The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Lake Ohau Road

Lake Ohau Road is a very scenic drive located in the Ohau Range in the Mackenzie High Country, not far from the Mt Cook region on the South Island of New Zealand. The road features both paved and unpaved sections.

Lake Ohau Road

How Long is Lake Ohau Road?

The road is 39.8 km (24.73 miles) long. It starts fully asphalted (for 23 km) north of Omarama on the Twizel-Omarama Road (SH8) and then turns into a gravel track, running along the southern and western shores of the glacial lake.

Is Lake Ohau Road Worth the Drive?

Nestled among towering mountains at the feet of the majestic Southern Alps, the drive around the shores of Lake Ohau is definitely worth it. The lake is cradled between the Ohau Range to the west in the Main Divide and the Ben Ohau Range to the east.