Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Trek

There a many walks and treks around Wanaka, some easy, some hard. The Diamond Lake and Rocky Mountain Trek can be both depending on which route you take and which destination you choose. Difficulty also depends greatly on time of year and weather.

The trek to the Rocky Mountain summit passes by Diamond Lake, where you can choose to walk around the lake or carry on further up. To the lake is an easy walk, but further up requires moderate fitness and I would class it as intermediate. If you continue the trail up you will reach a Diamond Lake lookout. If you continue further the trail forks off and you can either go ten minutes to the Lake Wanaka lookout or again, choose to go to the summit. The trail to the summit gets even more difficult at this point. The route gets steeper and the trail thinner. In wet conditions it is slippery and difficult, in winter it can be very icy. So beware if you decide to head for the Rocky Mountain summit.

The Lake is nice, but is most impressive when frozen over in the Winter months. The Diamond Lake lookout is also impressive and I would recommend at least heading to this point of the trail.

The challenge of reaching the summit is rewarding. The view is panoramic, providing views of Mount Aspiring, Treble Cone and on the other side, the vast lakes.

All told we were on the trail for 3 hours, but stopped to throw stuff on the frozen lake and take plenty of pictures. I was in skate trainers as well, so the whole thing could be done in a couple of hours if you are suitably equipped and push hard.

One of my favourite walks around Wanaka so far, with plenty to see along the way.

To get to the trail head out of Wanaka on Mt Aspiring Road. Head past Glendhu Bay and just past the hospital flat. The car park is on your right hand side. It takes about 25 minutes from Wanaka.

• Login to post comments