in fact it took us as long to bike it as it would have if we had been walking. There were numerous water crossings or tracks around them as well as rough rutted sections. 

To my horror I did what I have often feared - fell off. But not only that, I landed in the wet muddy water.  Stephen thought we should head back but I felt that I would soon dry out - which I did. It was certainly a good ride that we enjoyed but also one of the most challenging we have done. 

Other activities that kept us busy were a walk around the lakes which you start and finish on a swing bridge, a walk to the Kiwi Burn Hut and a drive to Walter Peak Station.  This drive takes you through some very wide open high country valleys, through a gorge and down into Walter Peak Station on the shores of Lake Wakitipu. We even found the beginnings of the Oreti River, the same one that passes only but 200 metres from our place in Otatara.  

The walk to the Kiwi Burn Hut is quite an easy walk in but the loop track was very challenging and took us through swamp and a hard to follow track before heading back into the bush and a much better track, taking us over 4 and a half hours. 

We shifted camp after three nights to down beside the South Lake. By this stage the wind had dropped and with a bit more shelter we were able to light a fire in the BBQ provided. I like nothing better than to cook on an open fire and with the sandflies not too bad we were able to enjoy some outside time during the evenings. I have always fancied cooking damper over a camp fire so for dessert one night , that is exactly what I did. Delicious. 

The photo doesn't do justice
to the size of the fish!!!!!

Stephen fishing in the South Lake.

On Wednesday morning, as we were preparing for our walk,  Stephen decided that the fish were rising and in no time at all he had a fish on the line and a perfect size for tea. Unfortunately it was the only one that he caught despite several more attempts. It was as though they were playing with him. Jumping to the right and as he cast in that direction they would jump to the left. Frustrating but at least he got one.

We actually ended up staying an extra night, this time at the start of the Kiwi Burn hut track. After a much longer walk than we anticipated we decided to spend the night in the car-park. It had such a beautiful vista and we feel humbled to have been able to spend time in such a wide open space.