The 7 Deepest Lakes in New Zealand

New Zealand is a beautiful island nation in the Southern Hemisphere, blessed with a diverse and fantastic topography. There are two main islands in New Zealand, a North Island and a South Island.

The South Island in particular is dotted with a series of large freshwater lakes, most of which are fed from snow melt from the stunning Southern Alp mountains that dominate the landscape of the Southern Island.

If you have a trip planned to see this magnificent country and have a thing for lakes, or are just interested in the aquatic topography of places, take a look at this list of the deepest lakes in New Zealand.

1. Lake Hauroko

This is the deepest lake in New Zealand, at 462 meters deep at its maximum depth. This makes the lake the 16th deepest in the entire world as well. Lake Hauruko lies in the wilds of Fjordland National Park, one of the most remote parts of the entire country.

This fjordland lake, though itself relatively remote, is quite close to some of the biggest tourist attractions in New Zealand, including the Milford Sound.

Somewhat of interest is the interesting folktale about the lake’s “cursed” island, Mary Island. The lore surrounding this island includes myths surrounding the burial of a Maori Priestess.

2. Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri is another lake that’s located on the edge of Fjordland National Park. It’s where passengers board a ferry to travel across the lake in order to explore more of this fascinating wilderness area.

Lake Manapouri reaches depths of 444 meters at its maximum. Additionally of interest is the fact that the lake has some very good fishing available for anglers. Longfin Eels, an endemic eel species of New Zealand, swim in the lake and are available for fishing. In addition, some of the lake is blocked off to allow these creatures protected habitat.

The islands surrounding Manapouri provide important habitat for many native species of plants and animals of New Zealand. Many of the country’s most iconic wildlife species, like the kiwi and the kakapo, live within the native beech forests of the surrounding mountains.

3. Lake Te Anau

Rounding out the trinity of the three deepest lakes in New Zealand is yet another lake on the outskirts of Fjordland National Park. Lake Te Anau is also the largest lake in the country in terms of total surface area.

At its maximum depth, Lake Te Anau reaches 417 meters deep. The township of Te Anau serves as the tourism gateway of the Milford Highway, one of the most scenic areas of this very scenic part of the world.

Also of interest in Te Anau are the glow worm caves located across the lake. These types of glow worms, that exist throughout New Zealand, emit a bioluminescent glow that appears at night and in the the darkness of caves.

4.  Lake Hawea

Lake Hawea is located slightly north of the town of Wanaka, one of the big tourist towns in New Zealand’s south island. This lake sits along the beginnings of the West Coast highway, a stretch of road that follows New Zealand’s west coast, an area famed for its rugged natural beauty and interesting glimpse of Gondowana ecosystems. Lake Hawea is 392 meters at maximum depth.

Many scientists think of the plants and animal species in this part of New Zealand as being indicative of the kinds of life one might have witnessed in that ancient continent.

5.  Lake Wakatipu

Lake Wakatipu is another gorgeous South Island New Zealand Lake. This lake is most well known for being the lake that hosts Queenstowns on its banks. This is the ski resort town that serves as the gateway for many of the outdoor adventure activities that the South Island has to offer.

Lake Wakatipu is 380 meters at its maximum depth. It provides a habitat for many different types of New Zealand aquatic fish and bird life. Due to its proximity to Queenstown, the lake appears as a backdrop for many films. This includes the Lord of The Rings Trilogy.

6. Lake Wanaka

Lake Wanaka is just south of Lake Hawea and is the lake that gives its adjacent township its name. As part of Mt. Aspiring National Park, Lake Wanaka is adumbrated by sublime natural beauty.

Lake Wanaka reaches depths of 300 meters at its maximum. The lake is large enough by surface area to support the presence of houseboats and other watercraft. Like Lake Wakatipu, Lake Wanaka makes an appearance in several Hollywood films.

Another claim to fame of Lake Wanaka is that it is the home of the Instagram star That Wanaka Tree. That Wanaka Tree is a poetic willow with roots in the actual water of the lake, several feet from the shore. The unique silhouette of That Wanaka Tree has proved a popular backdrop for tourists and social media posts.

 7.  Lake Waikaremoana

The only entry from New Zealand’s northern island on this list, Lake Waikaremoana is the deepest lake in that part of the country. At its maximum, Lake Waikaremoana reaches depths of 280 meters

Lake Waikaremoana is a popular destination for people who want to engage in water sports, as well. The Lake Waikaremoana tramping track (hiking track), is one of the Great Walks of New Zealand. This track draws in backpackers and campers to its dazzling shores.